Use Good Study Skills/// Test-Taking Skills
Use Good Study Skills
Use your daily planner
Schedule time for studying, going out with friends, sports
practice, work, etc.
Bring your daily planner to class every day and take it home
every night.
Write down daily assignments with due dates, quiz and test
dates.
Schedule a regular homework time
Pick a time that works for you. When are you most alert?
Study at the same time every day, if possible, to get into
the habit.
Get organized
Use color-coded notebooks labeled for each class.
Find a study buddy in each class. Exchange phone numbers
so you have someone to call if you are absent or have a homework question.
Keep class notes and assignments in order by numbering and
dating the pages.
Keep all papers for a class in one notebook.
Clean out your locker and backpack regularly.
Set up a study area
Find a quiet and comfortable place with good lighting.
Keep the area clean and uncluttered.
Work in the same place each time you study.
Power Study
Concentrate for 30-45 minutes, then take a break.
Physical activity during the break stimulates the mind.
Use your open blocks and study hall time wisely.
Quickly review what you're learning in each class daily.
Recopy notes from class as a review and highlight important points with a
colored marker.
Short study periods work better than one long cram session.
It's not the time you put in that counts, it's what you put
into the time!
Eliminate Distractions
Turn off the TV and loud music.
Ask your family to take phone messages for you while you
study.
Playing soft background music is helpful for some students.
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Test-Taking Skills
Tests can produce a lot of anxiety and stress. The best way to reduce these
factors is to BE PREPARED. The following suggestions and strategies can be helpful
to get you through studying for and taking a test.
Before a Test:
Know what material you will be tested on. Many teachers
give clues about what is "important to remember", but if you're
not sure, ask your teacher.
Get organized! Make a study plan based on your available
time and your class materials. Some people find color-coding their class materials
helpful.
Don't cram! Review your notes after every class. Look over
key points or draw diagrams to help you. Do whatever you find helps you learn.
Look up points that aren't clear or ask you teacher
for help in understanding the material.
Choose a "study buddy" to help share the load
and to stay motivated.
Take a practice test or ask yourself questions you think
will be on the exam.
Take care of yourself! Make sure you are eating a proper
diet and getting enough sleep. Wear comfortable clothes for the test.
During the Test:
Look over the test before you get started and plan on how to budget your
time.
Read the directions carefully. If you're not sure of something, ask for
clarification.
Start with the easier questions to help build your confidence.
Relax and pace your self. If you stall out on a question, take a deep breath,
move on, and come back to the tough one later.
Try to have time at the end to review your work before turning in your test.
After the Test:
When you get your graded test back, identify any reasons for missed questions.
Rework questions or problems that you got wrong to find out the right answer.
Pat yourself on the back for what you did well!
For Multiple Choice and True/False Questions
Answer the ones you know first and circle the ones you skip to come back
to later. If you don't know an answer, it's okay to guess unless you get points
off for guessing.
Read the entire question, think of the answer, then read all the possibilities.
Choose the best answer for the question asked.
Use the process of elimination to narrow your choices before choosing an
answer.
Your first answer is usually correct. Don't change it unless you're really
sure you need to.
Essay
Read the entire question carefully. Pick out the main point you are asked
to address.
Make a quick outline. Your introduction should list the main points. Then
explain each point using details and examples. Finally, restate your main
points in a summary paragraph.
While you are writing, read the question again to make sure you are staying
on track and including everything you judge is needed.
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