6 Tips for Preparing for Standardized Tests
During our lifetime, we all face some form of standardized tests. In fact, we live in a world of competition and tests. Although many students find preparing and sitting examinations stressful, there are lots of things we can do to ease the pressure on ourselves.
If you’re looking for ways to prepare yourself or your children for upcoming standardized tests, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of our top tips to help you:
Studying is Key
Although this is pretty obvious to most people, it’s an important point. Trying to pass any type of exam, whether it be SATs or A-Levels is very difficult unless you spend time studying for them. Lots of people make the mistake of trying to study for tests at the last minute, however, this is something you should try and avoid. Research has shown that it’s much more effective to spend a couple of hours each day over the course of a few weeks studying for a test. The reason for this is simple, it gives your mind time to take in more information and store it correctly for the test. Not only that, but it can also help you to stay in control of your stress levels, as you won’t be leaving everything to the last minute to complete.
Practice Often
For most of us, the more we practice, the more confident we will be when we take our tests. There are a number of ways you or your children can practice for your exams. For example, they could complete some example questions for the Cognitive Abilities Test or you could purchase some past test papers to try. The more you all practice, the more likely you will be to pass your exam.
Don’t Stay Up Late the Night Before a Test
One of the worst things you can do the night before a test is to stay up late. While spending time with friends can help you to relax and may relieve stress, drinking alcohol could lead to you failing your test. Not only will you be tired from staying up late the night before your exam, but you may also wake up with a hangover too. Most hangovers consist of symptoms like headaches, which won’t help you to concentrate during your exam. Instead of partying before an exam, plan to celebrate or spend time with friends once it’s over.
Read as Much as You Can
You may have heard the saying “the more you read, the more you know”. Well, this saying is true when it comes to preparing for exams and tests. The best way to learn new words and increase your vocabulary is to see them in the context of other words. The more words you understand, the easier you’ll find tests.
Online Resources
Simply put, you just can’t finish using all of the resources available on the internet. There are hundreds of sites available for you to choose from, full of amazing tips and tricks to help you prepare for and pass your test.
Improve Your Memory
Lots of people find it hard to memorize data, formulas, and definitions. However, there are a number of things you can do to improve your memory such as:
- Convert words into pictures – research has shown that we’re more likely to remember visual clues than words.
- Use memory spots – think of physical places that you spend time in on a regular basis, e.g., your home, a car, etc. Then put the picture from the tip above into one of these places.
- Use rhymes – rhymes are powerful memory devices
- Use mnemonic devices – using acronyms like NESW (North, East, South, West) can help you to remember things.
Preparing correctly for standardized tests is the key to passing. There are several different types of standardized tests such as SATs, CATs, GREs, and ACTs. These are just a few examples of the many tests which students are expected to sit now. If you’re preparing for a standardized test, then make sure you follow some of our top tips above.
