Test Taking Strategies: Secrets to Succeeding Under Pressure

Tests and exams are an inevitable part of academic life. They can often induce stress and anxiety, making it challenging for students to perform at their best. However, with the right test taking strategies, you can unlock the secrets to succeeding under pressure!

I have personally struggled with major test anxiety, especially through my teenage years. I used to often blank out and forget most of what I had studied before. Sometimes I just wouldn’t even know where to begin! Over time I started looking into ways to help myself combat test anxiety head-on. Through lots of research, I found a lot of test-taking strategies that helped me perform better in exams by lowering the pressure I felt!

In this article, we will explore a variety of proven techniques that will help you approach exams with confidence and achieve the results that you desire!

1. Use Rough/Scratch Paper As One Of Your Test Taking Strategies

Scratch paper (or rough paper) is a type of paper that is used to write rough or quick notes. During exams in secondary school, we were always provided with a lot of rough paper and were encouraged to use them.

The great thing about using rough paper during a test is that you don’t have to give it in as a part of your examination. The only exception to this rule might be for math, where you might be asked to show your working.

I would often write everything I could possibly remember down on rough paper, and use it as a reference throughout the test. Want to know more about how you can use scratch paper? Keep reading!

Most of the time, when we read a question, a lot of thoughts might pop up, which can overwhelm us!

The best way to filter through these thoughts to find the answer is simply to write them down! This is in fact where your scratch paper will really come in handy as a test-taking tip.

During your test, use the scratch paper to write down all of these thoughts. Remember to keep them brief, you don’t have all the time in the world!

A lot of students resort to answering their test questions without truly thinking their answers through. The truth is that this can cause you to lose quite a few marks!

You won’t need to use this method for every single question, just the ones that are giving you a hard time! Keep on reading for more test taking strategies!

2. Test Taking Strategies: Use Strategic Guessing

Sometimes, despite thorough preparation, you may come across a question that stumps you.

Usually, in these situations, people tend to skip the question and move on to the next one.

This is an understandable choice to make in an exam, and can also be a useful test-taking strategy. However, this can also lead to a loss of marks, which is something you definitely don’t want!

Instead, you can try strategic guessing; which involves guessing the right answer through elimination. In fact, you should try to eliminate any answers that come to mind that could be possibly incorrect. From this point, you will make an educated guess based on your understanding of the subject!

It isn’t a foolproof method, but it’s still far better than leaving a question blank. Try it out, you might be surprised!

3. Skimming and Planning As A Great Test-Taking Strategy

Both skimming and planning are great examples of the type of test taking strategies that you will need to boost your grades! In fact, that’s why I’m including them both in my test taking tips!

When you receive the test paper, take a few moments to quickly skim through all the questions. Research shows that skimming the text can actually help you find the information you need in a quicker time frame!

As you go through the paper, you can make mental (or physical) notes of the questions that you feel confident about. On the other hand, you can also take note of ones which you feel will require more time and effort.

This is a great strategy as it gives you an idea as to which questions you should allocate more time to, without forgetting about the less challenging tasks!

It’s also more useful to tackle the more challenging questions first, leaving the easier ones for last. Whenever I would tackle the easier tasks, I felt very discouraged and unmotivated to work on the challenging questions. I would usually give up as it all felt like an uphill battle.

For that reason, both skimming and working from the heavier tasks first can ensure that you are tackling your test in the best way possible!

Related: Distractions to Success: How to Actually Focus When Studying

BONUS TIP: Review And Revise

Once you have completed all of the questions, you can review your answers and make any revisions you feel you need to make.

This could be one of the most important steps in this list of test taking strategies! Without checking your work, you risk possibly losing a few marks. You have no idea how many times I lost crucial marks just because I didn’t check my paper properly!

For this reason, it’s a good idea to pay attention to any errors, omissions or areas where you feel uncertain. Under pressure, we’re more likely to overlook things and make mistakes, which is why it’s imperative to double-check everything. Sometimes a simple spelling mistake is enough to lose you a mark!

Remember to remain mindful of any time limits so that you do not rush through either your review or your revision!

Conclusion

By implementing these secrets to succeeding under pressure, you can approach exams with confidence and maximize your performance. Remember, each test is an opportunity to showcase your knowledge and abilities.

With the right test taking strategies and mindset, you have the power to excel and achieve the results you desire. Embrace these secrets, practice them, and watch your test-taking skills soar to new heights.

Are there any test-taking strategies you’ve found useful that you’d like to share? I value your input, so just let me know in the comments below!