Study Smart:Ace Your Tests!

Feeling Clueless?

Guessing Hints

• Glance over the whole test. Do any other questions clue you in?
  
  
• Reword the question. Try to say it in your own words.
  
  
• Is there a word you don't know? Look at the rest of the sentence for help.
  
  
• If you really can't figure out that one word, ask your teacher for help.
  
  
• If your teacher can't help you, think about what you do know about the question.
  
  
• See if you get a hunch about it. Write the hunch down or mark it.
  
  
• Choose the longest answer that makes sense to you.
  
  
• If the test is multiple choice and you're totally clueless, choose these answers in this order: b, then c then a then d. Statistics say those are the answers in that order most of the time.

Jogging Your Memory

• Try to imagine your teacher talking about this subject.
  
  
• Picture the blackboard in your mind. Did she/he write down this word or notes on this subject?
  
  
• Try to remember the reading. Look for a hunch.
  
  
• Jog your memory by circling key words.

Most of these ideas are from Melody, 12, California. More ideas came from Rachel.e, Gwendolyn.r, Jennifer.l, and Lisa.g

A Tip from Students Like You

If you have a test coming just do this: Learn well. Do not hesitate. Stay calm. Then you should do well.
-- Karyn T., South Africa

My tip to survive in school is to never give up. If you have a big, big test don't sweat it. Study for a couple of hours then ask someone to quiz you on it. Try to get all the questions right but if you don't it is ok. Get to bed early the night before the test, so you can get a good night's sleep. The day of the test just relax and be calm.When you get the test well I guess you see what you got. If you use my tip....I hope you do a good job on your test. And good luck later in the years and your life.-- Noell P.