The Secret to Getting Good Grades in Tests

Do you have difficulty getting good grades in tests? Are you the type of person who always receives A’s on your homework, but never manages to get them on your tests? You’re not alone! Many students have this problem, so if you’re feeling stuck, you can feel relieved knowing that there are plenty of things you can do to help improve your test scores. Here are some tips on how to get good grades in tests, written by experts in the field who have received many awards for their work.

1) Prepare Well

Preparing for a test or exam is a lot of work, but it will pay off immensely. Plan on going over your notes and textbook once every day up until a week before your exam. Try taking shorter quizzes throughout that time period as well. In addition, make sure you’re getting enough sleep and exercise—both of which are important for memory retention. Have something fun planned during finals week, too!

The better rested and relaxed you are when final exams roll around, the more likely you are to nail them. And don’t forget about proper nutrition! Load up on fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins…but leave room for dessert! After all, no one said studying had to be boring…or tasteless! Remember: It’s okay if there’s room for improvement in terms of your grades; improving always beats maintaining at a high level. So don’t worry about getting an A+ in everything; focus instead on making steady progress toward each goal. As long as you’re moving forward every class cycle (and trying hard), then;

you’re doing great!

2) Expect It To Be Hard

From a young age, we’re conditioned to believe that grades are a key measure of our intellect. In high school and college, we depend on them for admittance into grad schools and jobs—and at every step along the way we’re reminded just how important they are. Because of that pressure, it can be hard not to feel nervous when it comes time for an exam: I’m going to get a bad grade! I know I am! But you don’t have to succumb to anxiety—the secret is recognizing your expectations before test day arrives. If you go into any exam believing you won’t do well, your brain will actually help make sure that future becomes reality.

3) Don’t Panic

It’s normal to feel a little nervous and tense before taking an exam—after all, most of us spend weeks studying only for a few hours on test day. But if you let those feelings of pressure boil over into panic, you’ll quickly destroy your ability to focus and your brain will begin working against you. Your best bet is to channel those nervous energy into action: go through every single thing that might come up on the test and work out how you’ll react. How will you handle an essay question? A multiple choice? What if there’s no extra time at all?

• Think it through and then move on: too much thinking can leave less room for actual learning.

4) Make Lists

Making lists helps keep you focused on what you need to do next. If you can’t find time before an exam to make a list, make one during a study break. On your list, write down all of your studying goals—big and small—and cross each one off when it’s done. If a test is looming, write a few test-taking tips at the top of your list and circle them.

• As you complete these smaller tasks, they’ll feel more achievable.

5) Focus on What’s Important

It’s natural to want to learn everything about a subject before an exam. However, it is also counterproductive. As you’re prepping for an exam, it is better to focus on your strengths than try and fix every one of your weaknesses. Start by identifying what you know best and limit your study time there first. If you spend time on things that are already easy for you, then you can save more of your energy for learning new material that might be harder for you. Once you have figured out where your knowledge is strongest, think about why that is so. It could be because of how often or how recently you studied that material or just because it comes easier than other topics.

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