TEST TAKING TIPS KPHS COUNSELING GUIDANCE LESSON

ANXIETY. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.

TIPS AT-A-GLANCE Prepare Know test procedures Eat the right foods Dress appropriately Exercise Start easy Use what you know Trust yourself Set realistic goals

PSAT TEST ON OCTOBER 19, 2016

TEST TIP #1: PREPARE SAT Prep Books and ACT Prep Books: Buying an SAT or ACT prep book is one of the most cost-efficient, popular ways to prep for the SAT. The downside? No one but your mom is checking up on you to make sure you're doing the work. The upside? You get to move at your own pace, and many books offer help lines and addresses if you get stuck. SAT Prep BooksACT Prep Books Private Tutoring: Many test prep companies offer in-home private tutoring to help you wade through the plethora of SAT and ACT material you need to know for the test. This is a great option if you're determined to get a great score on either test. Private Tutoring Mobile prep for SAT: and Would you rather use an app? Then using your iPhone, iPad or any other device that welcomes apps may be your perfect SAT or ACT prep medium. Several test prep companies offer SAT apps for mobile devices, and there will be many more to come. Some are even free or very inexpensive. Mobile prep for SAT: The first test tip (and most obvious) is to prepare yourself for your test. You’ll feel much better if you know what you’re up against. Take a class, hire a tutor, buy the book, go online. Prep before you go, so you’re not riddled with test anxiety about what’s coming.

TEST TIP #2: KNOW THE TEST PROCEDURES Review the test directions beforehand, because direction-reading time counts against your test time.

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TEST TIP #3: EAT BRAIN FOOD You may feel nauseous before a test, but studies prove that consuming brain food like eggs or green tea before completing a brain-draining task like test- taking can improve your score.

TEST TIP #4: WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES Items to avoid: Heavy jewelry Tight clothing New shoes Items to wear: Loose-fitting tops Layers Jeans Test day is not the time to squeeze into your super-skinny jeans. If you’re uncomfortable, your brain will expend precious energy bothering you to fix the problem. Go with your favorite broken-in jeans in case the air is cranking. Avoid "cozy“ clothes. You want to be alert, not succumbing to the ambient noise of the air conditioner.

TEST TIP #5: EXERCISE BEFOREHAND Speedy legs = speedy brain. Research shows that by utilizing this test tip - exercise - you can improve the performance of the brain by boosting memory and processing speed.

TEST TIP #6: START EASY If you’re taking a pencil-and-paper test, answer all the easy questions first, and leave the longer reading sections until last. You’ll gain confidence and extra points

TEST TIP #7: USE WHAT YOU KNOW On a test, answer the question in your head with the choices covered. Once you’ve made a guess, uncover the answers and see if you can find a paraphrase of what you just thought. If you don’t understand a tough question, try rephrasing it or reordering the words to help it make sense.

TEST TIP #8: POE Another method of using what you know, or your background knowledge is relying on POE. Use Process Of Elimination to get rid of answers you know are wrong, like answers using extremes (always, never, etc.), generalizations, similar- sounding words, and anything else that seems off, eliminate these choices and focus on what you know.

TEST TIP #9: TRUST YOURSELF Your instincts are usually right; at the end of the exam when you’re reviewing the multiple-choice answers you’ve selected, don’t change anything. Statistically, your first choice is the correct answer.

TEST TIP #10: SET REALISTIC GOALS Be realistic, don’t stress yourself with unrealistic expectations. Know what you are capable of, what you have done to prep for the test, and set a realistic goal.

EACH OF THESE STEPS (AS WELL AS OTHERS YOU MAY ALREADY BE DOING) IS A COG IN YOUR TESTING MACHINE PREP, AND THEY ALL LEAD TO ONE THING: Any preparation you do or steps you take towards a goal, for testing, planning for college, or finding your career sweet spot, will help with anxiety and ultimately take you where you want to go.