PREPARING FOR A BIG TEST

Getting ready for a big test is not that different from training for an athletic competition. You need to train in terms of the content of the test (Science, Math, whatever) as well as prepare for “Game Day”. Like with sporting events or a performance you will wonder if you are ready and you will stress yourself emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Not all stress is bad. As a matter of fact, a certain amount of stress helps us perform better in athletics, performance, or tests.

Training /Mental Preparation Hopefully by this point you will have worked your hardest to absorb and understand the content that will be tested. You can study up until the test time, but when you walk into the test room you enter with what you have in your head at that moment. So at that point in time it does not help to wonder if you prepared well enough.

Physical Preparation Like with a physical contest, long tests require oxygen and energy to be burned. The following tips will maximize your energy and oxygen.

A. Get at least 8 hours of sleep before the test. If you are not used to going to bed early enough, go to bed a little bit earlier each night for a week before the test. Do not eat or have stressful conversations before sleep. If you need a sleep aid that will not affect performance, Melatonin is available over-the-counter and is safe.

B. Eat a good sized meal heavy in carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes) the night before the test. Do not diet during TAKS tests.

C.The morning of the test eat breakfast, drink fruit juice, and drink water. D.If allowed, half-way through the test, chew a piece of gum (it increases oxygen flow to the brain like yawning does).

EMOTIONAL PREPARATION You know what you know. Worry does not increase knowledge and hurts performance. If this isn’t your day, then there will always be another one. Laugh. It does help to tell yourself “ I can do it”. Saying “I can’t do it”, hurts your performance.

Walk a little to dispel physical anxiety prior to entering the room.

If you feel anxious at the beginning of the test -find something on the test that is familiar to you, or an easy question and do that one and then return to the beginning. -think about something pleasant you did last weekend or plan to do next weekend

Focus Do not sleep at the beginning of the test. Even if you are not a morning person and would love a nap, don’t start with it. It will decrease your mental functioning later in the test. Try not to sleep at all, but if you must, take a short nap exactly half- way through the test.

If you find it hard to focus question after question, make a schedule for yourself. Do three questions then think of something else for five minutes. Do three questions then think of something else for five minutes (over and over). Underline, circle, box, draw in and around the question to help maintain your focus on the question. Move your feet. Whatever aids your focus.

Although this will sound strange to some... Try to enjoy yourself. It actually is pleasurable when you can prove you know something. So when you have a question you are sure of, nail it, and congratulate yourself.

Remember This is just a test. It does not determine if you are smart, or clever, or funny, or capable, or lovable, or loving, or if you are a good person, or if you will be a good worker,... It is just one test with a beginning and an end and you will have done your best on that day at that time.