Tips for Test-Takers

Taking any national standardized test, whether it is the SAT to go to college, the LSAT for law school, or the GRE for graduate school, requires a basic understanding of the exam and how it works. Your best preparation, rather than trying to "learn" the exam, is to know what to expect and how to be a smart test-taker.

Prepare the night before.

Be sure that you do everything possible to make exam day as stress-free as possible. Get your identification, pencils, and clothes out the day before. Do not wait until the morning of the big day to get everything ready. Be sure that you are at home early and have a relaxing evening before heading off to bed for a good night's sleep.

Study the basics for the sections.

Next, know what sections the exam will have. Almost all school exams will have verbal sections intended to test your ability to find context clues and know the definitions of words. You can prepare for these portions by studying basic prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Check out vocabulary builders online or at your local library for the most common vocabulary pieces.

The math portion on these exams often tests not your ability to do math but your understanding of theoretical mathematical concepts. For example, is a+b greater than a-b? Some people automatically assume yes because addition yields a higher end result. More astute thinkers will consider other possibilities. Suppose b were 0 or negative. When what would the result be? The math portion of standardized tests questions your ability to consider all possible solutions and make a judgment. Still, you will need some basic algebra and geometry. Spend time learning the most common formulae, such as area and volume of various shapes, so that you will do better on this portion.

Be a good time manager.

When you are taking the exam, keep an eye on the clock. Be sure that you know how long you have to complete each section and pace yourself accordingly. Know how long you have on each question. For a 30-question section with a 30-limit time limit, try not to spend more than one minute on each question. If you do not know the answer, move on so that you can complete the rest of the exam.

Have a score in mind.

You should spend some time in the weeks before the exam taking some practice tests. You will get an idea from these exams as to how well you will do on the test. Know the score you need so that you will have a goal in mind. Some programs give a specific lower cut-off while for others, you may have to estimate. While you should not count the correct questions during the exam, you should have a goal so that you can work toward something specific.

Relax before and during the exam. Though you may be stressed, the best test-takers are the ones who do not spend too much time worrying over the text. Preparing is expected, but obsessing can lead you to do poorly.