During my last semester at college, I postponed thinking about preparing for my tests. As each test day came closer, I got worried and desperately started cramming. I drank enough coffee to keep the whole city awake and woke up thinking that I would get a low grade. Eventually, I realized that students who always earned A’s on their tests were not just lucky, but they really studied hard all through the semester. There are different ways to prepare for a specific test, and each individual must perfect his or her own style. I have developed a process that involves five steps to prepare for a test.First, you should find out about the format of each specific test by asking the teacher various questions. Ask what type of questions will appear on the test, and if they will be true or false, multiple choice, fill in, essay or all of these. You need to ask these questions because for each of the above test formats you will have different test preparation strategies. Moreover, an important question is whether the lecture material is emphasized more than the textbook.Second, rehearse the study guide or do the practice questions in that particular course. A study guide is usually a separate booklet that accompanies the textbook and contains practice questions and answers. While you are reading, mark important ideas and sections of that chapter by using a highlighter or a colored pen. For example, highlight the topic sentences or headlines of the different sections in the chapter and divide them into the subsections; this will make it easier for you to review your textbook later. Third, you should form a study group or develop self-study practice sessions. In your practice sessions, you should practice reviewing material that is emphasized for your test. Also, you should practice reviewing material that is presented in numbered lists that often provide the basis for essay and multiple-choice questions. For example, list thir...
