There are a small percentage of students that perform well under pressure in a testing setting. The majority, however, need some support and recommendations for making it through the test in one piece. A lot of individuals suffer from testing anxiety. For the anxious test-taker, they end up performing poorly when in reality: they did indeed know the material.

Here are 4 sustainable test-taking strategies to consider today:

1. Be Positive:

You’ve probably heard that negative voice creeping around your head as you enter the classroom. It says something like, “You didn’t study enough. You’re going to fail.” The first important test-taking tip is to get this voice out of your head. You did study enough and you are going to pass. Repeat it to yourself.

2. Sleep:

Showing up to a test on 1-hour of sleep is the equivalent of showing up to the test intoxicated. The night before is not the time to panic and pull an all-nighter. You’re better off sleeping a full 8-hours and entering the test a little unprepared.

3. Breakfast:

Give your body the nutrients it needs to operate a full brain potential. Make sure your breakfast has proteins, vitamins, and lots of water involved. You want to be comfortably hydrated and feeling energetic.

4. Time Management:
   There are going to be questions you do not know the answers to. That’s ok! Many times, we need time to ponder the question to really find the answer somewhere in the back of our heads. In the mean time, skip over the question, and come back to it at the end. You may be surprised by what you remember!

Ready to conquer your test? Follow these 4 strategies for ensuring an A+ at the end.