Test-taking isn’t a skill that comes naturally to everyone. It can be an incredibly stressful, anxiety-filled experience for many students who do not perform well under pressure and in test-like settings.

If you’re a student that struggles with performance on tests, follow these top 6 test-taking tips for acing the exam:

1. Positivity: Though you’re predisposed to tell yourself you’re going to fail and perform poorly, you need to switch around your attitude and approach the whole thing positively. Approach a big test like you would a giant puzzle: it’s going to be challenging, but tell yourself you’re going to finish it no matter what.
2. Make a Study Plan: A week out from the test, ask your teacher what the test content will be based on. When they say only the textbook, focus your studying efforts on the textbook a little bit each day.
3. No Cramming: Attempting to cram material actually harms your ability to remain calm and perform properly during a test. Get in a quick review before the exam, and remember to go to bed early.
4. Breakfast: Give yourself brain food the morning before your exam. Studies show that fruits like strawberries help stimulate your brain before the day ahead.
5. Preparation: Make sure you have everything packed to take the test. Bring pens, pencils, spare paper, and your calculator just in case. You don’t want anything working against you.
6. Time Management: Answer all the easy questions on the test first so you have time on your side. Once the simple questions are out of the way, give yourself more methodical time to sort through the more difficult prompts.

Follow these 6-steps for totally mastering the test-taking experience during your next exam.