How to Take Exams in College

Implementing strategic action steps for studying can help you do better on your exams.

Taking tests in college can be nerve-wracking at the start of the semester. It’s common to feel intimidated, or even a bit anxious, while learning the lay of the land in a new class. But don’t let this performance anxiety get you off track. Rather use it as fuel for your effort and for planning ahead.

Here are 8 tips that can help you do well on your next exam:

1. Make a checklist of notes or chapters you need to study for the exam. This can help you to organize your study time and ensure you cover all necessary topics.[i]
2. Flashcards or apps like Flashcards+ by Chegg can help you focus on specific details, aid in memorization, and allow for easy review without requiring that you take out your books and notes, which is especially nice on the train. A main topic, word, or question is written on one side while the definition, facts, or answer to the question are written on the back.
3. Create a quizlet out of your notes, study guides, and other materials. Thomas Frank from the College Info Geek reports that “active recall is one of the best ways to solidify material you’ve learned”, so taking those quizzes is much more effective than just looking over your notes.[ii]
4. Break up the time you spend studying. Benedict Carey, author of How We Learn, suggests that people learn more and retain information longer when they space out their study time.[iii] In some cases, distributed learning can double the amount remembered later on.
5. Visualize your study environment if you’re stuck on a question during the test. Frank also suggests that people can often make connections to things they’ve learned when they do this since learning is context and environment-dependent.[iv] [v]
6. Always arrive early so you can take a moment to relax and reduce your anxiety. This brief time period can boost your confidence. Use this time to get adjusted to the context, review your notes, or say a prayer if you feel led to do so.
7. Trust your instincts. The first answer that comes to mind is often correct.[vi] Second guessing questions and changing answers can do more harm than good.
8. Use extra time for review. If you finish your test early, return to difficult questions you marked for review. Proofread your essays, and pay attention to grammar and spelling. Make sure you answer all the questions provided in the prompt. Be sure to notice questions on the back of the paper.[vii]

To get started, pick one or two of these strategies on which to focus for a specific, forthcoming test. Try them out, and make a mental note of what works well and what you can adjust for next time. There are likely additional strategies that work for you that aren’t listed here, so share them with us as you discover them (studentsuccess@tkc.edu).

Want more tips for test-taking? Here’s “How to Study Effectively: 8 Advanced Tips” from Thomas Frank of College Info Geek.

If you’d like to talk to someone on campus about how to cultivate deep work, contact Chris Josselyn (cjosselyn@tkc.edu) or Dr. Jennifer Tharp (jtharp@tkc.edu) on the Student Success team.

[i] “Western Illinois University.” Mission / Core Values / Purpose – Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration – Western Illinois University, www.wiu.edu/advising/tutoring/index.php.

[ii] Thomas, Frank. “Ace Your Next Exam: 10 Revision and Test-Taking Tips.” College Info Geek, 29 July 2015, collegeinfogeek.com/revision-test-taking-tips/.

[iii] Carey, Benedict. How We Learn: the Surprising Truth about When, Where and Why It Happens. Random House, 2015.

[iv] Thomas, Frank. “Ace Your Next Exam: 10 Revision and Test-Taking Tips.” College Info Geek, 29 July 2015, collegeinfogeek.com/revision-test-taking-tips/.

[v] Carey, Benedict. How We Learn: the Surprising Truth about When, Where and Why It Happens. Random House, 2015.

[vi] “Academic Success Center.” Test-Taking Strategies | Academic Success Center, casc.byu.edu/testtaking-strategies.

[vii] Ibid.