by Amber Hilton

Created on: May 26, 2007

Test-taking can be difficult for even the most intelligent of college students. Being in the top of your class does not guarantee that you will do well on an exam. The key to doing well on a test is proper preparation and a little practice.

Listed below are some tips that will help you succeed in test-taking, as well as some commonly-made mistakes that should be avoided. Follow these DO's and DON'Ts and you should do well on even the most difficult of exams.

DON'T

-Cheat. Colleges have very strict policies regarding cheating and plaugerism and they tend to take such offenses very seriously. If you are caught cheating, you could end up getting kicked out of school. Receiving an F doesn't sound so bad in comparison, does it? Also, I know it sounds trite, but it's true that when you cheat on a test, you are really cheating yourself.

-Stay up all night studying or stay out all night partying. Unless you're superman/woman, you need proper sleep in order to perform at your best. Aim for at least eight hours of quality sleep the night before a big exam.

-Procrastinate. Obviously, you shouldn't wait until the night before a test to begin studying. Attending class, taking good notes and doing your homework assignments will make the studying process much easier. If you've been doing your work throughout the semester, you should only have to review your notes before the test and focus on anything that you are having trouble with.

-Be afraid to ask questions. Instructors are there to help you learn, so don't be afraid to ask questions if there is something on your test that you don't understand. Instructors are humans too, so if you see something that you think is a mistake, bring it to their attention.

-Stress out. Try to be as relaxed as possible. If you panic, you are more likely to rush and misunderstand directions or forget the answers to questions that you really know. If you feel youself starting to panic, closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths can help.

DO

-Get up early. The morning of your test, get up a bit earlier than you usually would, so that you don't feel rushed. If you're afraid of being late, your stress level will rise, making it harder for you to relax and focus when you're taking your test.

-Get ready. Many students skip the shower and go to take a test in their pjs in order to use every last minute up until the test to study. While this may sound practical, they may be better off putting down their notes and hopping in the shower. Studies have shown

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