Tips on how to prepare for standardized tests

I always find myself lost in thought sometimes wondering who ever thought about the idea of writing JAMB, WAEC, IELTS, and so on. You hear of people writing these exams more than five (5) times and you wonder if the examiner was upset when he/she was marking the scripts or the student is actually less […]

I always find myself lost in thought sometimes wondering who ever thought about the idea of writing JAMB, WAEC, IELTS, and so on. You hear of people writing these exams more than five (5) times and you wonder if the examiner was upset when he/she was marking the scripts or the student is actually less than smart. I remember when I sat for my examinations; I always prayed that the marker would be in a good mood when it came to assessing my script as if that was going to change what I wrote.
All of these stress, prayer points and sayings can actually be brought to an end or let’s say it can be reduced. With these few tips on how to prepare for a standardized test, I am pretty sure that when next you go to the battle field of standardized tests you would be the last man standing. Here are some helpful tips:
Prepare early
Never make the mistake of preparing for an examination some few weeks to the day. Always give yourself appropriate time to study and get all necessary materials available. If you have once prepared late for an examination and passed doesn’t make it right.
Use quality study materials
There are a lot of study materials, it is necessary to take your time to research for quality materials. Get other people’s opinion and the success rate of those who used certain research material. Always get materials that suit your needs and are easy for you to assimilate.
Practice! Practice!! Practice!!!
The more you practice the more familiar you become with the test and it would be a lot easier for you to eliminate errors. Practicing also helps you with your timing, you can figure out how many minutes it would take you to answer a question. Dedicate 1-2 hours a day religiously to practice.
Mix up your study materials
Reading one particular textbook or past question booklet can become tiring and may encourage laziness. Mixing up your study materials by using textbooks, answer booklets and watching practical videos can change your study experience. The more you mix up your study materials, the more you retain and are likely to pass.
Evaluate yourself
Once you have fully started studying, evaluate yourself from time to time. Identify the areas that need more practice and work on them.
Get a goodnight sleep
The night before the examination is important. Always have a good rest and at this point you should have studied and retained all that is necessary for you to pass the examination. Late night cramming would only distraught you and make you tense. Lack of sleep can actually affect your performance.
Have a good breakfast
I know someone out there is wondering what food has to do with this article. Trust me a good breakfast is so necessary. On the day, avoid eating food that is high in carbohydrate and sugar, instead eat food that is very high in protein which aids concentration and reduces fatigue.
Arrive early
Always get to the examination center an hour before the time, this will help you relax and will reduce any form of panic rather than rushing in five (5) minutes to the time and then you stand a chance of forgetting or mixing all that you have spent months preparing for. Also make sure that all relevant documents are available with their duplicates if needed.
Answer the easiest questions first
I always lend this advice before going for an examination. Do not waste time on difficult questions. Answer the questions that you know, this would save you a lot of time and also just in case you run out of time you are sure of the answers you were able to answer. Coming back to a skipped question would actually give you a fresh perspective in answering that question.
Don’t panic
Finally be calm. Do not panic; do not start thinking of negative scenarios. Focus on the task ahead, if you get stuck on a particular question, pause and breath slowly. Do not let other applicants around discourage you; remind yourself that you practiced for it and that you actually know it.
Okpodu is the Group Managing Director of School Hunters Integrated Education Marketing Communications Agency.