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What to Do the Night before and the Day of the
Exam
- Spend your last waking hours calmly reviewing what you
have learned. This is not the time to try to learn new
material.
- Go over your notes one last time right before you go to
bed. You will remember what you did last, so make this
activity the last thing you do before your head hits the
pillow.
- Make sure you get a good night’s sleep. The less sleep
you get, the less clearly you will be able to think and
write during the exam.
- Get up early enough on exam day so you have time to
follow your normal routine and get to campus relaxed.
- Try to get to campus a little early, just in case there
is an accident on the freeway or you can’t find a parking
spot.
- Find a relaxing place on campus where you can glance
over your notes. The cafeteria is a good place. Sit alone
and get something light to eat so you have some energy
during the exam.
- Do NOT discuss the subject matter with other students.
If they are nervous or negative, this can affect you. And
if they present a point of view you had not thought about,
you may experience “test anxiety.” See #10 if this happens.
- Get to the exam room early enough to get a good seat. A
good seat is one where you can see the board, can see the
clock, have good lighting, are not sitting near the
professor, and not sitting near a distracting student.
- Glance over your notes one last time.
- Know how to handle test anxiety. Some anxiety is good,
because it can stimulate you and motivate you. Too much
anxiety is self-defeating. If you feel too much anxiety, do
the following:
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Picture your summary notes and rehearse key
concepts mentally.
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Visualize yourself in the most relaxed place
you have ever been.
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Take several deep breaths and relax your
entire body.
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Think about how good you will feel after the
test.
If test anxiety hits during the test, think
positively about the test items. A very good technique is
to write down key concepts on a blank sheet of paper as soon as
you get the test. Then, if your mind goes blank, you can
look at what you have written and this should lead to other
concepts related to them.
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