7 tips on how to CRUSH your next exam!

Written by Oklahoma DaVinci scholar, Director of Launch Academy, and University Guest Speaker

 

Warning – this article contains explosive information.  If you’re a couldn’t-care-less, pusillanimous student, you should probably turn away right now and go back to playing Call of Duty, watching Jersey Shore, or some other nonsense activity.

Still with me?  Alright then, strap yourself in.

Following these guidelines could be the difference between a B and an A, if not more so!  Bear in mind, some of this stuff is “duh” stuff but the reason you don’t have an A is because you’re not doing it!  If you wanted to get a 6-pack, reading about doing sit-ups is not the same as actually doing sit ups.

Tip #7: PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS!Seriously, unless you’re superman, if you don’t take any notes in class, you might as well drop your expected grade by a whole letter.  In the very least, write down the formulas and definitions they write on the board and any examples they do with you.  By the way, when your teacher repeats something more than twice, chances are you’re probably going to see it again. *hint, hint*

Tip #6: ASK YOUR TEACHER FOR HELP.

Newsflash – Your teacher is not a professional super villain out to get you.  Simply asking what concepts you should study for the upcoming test can lend you some game-changing advice that other students won’t have!  Also, doing so shows the teacher that you care about doing well, which always works in your favor.  The more info you have about the test, the more concentrate and less wasteful your study time will be!  Which leads me to my next point…

Tip #5: FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, STUDY!“Oh yeah, I didn’t even study for this test, bro.”

If I had a dollar for each time I heard that, I would have an equal number of dollars for each time I wanted to smack somebody across the face.  Are you crazy?!  You wouldn’t try to run a race if you knew you spent the last 2 weeks eating Locos Tacos from Taco Bell and watching reality court TV shows, so why would you think you’d do well on a test that you haven’t done anything for in the past 2 weeks either??  I’m about to drop a bomb of knowledge:

15 minutes a day reviewing your most difficult subjects is all it takes.  If you ride a bus, there’s your bus ride.  It’s that easy.

Tip #4: EAT SOMETHING SWEET BEFORE TAKING THE TEST.Woah! Didn’t expect that did you?  Glucose is the form of sugar that travels in your bloodstream to fuel the mitochondrial furnaces responsible for your brain power.  Give your brain the fuel it needs and watch it burn those test questions away.

Tip #3: GO WITH YOUR FIRST ANSWER.Several research studies have shown that, normally, your first answer is your right answer – you just subconsciously know it.  Now, this does not mean you leave your brain at home and “listen to your heart.”  Go over the question and make sure you answer makes sense.  Which urges me to tell you…

Tip #2:  ALWAYS CHECK YOUR ANSWERS!This is probably the biggest test killer out there and nobody’s doing anything to stop it! Why? They’re lazy.  But not you, or else you wouldn’t be reading this.  There’s a saying: “There’s never dumb questions – only dumb answers.”  Don’t fall prey this common grade paralyzer!

Tip #1:  ASK FOR (AND DO!) EXTRA CREDIT.If a friend or a relative ever offered you free money, I don’t think your reply would be, “No thanks.  I don’t really need that.”  But that’s what students do when they don’t do extra credit!  You should be studying anyways, so why not get points for it too?!  Most teachers are pretty agreeable when it comes to assigning extra credit and will work with you (the fact that you’re asking for it shows your concern for the class).  If, however, you do have a teacher who is half-gargoyle and will not give you extra credit (they are out there),  at least ask them for advice on how to raise your grade in the class.

Also, (and I shouldn’t have to say this) try to turn in all your homework, even if it is late. Don’t try to use extra credit to make up for things that you didn’t do earlier in the term.  And be nice to teacher!  Rolling your eyes, talking to your buddy, doing the chicken dance in class, and then trying to be nice rarely ever works.

If you follow these steps, I GUARANTEE you that your next test grade will be of rockstar status!

STAY SMART.
Dominick