#31: 5 TIPS ON HOW TO ACE YOUR TEST SCORE

Many students do face challenges when it comes to getting an excellent grade (I was once at this point too). As such I felt the need to broaden my horizon by finding a possible solution.

This led me to findings that changed my mind-set and habits on how to tackle my fear of mathematics. I can't say I've figured it all out at the moment. Thus, what I've written here is merely what I've found beneficial, and I think will be beneficial to you also.

The tips are as follows:

Tip #1: Have the Right Mind-Set

In whatever you do, having the right mind-set boosts your mental preparedness to a great level. 

Most students spend a great amount of time complaining of how hard a course is, but what if they had spent more time embracing the situation and working hard using effective techniques towards passing with an excellent grade? Probably they'll perform better. 

As described by Thomas Frank in his book 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades, the best mind-set you can have as a person who is preparing for a test is to simply SCAR—oh! He meant Stop Complaining and Read.

Just this slight change in perception can significantly affect the kind of grade you can have.

Tip #2: Be a Ruthless Planner

Creating effective systems for dealing with disorganization is as important as eating three square meals everyday if you really want to ace your scores. 

To do so, you must be a ruthless planner.

As a student, it is important to plan ahead so as to stay organized. You can set up a planner or a to-do list at the beginning of every week before the week starts so as to have an idea of what's coming throughout the week.

I know it can be challenging to do so, but you need to do it. If you can't do it, then have a daily planner instead—all you have to do is to note down your activities of the day once you wake up—your time-table, extracurriculars and anything else. Not in your head, but in written form.

This will help in having clarity in your thoughts. It works pretty well for me. I think it will for you also.

Tip #3: Don't Procrastinate

Procrastination is more like an addiction or a spirit that prompts you to failure without you even knowing.

It has to do with delaying an act of doing something until a later date because you are not comfortable doing it or because you are just lazy.

Thus, it is important to be cautious of activities which make you procrastinate—it could be anything; maybe your phone, your laptop or even your dislike for the material you are reading. 

In order to get excellent grades, you must find a way to deal with it—by staying away from things which make you procrastinate. 

Without procrastination, you can do a lot. With procrastination, you can't do enough.

Tip #4: Read Smartly

How often you read something is not important; how you read it is what matters. - Anonymous

I've come across quite a number of students who perform woefully despite working hard to get an excellent grade. Why? Because they are dispensing their energy in the wrong way.

Look, it's not a matter of how long you read, but a matter of how smart you read using effective and efficient techniques. And to do so, you must understand the kind of material or concept you're studying.

For instance, if it's a tough mathematical concept like differential equations that's giving you hard time, you might consider going back to understand basic integration and differentiation first—that's how to read smartly—and this applies to other fields also.

Another way to read smartly is by having intermittent breaks as you read complex concepts or ideas. You can read for twenty-five minutes, then as soon the time elapses, you can decide to take five minutes break before you eventually continue.

By doing so, you won't get tired easily and you'll assimilate easier and faster.

Reading smartly also entails knowing how you will be assessed, be it orally, in written or whatever manner. This helps in knowing what approach to have in mind when preparing for a test.

Knowing how you'll be assessed gives you a chance to know how exactly to study past questions. Believe me, it helps a lot. It's one sure way to acing your scores. 

Know how you'll be assessed. Study the past questions of different years. Read smartly. 

That's the secret.

Tip #3: Have a Consistent Reading Schedule

The whole aim of having the right mindset, planning well and reading smartly is to have a consistent reading schedule. 

In order to achieve a lot, reading across a wide span of time is important. 

Always disintegrate the concepts you need to learn into chunks. Don't try to learn everything at a go, say a day or two before exam. If you intend on doing that, that's one sure way to messing up yourself.

Having a consistent reading schedule right from the begining of a semester is key. Reading in this manner enables you to understand and also commit the concepts you're learning into your long term memory.

Do so, I'm sure you won't regret it.

Tip #4: Ask Questions

My friend, if you don't know the road ahead, ask questions. That said, if you're finding it hard to understand a particular concept or idea, ask questions. I mean, reasonable questions from people whom you know that have a better understanding.

It could be your lecturer, your senior, your course mate or even the internet.

Asking questions will make it easier for you. The truth is, no one knows everything. And in order to be excellent at something you must first start at a point in which you know nothing.

Tip #5: Pray Hard.

Yes, you heard me right? Pray hard.