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The best way to take a test is with three elements: how well you prepared, how well you take the test, and how well previous tests have prepared you.

Before the test, make sure to ask the teacher plenty of questions, preferably after class ends and nobody else is around, if you want. Ask them what will be covered on the test, find out how you will be tested (true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, etc.), then make a study schedule for yourself at home. Make sure to study what you need to, or if you're like me, don't study too much at once, or you'll have a mental breakdown and forget everything. Just learn a little bit at a time, 15 minutes or so, take a break, and come back to it in about an hour. Lastly, visualize your success; picture yourself taking the test with no problem, mastering every question, and recieving a perfect score the next day. All the while, say to yourself: "I prepare thoroughly for all tests and love showing how much I've learned." I know it's cheezy, but that's how they teach you in college to believe in yourself.

Next, during the test itself, before your handed the test, relax, and visualize yourself passing again, and restate your affirmation (that little quoted thingy above). Take a few deep breathes before you begin until you are completely calm. Next, skim the test. This helps you know what questions will be worth what, and sometimes, the answer to some questions are in others. Make sure you follow the directions carefully, too, and start witn the easiest questions, since those points, done right off the bat, will at least be given to you for sure, rather than not getting to a few of them because you got stuck on a harder one. Lastly, offer an answer for every question. Better chance of getting it right, right?

After the test, regardless of the score, reward yourself. You worked hard to get the best score you could get, and should be proud of yourself. On the day you get your test back, go over the correct answers (if your teacher gives you them), write them down on the test or notes, and study them so that you don't miss them again.

All these tricks are what I used to graduate high school last year. Oh, and one more piece of advice for note taking: it's always the best idea to rewrite your notes two or three times after you take them home. Repeatition is the best way to stick something in your head. Hope I was able to help. Le poof! burning_eyes

D: Oh dear, I'm so sorry for you.
Tests freak me out. I don't really have any methodical way of dealing with the anxiety of the test; I just kind of go in there and take it while freaking out. And that's about it.

A tip I have though, is chewing gum. If your teachers will allow you to do so, it helps to calm the nerves. Also, go as slow as you can without taking too much time on one problem. If you're having trouble with a problem, skip it and come back to it later.

Always check your work. It's a lot easier to deal with the anxiety when you're through with the test. And because you were anxious through the whole test, you may have slipped up and skipped a question or something. If you check your answers and reread all of the problems you'll have more of a chance to correct a mistake.

thanks for all the suggestions and help.