Exams & Tests
Prepare, revise and perform under pressure.
12 articles
Essential guides
How to Prepare for an Exam
How to prepare for an exam whether you have two months, one month or under two weeks left, with a sample reading schedule and an emergency study plan.
ReadHow to Pass a Test or Exam
Learn how to pass a test or exam, even in a subject you dislike, in three steps: assess where you are, aim higher than a pass and master the essentials.
ReadHow to Study for Exams
Learn how to study for exams: turn worry into action, build a road map to the exam date, keep an "I don't know" list and check your progress every week.
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How to Decide What to Study When Preparing for a Test
Learn how to separate key material from the rest when preparing for a test, using a three-column approach, studying to the lecture and spotting class trends.
ReadAce the SAT, Part 1: Test-Day and Reading Comprehension Tips
How to prepare for SAT test day, from sleep and clothing to arriving early, plus practical tips for answering reading comprehension questions well.
ReadHow to Pass Difficult Exams and Subjects
Passing a difficult exam starts with rethinking the word "difficult." Learn why hard subjects are just unfamiliar ones, and how to make them easy to grasp.
ReadHow to Write an Essay Exam
Learn how to prepare for and write an essay exam: make a plan, don't worry about details while drafting, list your key topics and make your answer captivating.
ReadBringing Food to an Exam: Is It a Good Idea?
Should you bring snacks to an exam? Weigh the pros, like steady energy and staying alert, against the cons, like a sugar crash and distraction.
ReadAce the SAT, Part 2: Test-Day Strategies
Practical test-day strategies for the SAT: stay calm, manage your time, skip and return to hard questions, and use elimination to make educated guesses.
ReadHow to Avoid Cheating on a Test
Cheating on tests is common in college. Learn two simple ways to avoid it: keep away from cheaters at exam time and ignore the voice telling you to cheat.
ReadWhy Studying the Night Before an Exam Is a Bad Idea
We're always told not to cram the night before an exam. Learn the main reason why: without enough study time and sleep, you simply won't remember much.
ReadAce the SAT, Part 3: Managing Your Time on Test Day
Why time management matters on the SAT: keep one eye on the clock, budget time for each section and avoid spending too long on the questions you know well.
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