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crummy test taker
ok i know there's no such thing as being a "bad test taker", but i was wondering if anyone had advice on doing really well. i'm a good student and i study hard before a test, and when i get the test i know everything on it, but when i get it back i've made the stupidest mistakes, even when i've quadruple checked. or if i don't remember a simple fact, i start doubting myself on the simplest questions that are meant to be easy points. i don't follow my gut, i don't know why.i've searched online and they say you need to believe in yourself,but i'm at a low point where if i say that to myself it's like i know i'm only trying to fool myself, and that doesn't work. does anyone have any tips on not doubting yourself or making stupid mistakes? thanks for the help!
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Why is there 'no such thing as a bad test taker'?
There are lots of things that make someone not so good at that: Poor reading comprehension is a big one. So is stress or rushing.
If you are making mistakes that you know better then making, then you are probably rushing and getting flustered. When you start to feel upset and doubtful, try closing your eyes and taking ten, very deep, very long breaths. This will help you heart rate slow down and clear your mind. But you have to really dedicate yourself too it, and not rush through it or spend the time beating yourself up. Perhaps even practice that deep breathing relaxing at less stressful times so that you know exactly what to do when you do get stressed.
Skip questions if they upset you, and come back to them at the end when you are more confident about how much time you have to commit to them. I circle the questions I skip so I can find them easily afterwards.
To check for small spelling mistakes or silly errors I check my work this way: I read each sentence, starting at the end, backwards. That way I check each word for spelling or silly mistakes. Then I read the same sentence forward, to check for gramar and punctution.
After I've done everything that way. I read it forward, aloud. I know you can't always actually read aloud when you are in a busy room, but silently move your lips with each word anyways. That forces you to actually READ what you wrote, not just blow through it and miss the same mistakes you missed the first time.
Use those tricks to make the most of the time you have and not to get flustered. Just mindlessly 'checking' your work doesn't really work well. You need to have a pattern and know what you are checking for. Because it isn't just about being confident in yourself, it's about giving yourself every reason to be confident!
Also, after you have checked it a third time, just put it aside. Even if you still have more time to do it, if you have answered every question and checked it all three times, just turn it over and put your head down. You are done. Anything else you do at that point will only upset you.
Good Luck.
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Tests are strange things, they effect everyone differently and everyone has their own little methods of dealing with them. Personally for me what's always worked was I'd make sure that I go in to the test with a very happy, up beat attitude, and I take my time just enjoying how really rediculous the tests normally are. If you spend your time relaxed and just enjoying things instead of stressing and wondering if you got things wrong then strangly enough, you'll find that you'll do a lot better. Just remember, if you miss a question, it's not the end of the world, it's just a test. If you make a simple mistake, well so be it, everyone does from time to time, no need to beat yourself up on it.
One thing that may help, if you're allowed to have music at whatever school you go to, make a playlist full of all of the songs you know that just put you in that really upbeat bouncy mood, because if you can get in to that mood you're set.
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