How to Maximise Your Test and Exam Scores

Updated on August 22, 2009

Many people find examination periods very stressful. Exam and test scores can be a worry at times, especially when they define our future plans of study and work. However, there are some great methods to maximise your marks to give you a wider range of opportunities in life. Some of them are a little obvious, but we all need encouragement.

1. Study!

While this may sound redundant, studying would happen to be the best way to maximise your marks. You cannot rely on your brain to remember every detail that you need to pass an examination with flying colours, so you need to revise the coursework. This, however, does not mean crashing the night before, staying up until all hours and trying to remember what on earth mitosis could possibly refer to. Its best to start study several weeks before the tests.

2. Fluke it.

Never, ever leave questions blank. Leaving a question with no answer severely depletes your chances of getting good marks - especially when you do it over and over again. Always try to write an answer down, even when you have no idea, so that you can hope to pick up a mark or two. Additionally, never leave a multiple choice question blank, either. There's only 4 options, giving you a 25% chance that if you guess, you'll pick the right one.

3. Treat yourself well.

A stressful exam period does not mean that you have to neglect your body and mind in favour of hard study, or any other activity. During any exam period, it is best to get good nights of sleep, eat healthily, drink lots and excercise. This will not only help you recall more information when it comes to exam time, but you will feel less stressed-out about it all.

How do you study for exams or tests of any description?

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Comments 11 comments

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Small town fella 7 years ago from Colorado

Thanks for the post. But if I may add, sometimes the answers for multiple choice question will show up later in the exam in another question. I guess this would fall under fluking it, but just another place to look.

Choke Frantic 7 years ago from Newcastle, Australia Author

Thanks for your comment, Small town fella. What you say is true, and your answer from a previous question may help you in a future question etc. You just need to be observant.

Nemingha 7 years ago

Good tips, thanks for sharing.

abbas73 7 years ago from hubpages

thank you for the information. i also can add that you have to practice as much multiple choice questions as possible to be familiar with this question format.

best essays 7 years ago

Thanks a lot for the post. It's very useful.

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Choke Frantic 7 years ago from Newcastle, Australia Author

Thanks to everyone for your comments =]

abbas73 - During our lifetime, everyone will have experienced many multiple choice questions and should already be familiar with them. My suggestion would be to practice answering the extended response questions.

Jessica Horn 7 years ago

Great tips! I have a good friend who is an SAT tutor, and these are right in line with what he advises.

Beginagainer 6 years ago

When answering a essay test question, start by thinking of basic facts relating to the question. For example if it is a history question think, and jot down on the side somewhere, basic facts like dates, names and events relating to the topic. Then join them all together with sentences. Usually with these questions the professors grades by looking for specific words. If you have all the words they are loking for in there, then you will get a good grade. Remember that in most cases, they are grading a lot of these, and do not have time to get particular. The exception to this rule is in any literature, or composition class. In these cases, grammar and sentence structure are vital.