If you've come back to college as an adult, the first time you hear a professor announce a test, you may feel some anxiety. But if you follow some basic steps, you can increase your chances of making a good grade on that test.

1. The first step is taking a good set of notes. "Good" means you capture as much information as possible. If you find yourself "lost" or "drowning" because the course subject matter isn't clear, get help as soon as possible. Help can come from various sources: a classmate who understands the course material; tutors provided by the college; or even an interview with the professor.

2. When you are required to memorize a list of terms and their definitions, or a series of events and their dates, or formulas, here's a way to press them into your brain: get a dictating tape recorder and make a tape in which you recite all those terms that may show up on the exam. Play the tape while you're driving in your car, while you're making a cup of coffee in your kitchen, or while you're getting dressed. Don't worry about memorizing what you hear. If you play the tape(s) over and over, the material will drill itself into your memory.

3. If the professor takes class time to review the class for the upcoming test, ask a polite but straightforward question: "What do you think are the key points for us to study for this test?" Now some professors may say, "Memorize everything", but most are reasonable enough to point out the major emphases that will be covered in the test.

4. If you know someone else who has taken the course you're in with that same professor, ask the person what his/her tests were like: easy, hard, a little of both. Are the tests objective (true-false, multiple choice) or essay? Does the professor ask off-the-wall questions that nobody expected to see on the exam? (If so, that means you better cover EVERYTHING in your notes.)

5. When the test sheets are handed out, don't start by answering the first question. Instead, read over the entire test, to get a feel of what's coming. If some questions look easy to you, answer those first. That will give you confidence to continue to the other questions.

6. If you are stumped by one of the questions, go on to the other questions and answer as many as possible. Then go back to the "stumper". The reason for this is that too much time spent on a hard question eats into the available time for answering the other questions.

7. If there is an essay question, read it first, and then follow up by making some notes (in the margin if necessary) and listing the key points you want to cover. These notes will help you organize your thoughts. For example, if the history professor says, "Name three major causes of World War I", you can start your answer with "Three of the major causes of World War I were..." and then list them. Following that, you will discuss the first cause, then the second cause, and then the third cause. In an essay question, try to use as many specific details as possible, to show the professor you have digested the text material. Writing in generalities may tell the professor you're only superficial in your knowledge or you're faking knowledge when you don't have much.

8. On the final examination, which usually carries a heavy weight toward your final grade in the course, a professor may incorporate questions from tests and quizzes you have already taken. To prepare for this possibility, go over each test after it's graded and get an understanding of the questions you didn't score well on. if necessary, ask the professor to explain where you could have done better. Then when the Big Final shows up, you will be better prepared to make a grade you can brag about.