8 Things To Do On Exam Day

The day has arrived, and you will finally take the exam you have been preparing for all week. Hopefully you have gotten a good night's sleep and a good breakfast. Now it is off to school to take the exam(s). These are some suggestions to help you get in the right frame of mind and remain relaxed so you can do your best:

1. Arrive on time  Be sure to get to the classroom with just enough time to find a seat, prep your materials and relax. Arriving too early can lead to distractions (e.g. excess talking, last minute review, or disagreements with classmates about concepts causing confusion)
2. Come prepared  Be sure you bring all materials you will need for the test (e.g. pencils/pens, erasers, notes/textbook (if it is an open notes/open book test), calculator, etc). 
3. Don't defeat yourself  Approach the exam with confidence. Trust that you have prepared as best you can and are confident in your abilities.
4. Understand instructions  Read instructions more than once if necessary. If you are still unclear regarding what to do, ask for clarification.
5. Manage your time  If you get stuck on a question, mark it, move along, and come back to it later.
6. Look for clues  Try to identify key terminology that will help you know how to go about answering the question/solving the problem. If you have to write an essay and experience Writer's Block , move on to another question.
7. Time is running out  Don't panic. Stay calm and finish what you can. You will make careless errors if you begin to rush.
8. Check your work  If time permits, go through the entire test and check your work.

---