Study Tips and Strategies for the Most Demanding Standardized Tests in Higher Education

Nearly everyone gets nervous before a big test. There are so many ways that something can go wrong, and that's even before getting to the multiple-choice sections. The good news is that in as many ways as things may not go your way, there are tips and suggestions for how to prepare in ways that will help to diminish the chances of things going wrong or of not remembering the correct answers.

While "studying hard" has always been one of the past answers— and it certainly can make a difference in the potential outcome of an exam— it is far from being the only solution. In fact, studying hard does not necessarily mean that things will go well. Any seasoned student has likely learned this lesson the hard way. Sometimes tests are just poorly written, the information that is apparently on the exams is not something that was covered in class (even if it should have been), or there are multiple right answers, but you have to choose the best answer.

Any student has likely come across one of those scenarios, so while studying hard is a good tip, there are a few more that can be offered to help conquer that intimidating exam.

Here are some tips and strategies for increasing the odds of success when taking some of the most demanding standardized tests in higher education.

Study Tips

Education has, for some odd reason, become a competitive arena, where having a higher test score ends up deciding someone's potential future paths. It may not be a wholesome or entirely accurate way to determine someone's intelligence or potential worth, but that's the way the system has been set up. Because of these factors and the myriad of ways in which higher educational institutions have set the standards of entry students have been presented with a collection of tests that have become the doors by which one person may get into the “school of their dreams” or their “fall back school”.

Standardized tests have become the formal and easy way for admissions programs to quickly sort through the candidates. No matter if the test is the ACT, the ACT, GRE, the NCLEX in preparation for nursing school, or any other type of exam, there are a number of ways in which someone might become better prepared to take those tests.

Test Prep Centers

The level of pressure, stress, anxiety, and expectation that attaches itself to the scores derived from taking one of the aforementioned exams is not just real, it is uncomfortably common. While there are legitimate reasons to remain stressed about the potential results of an exam, there are also people who have gone before and have learned some better ways to go about preparing and taking the tests, helping to make even the LSAT a bit easier.

The level of pressure coupled with the drive to succeed has led to the formation of whole companies that help people to prepare for the tests. The teachers, though from a variety of backgrounds, are well versed in a collection of test-taking tips, sturdy resources, and practice exams, all rolled together into a prolonged tutoring program that is open to anyone with the desire and money to spend.

Test Formatting

Every test has its own format, style, and patterns, whether written last minute by a high school adjunct or a school board. This means that there is information that can sometimes be recognized and used as a way to help inform an answer— even if it is just a guess. There are entire websites and hundreds of books that have been written over the years that break down sections, topics, formatting, and sometimes even the exact number of questions to a specific exam.

By looking into these summaries, a student can become more familiar and hopefully comfortable with what to expect, thus increasing the likelihood of success in even the most challenging sections.

Figure Out the Weaknesses

Most people have a subject or two that they are just not very good at. There is nothing shameful about this, but it can still lead to a great amount of stress when it comes time to take that exam. Students who go out of their way to embrace these weaknesses by acknowledging them as a factor that needs to be improved upon rather than avoided can make a big difference when it comes time to actually sit for the exam.

So, find out which sections are the hardest and then spend extra time honing those skills and knowledge rather than doubling down on a subject matter that comes easily.