If you’re reading this, you may have a big test or final within the next few days that you’ve barely studied for. In addition, you probably want to uncover the secret to acing it without studying! In short, sorry to disappoint but there is no way to ace a test without knowing the material. But wait…don’t go away yet! Keep reading and you can find ways to increase your chances of doing better on that upcoming killer test than expected.
Talk To The Teacher
An often overlooked way to get better insight on what type of questions are going to be on the test and what material will be covered is to pay a visit to your teacher during his or her office hours. This is not the same as asking about the test during class time. During office hours, the teacher is able to focus on your specific strengths and weaknesses and guiding you in studying the right material for the test. Many students have found that the teacher may give great hints about the test during a one-on-one visit. At the least, it shows the teacher that you have an interest in doing well on the test or final!
Review Your Notes
This is an obvious hint. You definitely need to spend a couple hours reviewing your class notes so as to get an idea of what topics your teacher will cover on the test. Simply going through the textbook may not be as beneficial since many teachers use it as a supplemental reference tool. The textbook should be used to clarify topics from the class notes. In addition, the textbook can be used to get extra practice problems to work on in order to prepare for test day. Try doing a couple easy, a couple medium, and a couple hard problems in order to get an idea of the range of questions that may be asked on the test.
Study with Studious Friends
If you’re really in trouble because you completely don’t understand anything that’s been covered in class up to test time, you need to pair up with your studious friends so that they can explain the topics to you in an understandable way. Being around others who get the material will probably not result in the essential concepts magically rubbing off on you, but it’s definitely a start and can lead to success if utilized in the right way. Also remember that this is not the time to hang out with those friends who haven’t been following in class either! That will only lead to more despair on your part and is a surefire way to do poorly on the test.
Recruit the Ultimate Lifesaver
If all other possibilities seem hopeless, it’s probably time to get a tutor! A tutor may not be able to work miracles, but he or she can definitely help you strategize and learn as much material as humanly possible in the remaining time. Be sure to recruit a knowledgeable tutor who really understands the subject whether it’s mathematics, science, English, or a foreign language. Also, be sure that the tutor is compatible with your learning style so that you can learn everything you need to know as soon as possible without having to overcome personality or even communication hurdles!
In summary, to have the best shot at acing a test (without having studied much), you need to talk to the teacher during office hours, thoroughly review your notes, study with your studious friends, and hire a tutor if needed!
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