Tests can strike fear into the heart of even the most courageous student.
Students taking a standardized exam soon, such as the SAT, ACT or GRE, may be stressed out about test day. You may be especially worried about the exam's written English section, which tests your knowledge of spelling, vocabulary, sentence structure and organization. You need to adequately prepare for the exam. If you don't take an active role in studying, it will be harder to get into the right college or possibly get your dream job one day.
Instructions
1. Consult a study guide. Don't rely on your own understanding of the test materials. Pick out a book written by experts on the subject, preferably more than one. Study the base materials, and tips and tricks to bypass common test pitfalls and achieve a higher score. Use any vocabulary cards or flashcards provided by the guide. Consider purchasing your own if none are provided.
2. Take the practice tests. Merely studying the information about your written English test rotely won't cut it---you need to practice under the same circumstances as the actual test so you know what to expect. Set up a timer and quiet room. Ask family or roommates not to disturb you for several hours. Take the practice test within the amount of time the real one will be administered.
3. Review your mistakes and note your biggest weaknesses. Focus on getting better in those areas before moving on to others. For example, if you continually get wrong answers because of pronoun-verb agreement, review the rules that apply to that concept thoroughly before taking the next practice exam.
4. Put away your reference materials. During the actual test, you won't have access to a dictionary, thesaurus or other reference books. Study the appropriate words in these materials before taking the practice tests. Reduce your reliance on them while you prepare for the exam to increase your confidence and writing abilities.
5. Take a study course for your standard written English test. This is especially helpful for the writing sections---an instructor can individually review your weakest areas and assist you in learning create better sentences and paragraphs to achieve a higher score.
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