By: Tydus Chase  

     With test season right around the corner, The Squire staff thought it would only be fitting to provide the best tips to help you ace your exam or get an early start on studying for the next test session.  

     Whether you are taking final exams, the SAT, the ACT, or state standardized tests, you will have strategies to perform well on any of them by the end of this article.  

     Junior Kinzlea Chase was recently questioned regarding how she approaches tests and exams to be able to perform well on tests in any subject. 

     Studying is always one of the most time-consuming parts of exam preparation. Whether you are making notecards, watching YouTube videos, or reading the textbook, it all takes time. Chase said the best way she has found to study is to rewrite and color-code her notes.  

     Chase also said that if you are waiting until the last minute to study, “just don’t, cramming never works to prepare you for anything.” She recommends starting to study for a unit test one week before, and final exams or the SAT at least two to three months in advance so that you can cover all the material.  

     When it comes to studying for the SAT, you should use every resource that you have available to you, including study guides, YouTube videos, and tutoring. Senior Bowen Lindell was asked how he would prepare if he took the SAT again. Lindell said, “I would do more of the practice tests they offer on Bluebook, so that I was more familiar with the type of questions that are asked.”  

     Lindell and Chase both agreed that you should try to stay calm during exams and never second-guess yourself, because your first instinct is usually correct. Lindell also went on to say, “skip questions you can’t answer in a timely manner and come back to them later.” This piece of advice is very important because answers can sometimes be found later in the test.  

    When taking your next exam, be sure to study ahead of time, get plenty of sleep the night before, and avoid unnecessary stress. Good luck to everyone preparing for their next exam.