The simplest relaxation technique is deep breathing. Lean back in your
chair, relax your muscles, and take three very deep breaths (count to
10 while you hold each one).
There are a variety of meditation techniques that may also work for
you. Each is based on a similar principle— focusing your mind on one
thing to the exclusion of everything else. While you’re concentrating
on the object of your meditation (even if the object is nothing, a non-
sense word, or a spot on the wall), your mind can’t be thinking about
anything else, which allows it to slow down a bit.
The next time you can’t focus, try sitting back, taking three deep
breaths, and concentrating for a minute or two on the word “Ron.”
When you’re done, you should be in a far more relaxed state and
ready to tackle any test.
Preparing for Great Test Scores
Some rites of preparation are pertinent to any test, from a weekly
quiz to the SAT, and everything in between.
Plan Ahead
I admit it. When I was a student, even in college, my attention span
tended to be bounded by weekends. Tell me in October that there’d
be a big test the first week of December and I’d remember, oh, around
November 30th.
Of such habits are cramming, crib sheets, and failing marks made.
The key to avoiding all of these unpleasantries is regular, periodic
review. The more often you review, the less often you will have to
pull all-nighters the week of the test. You already will have stayed on
top of the material, written down and asked questions that arose from
your reviews, and gone over class and textbook notes to make sure
you understand everything. Your last-minute review will be relatively
leisurely and organized, not feverish and harried.
176 How to Study