Make Optional Assignments Mandatory
Sometimes, in addition to your regular reading and other assignments,
the teacher will assign optional reading at the beginning of a course.
These books, articles, and monographs may never be discussed in any
class—but material from them may be included on a test, especially
a final exam. If you have neglected to add this supplementary read-
ing to your regular calendar, but wish to read them before the test,
make sure you allow enough time to buy or find these books. A lot of
other students may have also left such reading to the last minute, and
you may be unable to find the material you need if you wait too long.
Pens, Pencils...a Candy Bar
Lastly, bring to the test whatever materials you need, from pens and
pencils to calculators. I also recommend— especially for a long test
like the SAT or ACT—that you have a candy bar, hard candies,
granola bar, or some other “quick energy” snack to munch when you
need to give yourself a figurative slap in the face.
Although many testing booklets will include room for notes, it may
not be sufficient for your purposes. If you are asked to write three,
five, or even more essay questions, you will want a lot of scratch paper
to outline and organize your thoughts before you put pen to paper.
Likewise, a particularly complex math test may quickly use up every
square inch of margin, so bring along a separate writing tablet or even
a stack of scrap paper. There are few situations in which their use
won’t be allowed.
If You Didn’t Listen Before...
Review, review, review. If you don’t follow my advice for periodic
review, set aside the time to review and study a week or two before
the test. Most colleges—and many high schools—offer a reading or
study period, usually the week before midterms or finals, when no
classes are offered. Library hours are often extended. Take advan-
tage of this time.
178 How to Study