This document provides tips for students on managing test-taking anxiety and being well prepared for exams. It recommends maintaining a positive attitude, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy meal before the exam, and developing a study schedule. During the exam, students are advised to focus on the question, avoid distractions, use scrap paper, prioritize patient safety, and not overanalyze questions. Managing anxiety through relaxation techniques and arriving early can also help improve exam performance.

1. Test Taking Skills
University of Miami School of Nursing and
Health Studies

2. Be Positive
 Maintaining a positive attitude will help you
succeed.
 Take responsibility for your learning. Avoid
negative talk about the faculty or the exam itself.
 Exams measure performance not your personal
worth.
 Practice positive self- talk.

3. Examples of Affirmations
 “I am an excellent test-taker.”
 “I have a strong knowledge
base in this content.”
 “I will pass this test.”

4. Be Calm
 Being well prepared for an exam will help to
decrease anxiety- Maintain a positive attitude
while preparing for exam is important
 Practice Relaxation
 Breathe deeply, close your eyes and visualize
positive images

5. Be Calm
 Arrive to class early to avoid the stress of being
late
 Avoid the last minute chatter of other students
 Bring everything you will need for the exam such
as your laptop, pencil and calculator if needed.

6. Be Prepared Physically
 Get a good nights sleep prior to the exam. Sleep
deprivation is a leading cause of poor productivity
and performance.
Without a proper amount of sleep your reaction
time, memory and concentration can all be
affected. Don’t cram the night before the exam.

7. Be Prepared Physically
 Choose to wear comfortable, layered clothes
 Eat a healthy but light meal before leaving to take the
exam
 Avoid simple carbohydrates like a donut or danish
 Choose to eat something with protein and fat to
sustain you through the exam; examples
include peanut butter on toast
or an egg sandwich
 Avoid excessive caffeine or other stimulants

8. Be Prepared Academically
 Devise a study schedule in advance of the exam.
Plan to review content area per evening, day, or
weekend for example. Students often feel they
have run out of time.
 Utilize available resources such as your textbook,
on line practice questions, case studies, etc.
 Seek study partners that challenge you. Avoid
study groups that are non productive.
 Refer to study skills presentation for more
information.

9. Test Taking
 When taking a test on the computer, you may
choose to use some of the same strategies that
you use on paper/pencil tests.
1) Cover up or avoid looking at the distractors.
Distractors are the choices/answers listed that
are incorrect.
2) Try to guess what the answer is prior to looking
at the distractors.
3) Focus in on the stem of the question. What is
the question asking?
4) Use scrap paper to draw diagrams or cross out
the distractors you know are incorrect.

10. Test Taking
 5) Note which questions you are experiencing
difficulty with on your scrap paper. You can return
to view them once you are finished going through
the test. You may remember the answer after
going through the entire test.
 6) Think about priorities and what would likely
harm a patient. Often, these tests are checking to
make sure you understand basic knowledge to
prevent injury or recognize decompensation.
Many times, these options are the correct
answers.

11. Test Taking
 7) Don’t read too deeply into the question. Think
about what would apply in general. If you find
yourself using extreme and rare cases to justify
the answer, you are probably over-analyzing.
 8) Avoid using your work-related experiences as
the answer when you are unsure. Often, students
will think back to what they have seen at work
which may not always be BEST practice.

12. Test Taking
 9) Understand that many times the distractor may
be a correct statement, however, the question is
looking for the BEST choice. Read through all
choices carefully.
 10)Bring earplugs if noises bother you.

13. Test-Taking Anxiety
 If you experience a bit of test-taking anxiety at
first (i.e. heart pounding, sweating, difficulty
thinking), just wait it out. Generally, the fight-or-
flight response settles within 5 minutes. You may
want to exercise prior to the exam to relieve
stress if anxiety continues to be an issue. A brisk
walk around campus might help.

14. “Decide what you want,
decide what you are willing
to exchange for it.
Establish your priorities
and go to work.”
H. L. Hunt