You’ve studied, taken practice exams, and now your test day is approaching. So now what?
During the week of your exam, it’s important to continue to review content but avoid cramming and try not to take a practice exam in the days leading up to the exam. At this point, your goal is to work on your mental game, regroup and refresh, and do anything you can to be on autopilot on the day of the exam – you don’t want to expend your cognitive resources trying to figure out what to wear, locating the testing center, or navigating detours because of traffic. Use the tips below to help things go smoothly on exam day:
Travel Logistics
- Confirm your exam time and location. If possible, drive to the testing center before exam day so you know the route, identify alternative routes, and have an idea of how long it will take to get there.
- Make sure your vehicle has gas and arrange for someone else to take you as back-up in case you have car trouble.
- If you’re staying in a hotel the night before, confirm your reservation and try to arrive earlier in the day so you have time to unwind.
Day Before the Exam
- Eat a good, well-balanced meal.
- Plan to do something relaxing the afternoon or evening before your exam.
- Don’t do anything new or demanding. Stick to low-key, enjoyable activities that won’t task your mental resources (e.g., watch a movie you’ve seen before).
- Try to avoid studying. If there’s a nagging topic or fact that you just can’t recall, then look it up, and put the materials away.
- Don’t take a practice exam. Save your energy and mental resources for the actual exam and consider how an unexpected score might impact how you feel going into the exam.
- Locate your IDs, pick out your clothing, and pack your snacks/water if you’re taking them.
- Practice anxiety management strategies.
- Go to bed early.
Exam Day
- Eat a reliable, healthy meal 2-3 hours before your exam.
- Allow extra time for traffic and unexpected situations.
- Arrive 30 minutes early for your scheduled exam time.
In the Testing Room
- Remind yourself that you’re well prepared and you have a solid foundation of knowledge.
- If you notice yourself getting anxious, take several slow deep-breaths to relax.
- Ask for a white board and use it to dump any information you’ve been holding on to. You’ll want to free up your working memory so you can use it to work through questions.
- Read all the instructions and take the tutorial, even if you don't think you need it! It doesn’t count against your time.
- Use the taking strategies you’ve practiced.
- Read each question carefully. If you get stuck, narrow it down to 50/50, answer the question, flag it and move on.
- Remember to take breaks. You can either take short breaks in your seat to close your eyes and reset or consider taking a break outside the testing room if you find yourself getting restless.
- Review your flagged items BUT avoid changing your answers unless you come across new information or have an a-ha moment.