Hey Mustangs, it’s Kori from The Stampede! As we all know, it is the last cycle of the school year. For the majority of us (except seniors), this means standardized testing. We have been doing it since 3rd grade, so we know what to expect. For freshmen, you will take the Algebra 1 STAAR (if you’re taking that this year.), the English 1 STAAR, and the Biology STAAR. You may also be taking your AP test(s). For sophomores, you will be taking your English 2 STAAR. Leaving for juniors being one of the (arguably) most important year for you. You will be taking the SAT, ACT, and US History STAAR.
Me being a sophomore i’ve been taking the STAAR test for 7 years. Believe me, I know how tiring it is and I hate it just as much as the next person, but there is nothing that any of us can do about it but try our hardest to pass each test the first time so that we can move on to the next and get it all over with faster. So as a student who has made it this far, here are some methods that I use every time I take a test.
Firstly, I ALWAYS chew mint flavored things like gum and mints when im studying, and continue this method when taking the actual test. I’ve been doing this since my first ever STAAR test, and I find that it DOES help me focus better. While some believe that chewing gum takes your focus off of the assignment/test, this has not been the case in my experience.
Another thing that I do leading up to a test is taking all of my notes in ONE notebook, and if my notes are on a separate paper, I keep them in a folder. This way, studying is so much easier when I have an important test coming up. It prevents me from having to scramble for information that I can’t find at the last minute.
Lastly, the most important things that I do are make sure that I get at least 8 hours of sleep AND eat breakfast. Usually, I get 7 hours of sleep if I’m lucky because I stay up late on my phone and watch TV. I know that other people do this too, and normally it’s okay. I still get my classwork done, even if I’m tired. But when I have an important test, I know that I HAVE to sleep beforehand so that I’m not tired during my test. And eating breakfast is also something that I don’t usually do. But when I’m hungry, I can hardly focus. And testing rooms are always DEAD silent, so when someone’s stomach is growling, everyone notices. And I never want to be the person whose stomach is disrupting an entire room full of people taking a test.
These methods are not backed by any research, and I am only speaking from personal experience. However, I always stand by them. These methods have never once failed me, and everyone is different, but these methods just make things easier for me. I’m not saying that they are completely foolproof, nor am I saying that doing these things is the reason that I pass my tests because they aren’t. They just make it easier for me to focus so that I have a better chance at passing, and for me, they always work.
