Test Taking Tips

January 2024 Leadership Blog

Preparing for standardized testing can be intimidating. Having an experienced support system will help you get ready for the big day. Wake Forest Pre-College Programs professional staff members have experience not only navigating the college application process but also the many additional steps along the road to college. Our team has confidence in our Scholars as they prepare for testing.

Here are the best tips curated by our staff to help students feel confident taking standardized exams:

Mackenzie, Program Manager

• Study in a similar environment to one where you’ll take the test.
• Answer every question, even the ones you aren’t sure about! They don’t take points off for wrong answers!

Lauren, Program Manager

• Read all the directions and if able too, look over the entire test before starting. 
• Think positively about yourself! 
• Gather everything you’ll need to take with you in the morning before you go to bed the night before, and make sure to get to the test location early! Being prepared takes off an unnecessary level of stress. 

Elisabeth, Program Coordinator

• Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test.
• Eat a healthy breakfast full of “brain food” – like eggs, fruit, whole wheat cereal, toast and jam, oatmeal, Canadian/turkey bacon. Steer clear of sugary cereals and breakfast pastries that will make you crash during your test!  
• Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water in the morning and bring a water bottle with you to your test. 

Kyla, Executive Director

• Wear a watch, some rooms do not have a clock.
• Bring 2 sharpened pencils, they will not provide pencils.

Becca, Marketing Manager

• Have a sheet of paper and pencil handy to write down your “brain dump” of important formulas and information as soon as you begin the test.
• As you carefully read the question, anticipate the correct answer. Eliminate bad answer choices to find the best answer if you are unsure.

Betsy, Program Director

• Answer the questions you know first and leave time to go back to the questions you skipped.
• Plan out your essay on scratch paper by writing an outline before you write the final draft.