Reading Comprehension Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 3rd Edition

A P P E N D I X
Preparing for a
Standardized Test
A
1 6 9

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or the library for a study guide that shows you what a
sample test looks like. Or maybe the agency that’s test-
ing you for a job offers a study guide or conducts study
sessions. The fewer surprises you have on test day, the
better you will perform. And the more you know what
to expect, the more confident you will be to handle the
questions.
Review the Material and Skills
You’ll Be Tested On
The fact that you are reading this book means that
you’ve already taken this step. Now, are there other
steps you can take? Are there other subject areas you
need to review? Can you make more improvement in
this or other areas? If you are really nervous or if it has
been a long time since you reviewed these subjects and
skills, you may want to buy another study guide, sign up
for a class in your neighborhood, or work with a tutor.
The more you know about what to expect on test
day and the more comfortable you are with the mate-
rial and skills to be tested, the less anxious you will be
and the better you will do on the test itself.

T h e D a y s b e f o r e t h e Te s t
Review, Don’t Cram
If you have been preparing and reviewing in the weeks
before the exam, there’s no need to cram a few days
beforehand. Cramming is likely to confuse you and
make you nervous. Instead, schedule a relaxed review
of all you have learned.
Physical Activity
Get some exercise in the days preceding the test. You’ll
send some extra oxygen to your brain and allow your
thinking performance to peak on the day you take the
test. Moderation is the key here. Don’t exercise so much
that you feel exhausted, but a little physical activity
will invigorate your body and brain. Walking is a ter-
rific, low-impact, energy-building form of exercise.
Balanced Diet
Like your body, your brain needs proper nutrients to
function well. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables in the
days before the test. Foods high in lecithin, such as fish
and beans, are especially good choices. Lecithin is a pro-
tein your brain needs for peak performance. You may
even consider a visit to your local pharmacy to buy a
bottle of lecithin tablets several weeks before your test.
Rest
Get plenty of sleep the nights before the test. Don’t
overdo it, though, or you’ll make yourself as groggy
as if you were overtired. Go to bed at a reasonable
time, early enough to get the hours of rest you need
to function effectively. You’ll feel relaxed and rested
if you’ve gotten plenty of sleep in the days before you
take the test.
Trial Run
At some point before the test, make a trial run to the
testing center to see how long it takes to get there.
Rushing raises your emotional energy and lowers your
intellectual capacity, so you want to allow plenty of
time on test day to get to the testing center. Arriving ten
or fifteen minutes early gives you time to relax and get
situated.
Motivation
Plan some sort of celebration—with family or friends,
or just by yourself—for after the test. Make sure it’s
something you’ll really look forward to and enjoy. If
you have something planned for after the test, you
may find it easier to prepare and keep moving during
the test.

Te s t D a y
It’s finally here, the day of the big test. Set your alarm
early enough to allow plenty of time to get to the test-
ing center. Eat a good breakfast. Avoid anything that’s