Whether or not you are still in school, chances are that you will need to pass a test of some kind in the near future. If you are a student, of course, you will be all too familiar with the many tests that your teachers will administer throughout a semester. If you are not a student, you may have to take a test to obtain a driver's license, or a new job. While you are preparing for a test, you should leave nothing to chance; knowing how to study is actually just as essential for your success as your skills and knowledge. You should know precisely what, when, where and how to study; you should also know where you will be tested, and become acquainted with the testing facilities.
What will the test be about? As superfluous as it may sound, knowing exactly what your test will cover is the first thing you should worry about. Fail to do so, and you may run into three common mistakes. First of all, you could end up not covering all the necessary material and turn your test into a lottery-like game, as you try to guess the right answer or to find the inspiration for anything to write. Conversely, you can also cover too much material and go beyond what is the test's scope. Knowing more is generally a good thing, but unnecessarily studying the intricacies of a subject may generate confusion and waste precious time. Finally, relying on your knowledge or past experience, and supported by an unshakeable optimism, you could also assume that you know exactly what a test is going to be about and decide not to seek any clarification. This attitude is particularly difficult to eradicate, as any incident that may happen - usually in the form of an unusually low grade - is typically explained as the unavoidable consequence of the examiner's madness.
When should you study? This is the question that you should ask yourself after you found out the topics covered in your test. When you can calculate or estimate the size of the material that you have to study, in fact, you should lay down a study plan.
