With Quarterly exams being right around the corner at Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School, stress levels can be high, especially for the freshmen. Being in a new environment in a new school, can make trying to navigate new challenges look intimidating. However, there are extremely effective and fool-proof methods in order to face your Quarterlies calmly and confidently.

#1: Don’t wait until last minute to study

Although it may seem easier to push all the studying back to the day before the exam, it will only decrease your scores and personal confidence when going into the exam. Give yourself at least a two-day window, so all the information isn’t compiled in one night. By spreading out the necessary information, you are able to get more done quicker and allow yourself to get a good night’s rest before the exam which is crucial for brain performance. It may seem like an annoyance, but if you give yourself extra time, it will be extraordinary how much more information you can obtain and truly memorize.

#2: Do not put too much stress onto yourself

During the quarterly season, there are so many responsibilities thrown your way, and it can be nerve-wracking to have to deal with everything all at once. You have to handle the stress of studying, the stress of what the exam entails, and having to take all of them within the span of a week. However, you need to make sure to leave time for the important things in your life. Even though exams are important and you need to prepare for them, they are not everything. Sleeping, eating, taking showers, and spending time with family are also extremely important in the grand scheme of things. Giving yourself time to do these other things besides focusing on your exams will make the process better and less stressful because of the breather you are allowing yourself to have. Constant studying with no breaks will make you feel burnt out by the time the exam rolls around. So, by the time you have to take the rest and it truly matters, You will feel tired, not energized, and definitely not ready to take an exam.

#3: Take your time

It is a tale as old as time that people can make silly mistakes on tests that they didn’t mean to make due to the fact they rushed through their exam. Even if you know the material like the back of your hand, you need to make sure to double check your work and take your time. It is extremely easy to bubble in the wrong letter on a scan tron or circle the wrong answer, or even make mistakes in your work during math or science. By taking the time to look over your work and making sure you choose the best and most accurate answer, you are doing yourself a huge favor. It is human nature to make mistakes, even when we don’t mean to, and by flying through a test, you can cause more harm than good.

#4: Make educated guesses

Nobody in the world knows everything, it is impossible. Sometimes we can study the material and memorize it all, however, it still slips out of our mind. Use the information and knowledge you have on the topic as a whole and make an educated guess based on what you already know. Not only will taking educated guesses on questions you may not have a direct answer to improve your grade on the exam, but it will also give you confidence in your abilities to take difficulties in stride.

Good luck McClancy students on your exams!