English STAAR tests were held at Memorial this past week, and there’s still biology, U.S. history and math will be coming in the next two weeks.
Mental and physical preparation can help you to have the best performance possible. Here are some tips to prepare yourself for the exam:
Tip No. 1: Prioritize sleep
Sleep is critical to the learning process, exam performance and well-being. Students have found that if you stay awake for 18 hours straight, that is like having a blood level of 0.5. In other words, it’s like being legally drunk. Your ability to focus, think and learn will be seriously impaired. You can’t adapt to getting less sleep. Adolescents need 9 -10 hours of sleep every night.
Tip No. 2: Incorporate movement breaks into your study sessions
Movement is your friend when it comes to studying for exams. Research shows engaging in regular physical movement will help you to study more effectively. Firstly, it’s a great way to relieve stress and release feel good chemicals. Secondly, it gets the blood flowing more efficiently to your brain which can give you a cognitive boost.
Tip No. 3: Eat a healthy breakfast
Research has found that students who skip breakfast experience a decrease in cognitive performance and alertness compared to students who eat breakfast. Eating a nutritious breakfast will give you a cognitive boost before an exam. It will also help you to feel fuller for longer, stabilize your mood and give you plenty of energy to get through the exam.
Tip No. 4: Hydrate properly in the days leading up to the test
Your brain and body perform their best when they are properly hydrated. On the days leading up to your test, make sure to drink enough water and other healthy fluids. On test day, drink an amount of water that you can comfortably tolerate, considering you’ll be sitting for a long test.
Tip No. 5: Relax the day before test day
The day before the test day is not the time to try to cram in final lessons or do tons of practice questions. Rather, use that time to relax and clear your head for the test. Do something fun but not overly strenuous. Get some light exercise. See a movie. Go out for dinner. Do anything that makes you feel good. You’ll need a fresh mind the next day.
