It happens to the best of us: You get to class on time. You find that everyone is anxiously awaiting the arrival of your professor. Your friend leans over and asks: “How do you think you’re going to do on the test?” Then it hits you. You completely forgot you had a test today.

So what do you do now? Read these tips below to avert this common test-taking crisis:

Don’t panic: This is everyone’s first reaction when they forget about tests, but it is the worst thing you can do. Your thinking becomes cloudy when you start to worry. Stay calm and confident. Breathe, and tell yourself that you can get through it.

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I don’t mean to brag, but I have taken roughly 50 tests in my college career, and I’m proud to say I have had only two C’s. The rest were A’s and B’s. No, I’m not a genius, but years of test taking has taught me the best strategy to acing any exam.

This year, skip the all-night cramming, and read these tips on how to successfully prepare for your finals.

No more than a cup: Too much caffeine can make you anxious and make you feel apprehensive about the upcoming test. So, if you need an energy boost when you get out of bed, only have one cup of coffee, or get your energy from natural sources.

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Do you spend hours studying for a test only to get a C or lower? Most of the time, it’s not how long you study for a test, it’s how you study for a test that earns you an A.

Students often cram three to five hours the night before an exam, and they still don’t feel like they’re prepared. Though cramming may work for some students, it didn’t work for me, and if you’re getting C’s on your test, it’s not working for you either.

Here’s five ways to improve your study habits:

Take notes: This is an obvious solution, but some students think they don’t need to take notes to do well in a class. In my experience, however, good note-taking has gotten me several A’s. Writing something down helps with memorization. You don’t have to fill a whole spiral notebook with notes, just write down keywords. Here’s a hint: if your professor writes something down on the board, that probably means it will be on the test, so write that down too. Read the rest of this entry »