Being well-rested will improve your chances of performing well on an exam, even if you have not studied for it! You will think more clearly and be less likely to make simple mistakes due to being tired. Got to bed on time the night before you have to take an exam. For example, if you normally go to bed at 10:00 pm, make sure you are in bed at 10:00 pm. Taking an exam on an empty stomach is a bad idea because you will likely have more difficulty concentrating if your stomach is growling. Eat a good breakfast the morning of the exam to help fuel your brain and keep you focused. Some good breakfast options include:  A bowl of oatmeal with fresh berries, walnuts, and brown sugar A hard-boiled egg, 2 slices of buttered whole wheat toast, and a banana Cottage cheese, fruit salad, and a bran muffin Feeling stressed may cause you to freeze or panic while taking an exam, and this may affect your ability to complete it. Use a relaxation technique to get into a calm state of mind prior to taking the exam, and you will likely perform better. Some techniques to try include:  Try meditating Do some yoga Take deep breaths  Perform a progressive muscle relaxation exercise Positive visualization may help to improve your chances of passing a test, and it can also help to alleviate some of your test-taking anxiety. Before you head into the exam, close your eyes and imagine yourself receiving the test back with a passing grade on it. Spend at least a few minutes focusing on this vision. The more detailed you can make your visualization the better! Focus on the way the passing grade will look on the paper, your teacher’s reaction, and how you will feel after receiving a passing grade. Ideally, you will have studied for weeks or even months leading up to an exam, but things don’t always work out that way. If you meant to study but didn’t and are now facing an important exam that you feel unprepared to take, cramming probably won’t help you. You are better off taking the exam with what you know right now. If you don’t do well on the exam, focus on studying for the next exam!

Summary:
Get a good night’s sleep. Eat breakfast the day of the exam. Use a relaxation technique to calm down. Visualize yourself passing the test. Avoid cramming for the test.