AceYour Exit Exam

CAHSEE Prep

One of the most stressful times during preparations for the CAHSEE is the week before testing begins. While many students feel this is the perfect time to cram in as much last minute information as possible, that is actually one of the least effective ways to utilize these final preparation days.

Review Old Knowledge

Instead of trying to memorize new concepts at the last minute, use the final week of preparation to review all of the areas you have already covered. This is especially important for the areas you concentrated on at the beginning of your studies. While it may seem like you have already begun to forget the concepts you studied in the beginning, a brief overview is all you really need to freshen up your mind. If you had problem areas during your studies, focus on reviewing those as well, keeping the more difficult areas as fresh in your mind as possible. Studies have shown that learning for comprehension is much more effective than learning for memorization. This is the main reason why cramming at the last minute rarely does any good.

Prepare Your Body A Well As Your Mind

While everyone knows that you're supposed to get a good night's sleep the night before the exam and eat a well balanced breakfast the morning of, they should also realize the importance of being well rested and well fed for more than just the night before and day of. Experts have found that getting a full night's sleep the entire week before the exam can greatly reduce stress levels and decrease anxiety on test day. Eating a full breakfast on exam day is important, but if you're not used to eating a full breakfast, it can actually cause more discomfort than good. Get yourself in the habit of eating breakfast for several days before the exam if you don't already do so.