With midterms approaching, most students are desperate to bring up that 89 to a 90 or save themselves from an F in the class. The only way to reach those goals is to prepare yourself from now until the second you walk into the test room. We’ve compiled a list of tips that should guarantee the score you want!

1. Get enough rest the night before each exam

While this may seem straightforward or cliché, it’s essential that you get adequate sleep to make sure you are not only awake, but your brain is too! We, as humans, tend to think more clearly when we’re alert rather than exhausted. Check out this link for an idea of how much sleep you should get each night based on age and gender! https://startsleeping.org/sleep-needs

2. Eat a balanced breakfast the mornings of your exams

Not only is mentally resting your mind and body important, but it’s necessary that you prioritize what you put into your body. Eating a nutritious and delicious meal before your tests gives your brain the fuel it needs to stay awake and focused. Linked are some professional-recommended meals to start your day. https://www.scoreatthetop.com/blog/brain-food-5-best-foods-to-eat-before-a-test

3. Study and complete the guides your teacher assigned for mid-terms.

Most people don’t know that the study guides are usually an exact or similar copy of the exams! Having your study guides done will help guarantee that you rock your tests. It’s also very important that the bulk of your studying is done in advance rather than the night before. Remember that you are not Rory Gilmore. Make sure you’re not cramming, which isn’t great for information retention. I suggest studying everything in advance but reviewing major topics the day before because by then, you should be aware of the specific topics involved in each of the big ones. Here are various studying strategies to try if yours isn’t helping! The 7 Best Study Methods for All Types of Students – E-Student

4. Remain calm.

While it’s true that there’s a lot to gain and lose during the exam week, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t meet the high expectations you’ve set for yourself. Working yourself up about this could increase your risk of blanking out or having a meltdown during your mid-terms. Check out this link if you struggle with testing anxiety and want to find a solution that may help you! https://www.oxfordlearning.com/what-is-test-anxiety/

5. Think positive thoughts.

Keep in mind that you’ve survived the school year so far and have done so much work from August to now to prepare for this moment. As my coach always says, all you have to do now is “trust your training.” You are prepared and ready for this. By having an optimistic mindset, things will start to look up for you since you’re looking in a glass-half-full way. Attached is a link about the benefits of thinking positively, and if you don’t know how, some tips for you! https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-think-positive

6. Stay organized.

While this week will surely be intense, and you can’t control the exams, you can control your personal environment. Whether that’s by deep cleaning your room or making a calendar with all your responsibilities, this will allow some stress to melt away. Check out this link if you struggle with organization! https://marriott.byu.edu/magazine/feature/organizing-your-way-to-a-better-career-and-life

7. Bonus points.

With the tests next week, you might be concerned about your grades. Some teachers offer bonus point opportunities for doing things like organizing something or making a Kahoot/Quizlet study review tool for their other classes. Getting in touch with your teachers about potential bonus chances might help you! Don’t be discouraged if they so no. Some of mine did, but it never hurts to try!

8. Talk to your teachers.

If you feel unprepared for the week, then just having a conversation with your teacher about what they think you should focus on could positively impact your grade! Since study guides are normally cumulative, getting this information from your teachers can help you study the topic(s) that will make up most of your tests, especially if you find yourself reading this article the day before your exam(s)!

9. Drink water.

There are many perks to just staying hydrated by drinking water that could simultaneously improve your test scores and body! Take a look at this link to learn the benefits of water and how much you should be drinking each day! https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290814#sources-of-water

Bonne chance on your mid-terms! I’m sure you’ll do amazing!