
Scholarship Submissions
Write an essay where you tell us what test preparation practices work best for you and why.
Since I’ve been in Elementary School, I’ve had a lot of problems being a test taker. I was a good student in class, I understood the material while my teachers would go over it in class, I completed the homework assignments with no problem, however, when it came time to the test or final at the end of the semester I would NEVER do well.
This problem happens continuously through middle school and carried over to High School no matter the subject. I began staying after school to gain extra assistance from my teachers hoping their assistance would boost my ability to achieve higher test scores. After months of a Math class and after school one on one help, I encountered the same results, good grades for my work in class and poor test scores. Something had to change, but I was frustrated and lost all hope that I would ever be able to fulfill my potential to get the grades I know I deserved.
Finally, my Mother has an idea of doing “mock tests” at home which would mirror the same type of pressure I would face as if I was in class with the teacher only, complete silence and a strict time limit. So days before the test was to take place I began a different method of preparing. I began timing myself alone in my room while studying and memorizing the necessary information which was required. Little by little my nerves eased up because I got used to the pressure and it no longer made me anxious. I performed these “mock tests” for 2 weeks before the real test was to occur in my class.
So the day finally came and it was test day. This was the first time I could remember that I was not nervous and felt 100% prepared. Shockingly, my new method had worked and I aced the test and I was so overwhelmed that I had tears in my eyes as did my teacher. He was genuinely proud of me because he knew how hard I had worked to overcome my anxiety and truly showed what he knew I was capable of.
It just goes to show everyone learns differently and not to give up.
This problem happens continuously through middle school and carried over to High School no matter the subject. I began staying after school to gain extra assistance from my teachers hoping their assistance would boost my ability to achieve higher test scores. After months of a Math class and after school one on one help, I encountered the same results, good grades for my work in class and poor test scores. Something had to change, but I was frustrated and lost all hope that I would ever be able to fulfill my potential to get the grades I know I deserved.
Finally, my Mother has an idea of doing “mock tests” at home which would mirror the same type of pressure I would face as if I was in class with the teacher only, complete silence and a strict time limit. So days before the test was to take place I began a different method of preparing. I began timing myself alone in my room while studying and memorizing the necessary information which was required. Little by little my nerves eased up because I got used to the pressure and it no longer made me anxious. I performed these “mock tests” for 2 weeks before the real test was to occur in my class.
So the day finally came and it was test day. This was the first time I could remember that I was not nervous and felt 100% prepared. Shockingly, my new method had worked and I aced the test and I was so overwhelmed that I had tears in my eyes as did my teacher. He was genuinely proud of me because he knew how hard I had worked to overcome my anxiety and truly showed what he knew I was capable of.
It just goes to show everyone learns differently and not to give up.
Aliyah from Connecticut
High School Senior
Hamden High School