By Cameron Stapleton/reporter

Students picked up tips on how to prepare for tests in the Test-Taking Strategies workshop Oct. 4.

TR government instructor James Goss presented guidelines for the best ways to prepare for a test — arriving early, staying positive and reading the questions carefully.

“You should never go into a test expecting to fail,” he said. “That just means you were lazy and didn’t prepare yourself.”

Goss said having a positive attitude would help students do better on their tests. He then opened up the floor to questions.

A student asked about the best way to study for a math test.

Goss said every test is different, and that makes the preparation different.

His advice for studying for a math test was “mind dumping,” which is immediately writing the various formulas on the test to avoid mixing the formulas up.

Students should ask their professors to help them prepare for tests, Goss said. 

Sample questions could include “What are some key terms? What is the main focus of this question?”

“I’m not promising you that you’ll pass every test you take with this information, but I guarantee you will start seeing a difference,” he said.

TR student Shaquan Harris said she was satisfied with her experience.

“I’ve never been a good test-taker in the first place, but I really enjoyed what the speaker said today,” she said. “I think it could help me a lot.”