By Michael Burns/reporter

Last week, TR Campus students were lectured on how to be effective test-takers.

Stevie Blakely, the TR coordinator for academic success, briefed students with several anecdotes on how to prepare for and effectively take a test.

“Prepare as you go along,” she said, starting the seminar.

Blakely stressed the importance of constantly keeping tabs on what is important in class so students aren’t caught off guard at testing time.

“The best thing to do is pay attention to what teachers spend the most time on,” she said.

She suggested using lectures and sample exams as a gauge of what’s important.

Blakely gave students a few handy methods and tips to calmly and effectively take a test.

“Exercise makes you happy,” she said with a smile.

She said exercising before the test releases an endorphin rush that will make students happy and more confident for the test.

She said students should stick with a morning routine, and it might be fine to cram the night before a test but never to cram again the morning of the exam.

When taking the test, Blakely said to always read the entire exam first, follow all instructions, answer every question and stop for a couple of minutes to collect thoughts or calm down.

“Do not keep going if you’re freaking out,” she said.

Blakely said when taking a test, students should slow down and avoid careless mistakes. She said people who use the entire time of a testing period and answer every question generally have 25 percent higher scores than people who hurriedly take the same test.

Student Allie Nicole found the seminar helpful.

“I can apply all of these principles to my own school life, and I expect it would help me greatly,” she said.

Blakely closed with these essential test-taking tips: gather materials the night before, arrive early and remember to “breathe through your nose.”