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COMPASS - BEFORE THE TEST |
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Before you take the COMPASS
placement test, prepare by
following the suggestions listed below. You'll come to the test knowing
you're ready to do your best. Plus, your brain will be operating at its
optimum. |
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The night before the
test, don't keep studying or brushing up on your skills.
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Why?
- You're overloading your brain.
Even though you may not think so, your brain considers
any studying at this point as "cramming." You take the chance of your brain
freezing on you during the test. You might go blank.
Why?
- You have stressed your
brain. Since it does not want you to do anything
else to stress it, your brain puts up a barrier.
Unless you relax, you will not be able to get any
information from your long term memory.
So, the night before your
test, just relax.
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Relax and get a good
night's sleep the night before.
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Why?
- Your body needs the
energy that sleep will give you. The sleep will
also help you remember what you
already know about math, English (writing), and
reading.
Though scientists know of a
very few people who operate well on less sleep, almost
everyone else needs at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep.
Most of us receive 4 to 6 hours. Obviously, we can function
- but, not well. We are not operating at our optimum.
In fact, such lack of sleep is comparative to drinking
alcohol. So, don't accept fuzzy thinking. Get
your sleep if you want to "be all that you can be."
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The day of the test,
don't study or brush up on your skills. |
Why?
- Again, you
take the chance of brain overload.
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Be sure to eat breakfast
the day of the test. |
Why?
- Just like a car, your body
needs fuel and oil to operate, to give it energy to run. When
you don't put in enough fuel and oil, your body expends
most of its energy just keeping your major organs alive.
Any energy left over isn't good enough to help you think
clearly.
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If your test is in the
afternoon or evening, be sure to eat lunch for the same reason. |
Why?
- Again, just like a car,
your body needs fuel in order to operate well.
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Drink water. |
Why?
- It
will help get oxygen to your brain and help you to remember. Although you may not have
food or drink in the testing room or the Testing and Learning
Center, you can certainly drink water before the test or throughout
the day, if your test is not in the morning.
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Make sure you bring everything with you
that you may need. |
- You'll need your picture
ID.
- You'll also need
such items as cough drops and tissues, if you have a cold or
allergies.
Why?
- When you need something or forget
something,
you tend to get frustrated.
Once you get upset, it's hard to calm down and think straight for
the test.
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Don't come at the last
minute.
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Why?
- You'll feel rushed and won't be able to concentrate
as well as you might have done.
Arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes early. That will give us time
to get everyone signed in before the test begins.
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Don't arrive late.
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Why?
- You will miss important instructions. Even if the facilitator
quietly goes over what you've missed, you'll feel rushed or guilty and won't be able to
concentrate. You'll stress your brain, which may put up a
barrier to keep you from stressing it further; then, you may not be
able to access your long-term memory.
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Relax. Take deep
breathes. |
Why?
- Taking deep breaths gets
oxygen to your brain and helps you remember.
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Don't compare yourself to other testers. |
Why?
- Doing so will only frustrate you, causing you to have
concentration problems. The test is not a competition.
The test is to place you into classes in which you will be
successful.
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Think positive. |
Psych
yourself up the way athletes do. Envision yourself doing well.
Why?
- Scientists have proven that your
brain wants to help you. If you believe that you can do
something, your brain secretes a chemical to help you do that.
If you believe that you can't do something, your brain secretes a
chemical to help you do that - which is fail.
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