-Learn a few relaxation techniques. A slow, deep breath or a quick muscle stretch can go a long way in helping you relax.
-Stop and think before you write. This will allow you to give a more clear answer. Think of key words and make a rough outline of the points you will talk about in your essay answer. Make a rough sketch of the picture you will draw.
-Ask if you don’t understand a question. You have a right to know what is being asked.
-Don’t forget to check your answers to make sure that you have answered the question which was asked. It is difficult for a grader to give full credit for a correct answer to a different question that what was asked for.
-Block off enough time in your schedule for the exam. Don’t miss points because you need to hurry to catch a plane or move out of your dorm room. This sounds ridiculous but it happens.
Prepare for class.
Before coming to class, it is important to adequately prepare. You should read the material several times if necessary. It may be helpful to quickly scan the chapter to get an overview and to get a feel for how the material will be presented and then go back and read more carefully. Don’t forget to read the assigned questions as well. It is always helpful to see what kind of skills you will be expected to have so you can pay attention to the most important information. The reading may be difficult and you may feel that you don’t get much out of it. Remember that a chemistry book is not a novel that can be read briskly but must be read slowly, several times, and digested as you go. One of the most important skills that you will get from your college education is to learn how to teach yourself. That is what you will take with you when you forget most of the course material. By reading technically difficult material and struggling through it, you improve your reading skills and your ability to learn on your own.
Think about the material all the time.
Loving what you do and being good at it often go hand in hand. People who love what they do think about it all the time and relate it to their everyday lives. Good athletes seem to talk about their sport all the time and always seem to be looking for a way to do it better. Even when you are not formally studying, think about the concepts in the course. While going for a walk, showering, or before you fall asleep, think about the concepts and how you might explain it to someone else. Relate the concept to what you see in life. This can be done formally by thinking about phenomena in your daily life such the fizzing of a glass of soda and thinking about what gas pressure and solubility properties give rise to it. This can also be done less formally by relating some abstract concept to a silly analogy such as relating the concept of limiting reagent to making sandwiches. Don’t forget that underneath the details is a topic that you used to find interesting.