What do you do when Red Bull won’t help you stay awake? What is the secret to acing a test? Three simple steps will get you on the right track: prepare, take the test review.

According to Study Guides and Strategies, analyze how you did on a similar test in the past, arrive early, be comfortable but stay alert and remain relaxed and confident. These tips can be helpful when preparing for tests.

“I sit in my room and go over my notes until I feel like I know it all,” junior psychology major Vanessa Usparriz said. In order to stimulate her mind for taking tests, she eats chocolate during the day.

“Study with flashcards and highlight everything that is important in your notes,” suggests senior public relations major Charity Evans.

She also drinks a Dr. Pepper, a Monster, or a Vanilla Frappuccino from Starbucks.

“I always have snacks,” Evans said. “When I’m eating, I can’t fall asleep.”

Senior early childhood development major Ernestine Jackson has some studying methods such as using flashcards and writing the question and answer over and over again.

Some of Jackson’s more unconventional methods is to make the test material into a rap.

Most importantly, make sure you have a sufficient amount of rest before taking a test. If you are tired, you will be unable to think as clearly as you’d like and mistakes may happen.

Also, eat breakfast when you wake up. According to WebMD.com “adults need to eat breakfast each day to perform their best. By recharging your brain and body, you’ll be more efficient in just about everything you do.”

The day of the test, consider reading the entire test before answering any questions. Next, Study Guides and Strategies says answering the easier questions first will build your confidence, help get points and mentally orient yourself on the vocabulary, concepts and studies.

Then, proceed to the more difficult questions. Study Guides and Strategies also says when answering the more difficult questions to first eliminate the answers that you know are wrong or likely to be wrong.

With essay questions, be sure to outline your answers. After you feel you have answered everything to the best of your ability, be sure to review your test.

As Study Guide and Strategies says, “Resist the urge to leave as soon as you have completed all the items.”

Review the test and be sure to answer all the questions ensuring that no mistakes have been made. Also, proofread spelling, grammar and punctuation when answering essay questions.

When you leave the room, relax. What’s done is done. Reflecting on answers will not change your grade, especially if you feel you did poorly. Instead, wait to receive your grade and if it’s not the grade you wanted, try harder next time. Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you follow these tips, you may do better on the following test.