Understand the makeup of the test so that you have a better chance of passing. Know that it is a three-hour multiple choice exam.
Use the 34 allotted minutes to answer 34 items in the English section. Pass 50% of the English questions and you meet the requirement for that section.
Be aware that contextual vocabulary including punctuation, grammar, sentence structure or spelling are used in the exam.
Inquire either at the college that you plan to attend or the college campus where the test will be given if they have an available study guide or a practice test. Obtain these and become familiar with the the exam. Check with your library to see if they have some.
Start preparation early. Do not wait until the last minute. Refresh your memory of the material you have probably already studied in school. Keep reviewing the material. Underline important points.
Review grammar. Concentrate on areas where people generally make errors. Include concepts such as when to use "who" and "whom". "Who" is used as a subject and "whom" as an object. Be sure you know the agreement of subject and verb. A singular subject must take a singular verb.
Learn the difference between a fragment and a sentence. A complete sentence requires a subject and verb.
Get a review book and study it if you have forgotten these and other common grammatical principles and mistakes. Make a list in your notebook.
Work on vocabulary since word meaning is generally part of the English test. Study a list of commonly misunderstood words.
Make a list of prefixes. Do the same for suffixes. Include items such as anti (against), co (together), or ology (study of). Memorize these.
Try to guess word meaning from the context or structure. Put them on cards and take them wherever you go to practice.
Make a list of commonly misspelled words and enter them in your notebook. Review these. Consider words that sound alike, but are different in meaning.
Be aware of "except" or "accept." Group similar words together.
Review rules of punctuation. Be sure you know the usage of commas and quotation marks. Study "its" and "it's" as well as capitalization and apostrophes.
Follow these tips for taking a multiple choice exam:
Answer the easy questions first. Make sure you get credit for these rather than spend too much time on difficult questions.
Eliminate choices you are reasonably sure are wrong.
Leave time to go over and check your answers.
Be aware that "always" or "never" are usually not good choices. Look for "generally" or "typically."
Start by studying alone. Form or join a study group with others taking the same exam. Meet with them for review and for discussing new ideas about the material on the exam.
Find a relaxing activity the night before and do not cram at the last minute. Go to a movie. Meet friends. Get your mind off the test. Eat a good breakfast that morning.