Learning as much as possible about what to expect and how best to select among response choices enables students to improve their scores so as to reflect more fully their knowledge and abilities, whether taking the SAT, ACT, AP history exams, multiple-choice exams in college courses, the GRE, or any other standardized examinations that include multiple-choice questions in history, including required statewide exams for grades 6 through 12. With this in mind, many students across age levels enroll in test preparation courses while others search websites or purchase test prep books, some of which do, indeed, provide useful information and suggestions along with sample questions--although many of these sample questions are available online or have been published by state teaching commissions or boards and testing organizations such as the College Board. This paper provides a thorough collection of strategies and insights that are useful, if not critical, for maximizing performance, especially in the areas of history and social studies (although most can also be adapted to other academic areas). By way of a caveat, however, it should be stressed that these strategies will work optimally only when coupled with the development of skills to think historically as well as with significant understanding and studying of course or subject matter material. (Contains 13 notes.)