1. assign and state a_n or b_n or whatever you need to solve, or for comparison tests list b_n and how you already know it's con/div (p-series, etc) 2. perform all calculations/substitutions/ whatever 3. give the result as p or L or whatever we were testing for, and state if it is < > or = what we were testing for 4. restate beginning equation, state div/con/ cond/abs 5. state the test you used