You are right that the best way to prepare for a test is to work hard at knowing the material. However, I think you may discount the value of what you call “tricks” and I would call smart test-taking. For example when you read a multiple choice question do you stop reading the answers when you find what you think is the correct one? Not a good test-taking strategy if you do. As an undergraduate I came to adore multiple choice exams as a fun mental exercise on par with the enjoyment some derive from say crossword puzzles. Yes I studied hard and knew the material, but I also believe this strategy (reading all answers before selecting) helped me substantially in maintaining high marks in these exams.

Further, what is a test? In large part it is regurgitating information not just as cold facts but also to satisfy the world/material view of the test-giver (e.g. instructor). That is to say how you frame and present the facts. Especially at university level you may find professors whom you would otherwise find quite unfair in grading if you did not adopt their sometimes subjective views of the material they teach.