Testing New Wiring

I am nearing the end of the largest electrical project that I have ever tackled, which is pulling the wire for my basement finish. I would really like to test my wiring before the drywall goes up. Is acceptable to test each circuit by stripping the wire at the point where the sub panel will eventually be, push the wires into an extension cord that will be *very briefly* plugged into an existing hot outlet that is in my utility room? Are there better ways test?