Strategies for Taking Different Tests

8/6/2019 Strategies for Taking Different Tests

1/23

Strategies for Taking TestsSLS 1501

Farbstein


2/23

The solution to test anxiety is simple:

Preparation

Academic preparation

Mental preparation


3/23

How to Prepare Academically

Start early

Stay on top of your coursework

Get organized

If you have to cram, cram systematically


4/23

How to Prepare Mentally

Find out what you can about the exams

Know the type of exam and content (all semester vs. last unit)

Get acquainted with the test site

Maintain a positive attitude


5/23

How to maintain a positive attitude

Learn to relax: Do breathing exercises

Use self-talk: Change any negative internal conversations to positive ones

Visualize success: Envision yourself doing well on your exam.


6/23

Work Smart

Study in chunks Use daylight hours

Rank your classes

Study actively: ask yourselfquestions, review your notesregularly, discuss key concepts with peers and course professor


7/23

ifferent Types of Exam Questions

Essay Questions- assimilate learned concepts and relate those to new ideas

True/False Questions- attempts to measure generalizations

Multiple-choice Questions- focus on details and familiarity with these details

Matching Questions- are specialized for use when measuring the student's

ability to identify the relationship between a set of similar items

Short Answer Questions- generally require you to remember and reproduce

knowledge and/or to demonstrate your understanding of knowledge in question


8/23

Essay Questions

Tests your understanding and recall

Often combines facts and conclusions you can draw from different sourcesof information

Short answer essays will ask for specific answers

Generally the longest part of the exam, therefore it will be very important tobudget your time wisely


9/23

Essay Questions

When you first get the test, preview it, including essay questions. Brainstorm ideas and

note those things that you will want to include in the essay.

Answer non-essay questions first, as they can trigger you to remember additionalinformation. You may even prepare a simple outline before you begin writing.

Circle or underline the key words in the question such as, compare and contrast, describe,explain the causes of to keep your answers focused on the question.

Avoid writing information tathas very little to do with the answer to the question.

Reword the key part ofthe question and make it part ofthe firstsentence ofyouranswer.


10/23

Essay Questions

Write legibly and organize your answer so it's clear for the instructor to read

and understand. This will allow your professor to follow your ideas easily and

give you the maximum points for your answer.

Answers should explain Why? and How do you know?

Offer examples to support ideas you write down.

Write a conclusion that summarizes the main points you have made.

Proofread your grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.


11/23

Short Answer Questions

Begin your answer with the key part of the question. Suppose the question

from the novel Speak is, Why has Melinda isolated herself over the

summer? Begin your answer, Melinda isolated herself over the summer

because....When you practice this strategy, it will guide your answers and

help you avoid giving extra information that the question does not require.

Plan your answer to fit in the space provided whenever possible.


12/23

Fill in The Blank Questions

Make sure your answer fits grammatically into the sentence (e.g., dont

insert a noun if the space in the sentence requires a verb).

Once you have answered read the whole sentences to see if it makes sense.

If it doesnt, you may have answered incorrectly.

If your stuck, check to see if the answer is revealed in another question onthe test.


13/23

True/False Questions

The entire sentences must be true for the answer to be true.

If any part of the statement is false, the entire statement is false, so theanswer isfalse.

If the question contains negatives such as NO, NOT or CANNOT, drop thenegative and re-read the question. If that statement is then true, its

opposite is usually false.


14/23


Example

The sun is not yellow

The sun is yellow

The answer is false

**Watch for double negatives, statements that contain two negatives. Remember

your algebra two negatives make a positive. To interpret it, cross out both

negatives and then read it as though it contains no negatives. An example is: It

is not uncommonThe question is essentially stating that it is common


15/23


Begin each true/false question as a true statement until you determine that

the question is false

Pay attention to details such as dates, names, places, etc.

Questions that contain an extreme qualifier such as all, only, every, never,

none, everybody, or always tend to appear in false statements.

on't look for tricks or read too much into the question when it seems easy.

Remember, if you're well prepared for the test, some true-false questions

should be easy.


16/23

Matching Questions

Look at both lists to understand the types of items you'll be matching.

Use one of the lists as a starting point for making the matches.

If one list has longer statements, use it as the starting point.

Begin by matching those pairs that you are certain are a match.

Cross out pairs as you match them so you can see which choices remain.

Look for prefixes and suffixes that help you identify the definition.


17/23

Multiple-Choice Questions

If your exam has multiple-choice questions and essay questions, always do

the multiple-choice questions first.

Answer the questions you are 100% certain

Leave those questions you are not certain about blank and return to themafter you have answered the questions you are 100% certain


18/23


Many of the MC questions will provoke thoughts for the essay component of

the exam

Find the stem (actual question)

Find the alternatives (the choices)

Read the question and decide on an answer first; then look for that answer

in the list ofchoices.


19/23


Read the directions carefully.

Some of the choices may be partially correct or correct in themselves, but

not to the stem

Often you may be asked to mark the best answer or most correct

answer

You may also be instructed to answer by selecting all the correct answers


20/23


For those questions you are uncertain of, eliminate the choices that are

obviously incorrect.

Look for the answer in another question


21/23


If you see the words, all, every, or never these answers are generally

incorrect

Answers that seem impossible or unrelated to the material are generallyincorrect

If two answers in the same question say the same thing, each one is

probably incorrect


22/23


Never guess that there is a pattern to the correct answers

College instructors dont have time for this and they are testing you on your

knowledge of the subject, not on how clever you can be

Your first answer may not be correct. It is fine to go back and change an

answer


23/23

ONT CHEAT! It will only lead to trouble

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL9-7AeFD5w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ot_vJLJ86M&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Strategies for Taking Different Tests

Documents