Study Skills

STUDY SKILLS

Preparing for and Taking TestsDr. Roz Iasillo

Preparing for & Taking Tests

Five Day Test Preparation PlanDETER StrategyMultiple Choice TestsTrue/False TestsMatching Tests Completion TestsQUOTE Strategy for Essay Tests

Five Day Test Preparation Plan

Day 5Read textbook & class notesLook at any handouts from your classHighlight the information in your notes & handouts that you will need to know

Day 4Use the Remembering Strategies and practice what you will need to know


Day 3Rewrite the information in a brief form using the fewest words possibleUse the Remembering Strategies to review your rewritten notes at least twice per day

Day 2Think of questions your teacher might ask you on the testWrite each question and answer

Day 1


Day 1The Day of the test!Review rewritten notes from Day 3Review questions & answers from Day 2

You can do these things while eating breakfast, riding to school, or eating lunch

Just before the test, go over any information you are having difficulty remembering

DETER strategyFive Step test-taking steps to help you rememberUse when ready to take your test

D – Directions E - ExamineT - TimeE - EasiestR - Review

D E T E RD

Read the test directions carefullyAsk for an explanation of anything you don’t understand

EExamine the entire test to see how much you need to doDo this right after reading the directions

D E T E RT

Decide how much time you should spend answering each item on the testSee how many items there are & how much they are worthSpend the most time on the items worth the most points

EBegin by answering the items that are easiest for youThen answer as many of the remaining questions that you can

D E T E RR

If you finish before time is up, review your answersMake sure they are accurate and complete

Multiple Choice TestsRead the question or statement

Underline key words:Not, all, some,exceptThese words can give you clues to the correct answer

Read the question or statement with each answer choice

This can help you decide which choice is correct

Multiple Choice TestsWhen you decide an answer choice is incorrect

Cross it out by drawing a line through it

If you crossed out all the choices except one

Select this as your answer

If you are left with more than one answer choice

Reread the question or statement with the remaining choices, then choose the best one

Multiple Choice TestsAnswer all items unless there is a penalty for incorrect answersCheck your answers to make sure they are correctChange an answer only if you are sure it is incorrect

True/False TestsChoose TRUE unless you know the statement is FALSEFor a statement to be TRUE, everything about the statement must be TRUEBe careful when a statement has a negative such as not, do not, or in (infrequent) and un (unfriendly)

A negative can completely change the meaning of the statement

True/False TestsIf a statement has two negatives, cross out both negatives

This will make it easier for you to understand the statement

Absolute statements are usually FALSEAbsolute statements include words such as

All, every, never, no

Qualified statements are usually TRUEQualified statements include terms such as

Some, most, sometimes, rarely

Matching TestsRead all the items in both columns before making any matchesStart by making the matches about which you are sureCross out items in both columns as you make matchesMake your best guess for remaining items, unless there is a penalty for guessing

Completion TestsRead the item and think about what is missingWrite an answer that logically completes the itemBe sure your answer fits the item grammatically Use the length of the line as a clue to the length of the answer

Unless the length of the blank is the same for all answers

After you write the answer, read the entire answer to make sure it makes sense

QUOTE strategy for Essay tests

Q – Question Look for direction (discuss, describe, explain)

U – UnderlineWords that help focus on ideas to develop answers

O – Organize/Write The facts & write your answer

T – TimeDecide how much time to spend on answering each item

E – Evaluate The content & organization of what you wrote & your mechanics


Q – Question Ask “What is the direction word in the test item?”There are three main direction words

DiscussGive reasons behind points of view

DescribePresent a detailed picture of something in words

ExplainGive the reason for something


Q – Question Other Direction Words

ListPresent information in some order

TraceState a series of events in logical order

RelateShow how two or more things are related

DiagramCreate a visual representation to show something


Q – Question Other Direction Words

CompareTell how two or more things are alike and different

CriticizeMake positive and negative comments about something

EvaluateJudge the merits of something using certain criteria

SummarizeState the major points about something

QUOTE strategy for Essay Tests

U – Underline After you have identified the direction word, underline the words that help you focus on the ideas to develop in your answer


O – Organize/WriteLook at or write the words you underlined in the essay test itemWrite the facts that are related to the words you underlinedOrganize the facts by creating a graphic organizerUsing the graphic organizer as a guide, write your answer


Writing a One-Paragraph Answer

Begin with an introductory sentence that contains your main pointFollow with sentences that support your pointEnd your answer with a sentence that states your conclusion

Writing a Multiple-Paragraph Answer

Begin with an introductory paragraph that contains your main pointFollow with additional paragraphs, each with a supporting pointEnd with a paragraph in which you state your conclusion


T – Time Determine the total time you have to complete the testConsider how many points each item is worth

Plan to use more time for items that count for more points

Write in front of each question, the amount of time for each itemMake sure your plan for answering is not greater than the total amount of time allowed

Revise plan if needed


E – Evaluate (answer these questions)

ContentI answered all parts of the itemI included all the relevant factsAll my facts are accurate

Writing My answer begins with an introductionMy answer has supporting pointsMy answer ends with a conclusion


E – Evaluate (answer these questions)

Mechanics My handwriting is legible (if handwritten)I spelled all words correctlyI used correct punctuation I used correct grammar

Dr. Roz IasilloMother McAuley High School

Any Questions?

Study Skills

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multiple choice

essay tests

completion

matching tests

truefalse

main point

deter strategy

graphic organizer