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Test Taking

Strategies for Testing

To Begin…

• Answer the easiest, shortest questions first. This gives you the experience of success
• Next, answer multiple choice questions, true/false, fill-in-the-blank
• Then, do the short answer and essay questions

• Look for answers in other test questions (e.g., terms, dates, other facts)
• Your first instinct is usually best

Multiple Choice Questions

• Read the instructions carefully
• Answer each question in your head before you look at the answers
• Read all answers before selecting one
• If you have no clue and need to guess, then…
• if two answers are similar, except for one or two words, choose one
• if two answers have similar-sounding or similar-looking words (intermediate, intermittent), choose one of these answers
• if the answer calls for a sentence completion, eliminate the answers that would not form grammatically correct sentences
• if two quantities are almost the same, choose one
• if answers cover a wide range of numbers, choose one in the middle
• if there is no penalty for guessing and none of the above techniques works, GUESS!

True/False Questions

• Read carefully, sometimes one word can make a statement inaccurate
• If any part of the statement is false, then the answer is false
• Look for qualifiers like "all," "most," "sometimes," "never," or "rarely"

Short-Answer, Fill-in-the-Blank Tests

• Concentrate on key words and facts, be brief
• "Overlearning" the material pays off!

Essay Questions

• Carefully read the instructions, know what the question is asking. If the question asks you to "compare," don't "explain"
• Before answering, make a quick outline. This might help with…
• writing your answer faster
• you will be less likely to leave out important facts
• if you don't have time to finish your answer, your outline could win points
• When you start writing, get to the point. Lengthy introductions can irritate instructors
• Start with the most solid facts and then support your ideas and points

Cramming

While cramming for an exam is usually not effective as a sole strategy for studying, most students cram at one time or another, If you do cram, here are some tips you might consider.

• Make choices about what you will focus on. Don't try to learn everything all at once. Instead, pick some of the most important topics and learn those very well.
  
  
• Create a plan to make the best use of the short time you have. Rather than panicking and jumping in to studying, set time limits for studying portions of the material.
  
  
• Use flashcards, outlines, notes, and other materials you already have. Drill yourself using these materials.
  
  
• Recite out loud over and over to "burn" facts into your brain. Tape record yourself and listen to it as you fall asleep at night and as you get ready in the morning when you cannot use your other study materials.
  
  
• Relax your body and mind as you cram. Use relaxation techniques both before and during the exam. Check out the online relaxation exercises on this web site.
  
  
• Don't "should" yourself. Be careful not to put more pressure on yourself by telling yourself you should have studied earlier. The self-criticism and guilt this creates can interfere with your ability to study and retain information. Let yourself put off these self-judgments until after the exam when you can more easily consider how you would like to do things differently next time.
  
  

Adapted from: D. Ellis and D. Toft. (2002) Becoming a Master Student. Houghton Mifflin Co.

Test Anxiety

What Causes Test Anxiety?

• Inadequate preparation:
• cramming the night before the test
• managing study time poorly
• failing to organize the study material
• having poor study habits
• Worrying about:
• past performance on tests
• how other students are doing
• the negative consequences of failure

What are the Effects of Test Anxiety?

• Nervousness:
• having difficulty reading and understanding the questions on the exam
• having difficulty organizing your thoughts
• having difficulty retrieving key words and concepts when answering questions
• doing poorly on an exam when you know the material
• Mental blocking:
• going blank on questions
• remembering the correct answers as soon as the test is over

How Can I Reduce Test Anxiety?

• Study and know the material well enough so that you can recall it even if you are under stress
• Learn and practice good time management and avoid:
• laziness
• procrastination
• day dreaming
• Build confidence by studying throughout the semester and avoid cramming the night before the exam
• Learn to concentrate on the material you are studying by:
• generating questions from your textbooks and lecture notes
• focusing on key words, concepts and examples in your textbooks and notes
• making charts and outlines which organize the information in your text and notes
• Use relaxation techniques like taking long deep breaths to relax the body and reduce stress.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: get enough rest, eat properly, etc.
• Avoid negative thoughts, but instead remember, "I can do this," "I have studied and I know the material." Consider making notecards with positive phrases that you can read when you find yourself thinking negatively.