test taking strategies

Test-Taking Strategies

Mack Gipson, Jr.Tutorial and Enrichment

Center

Gayla S. KeeseeEducation Specialist

Strategies for Objective Tests

Objective Tests

True/FalseMatching

Multiple Choice

Preparation:

Highlight and mark your notes and text.Use mnemonic devices to aid memory.Develop and use flash cards.Test yourself! Simulate testing situations.

True/False Tests

True/false tests provide excellent odds for guessing.

There are many ways to make a statement “false” so they can be

tricky.

Hints for Taking True/False Tests

Make Your Best Guess Absolute statements which contain

words such as “always, all, never, or none” tend to be false.

Statements containing qualifying words such as “usually, sometimes, many, few, may, can or frequently” are usually true.

Examples of Absolute Statements

Sitting in the front of the room will assure you of getting a good grade.You should always make diagrams when studying for a test.Everyone loves to play Monopoly.The best game for young children is Jacks.

Examples of Qualifying Statements

Chess is usually played by adults.Trivial Pursuit may be played by groups of people.Some students use recall columns when they take lecture notes.Some students who fail exams may suffer from high levels of test anxiety.


When all else fails, it is better to guess true than false.


Read Two-Part Statements Carefully The World Health Organization has

been successful in its campaign to eliminate smallpox and malaria.

Hint: Malaria is still a world health problem.


Look for Negative and Double-Negative Statements Hint: Look for words such as no,

none, never, not, cannot, and prefixes such as in-, dis-, un-, il-, and ir-.

It is not unreasonable to expect Vietnam veterans to continue to be angry about their exposure to Agent Orange.

If a statement contains a double negative, cross off the negative word and/or the negative prefix.

It is not illegal to smoke in the dorm becomes

It is legal to smoke in the dorm.


Matching Tests

Matching tests require you to recognize the correct answer

from a list of alternatives.All you have to do is

memorize.

Hints for Taking Matching Tests

Glance through both lists first to get an overview.Work from one side only—usually the one with the most words.Answer the items you are sure of first.Go through the list more than once, eliminating alternatives.


Mark through the letter not the word so you can review later.Don’t choose the first answer you see that seems correct; items later in the list may be better choices.


Don’t be afraid to draw on information from other courses and your own experience to help you figure out the answers.

Multiple Choice Exams

Multiple choice exams are very often not based simply on recognition of basic

ideas.

They very often require you to reason through a problem using the course

material.

Multiple Choice Exams

You can’t be just familiar with the materialYou must be able to understand it thoroughly. define it. analyze it. apply it. think critically about it.

Strategies for Multiple Choice

Strategy #1 Preview the exam. Take note of questions that

look easier. Jot down notes or formulas

in the margins. Calculate how much time

per question you have.


Strategy #2 Answer questions in a strategic

order Start with the easy questions first. Raises your confidence with a fast

start, settles you down, and ensures you get credit for what you know.

Get the most points in the least amount of time.

Strategy #3 Set goals for time

Allocate time in proportion to the relative value of questions

Save more time for questions that are worth more points

Pace yourself accordingly


Strategy #4 Read the questions carefully,

twice if necessary. On the first read, ask, “What

topic is this question about?” On the next read, ask, “What,

specifically, is the question asking about that topic?”


Strategy #5 Work to eliminate incorrect

alternatives rather than looking for the right answers.

Use logic and common sense.


Strategy #6 Circle or underline key words in

questions. Be wary of answers with absolute

words like: all, always, never More moderate words such as

few, often, usually, and some are often better choices


Strategy #7 Use the “cover up strategy”

Try to recall a concept from memory or think out the answer before looking at the options

Helps minimize confusion and may speed your decision making


Strategy #8 Use the “true-false label”

strategy Connect the stem to each

alternative making them a series of True-False statements.

Usually the item that breaks the pattern is the answer


Strategy #9 Temporarily ignore “all of the

above”, “none of the above”, and other combination answers

Use the “true-false label” strategy on the alternatives that have actual content before considering combinations


Strategy #10 When given “all of the above”

OR “none of the above” alternatives

realize that one wrong answer cancels out either alternative


Strategy #11 Translate double negative

statements into positive phrases to reduce confusion

“not lacking” becomes “having” “not any” becomes “some”


Strategy #12 Be alert to terminology that

links the alternatives or questions to key areas of the course, lecturers, or chapters of course readings

Doing so may help you discard incorrect alternatives


Strategy #13 Read all choices before selecting

the correct choice. Look for similar alternatives Examine each alternative closely

for the one or two words that distinguish it from other answers

Assess the meanings of these words before selecting an answer


Strategy #14 When looking at similar

alternatives, look for the alternative that

correctly uses course terminology offers more detail contains no errors


Strategy #15 If you absolutely have no idea

about the answer to a question, go ahead and guess (providing you won’t be penalized for a wrong answer).

In general, it’s best not to leave any questions blank.


Strategy #16 Change your answers only if

you know a good reason to do so (e.g., you realize you misread the question).

Changing an answer because you are unsure is often a bad idea.


Strategies for Short Answer and Essay Exams

Essay Exams

Essay and short answer exams emphasize critical and analytical thinking about the course themes.They focus on particular theories, concepts,

ideas, readings, lectures and how they inter-relate and apply

to issues in the field of study.

Preparation

Review the goals of your course as stated in the course description.Seek clarification for any confusing theoretical or conceptual content of your course before the midterm and/or final exam.

Preparation

Select probable topicsStudy the topics selectedPredict test questionsTry to write answers to themCreate a key-word outlineWrite a rough-draft

Strategies for Exam Day

In addition to preparing well, it is essential to have a strategy or “game plan” for the actual writing of the exam.

Short-Answer Tests

Use point distribution as a clue to how many pieces of information to include.Plan what you will say before starting to write—outline your ideas.Use the amount of space provided as to a clue to how much you should write.

Essay Exams

Strategy #1 for Essay Exams: Read over the questions.

Read the directions first Study the question for clues to

organizational pattern you should use Watch for questions with several

parts. Note the relative value of each

question. Plan your time.


Strategy #2 for Essay Exams: Read and re-read the questions,

carefully noting what each question is really asking.

Understand exactly what each question word wants you to do.

Explain, describe, apply… Make your choice.


Strategy #3 for Essay Exams: Organize your thoughts

before beginning to write. brief outlines mind-maps diagrams


Strategy #4 for Essay Exams: Write a brief introduction.

Adapt your thesis statement from the question you are answering.

Tell the reader what information you will provide to support the thesis.


Strategy #5 for Essay Exams: Keep your points straightforward

and clear. Use simple, clear transitions to

link your points. Avoid opinions and judgments. Illustrate your ideas with

examples from course materials.


Strategy #6 for Essay Exams: Sum up your work to reinforce

the coherence of your answer. Review the paper for obvious

errors, legibility, labeling of questions, and changes you want to make.

If you run out of time, jot down major ideas.

Make Your Answer Readable

Use ink.Use clean, 8 1/2 by 11 paper.Number your pages with your name on each sheet.Do not scratch out sentences, draw a single line through them.Write on one side.Leave plenty of space between questions.

Controlling Test Anxiety


Some degree of anxiety is normalTest anxiety is not an excuse for not being prepared.Get used to a variety of test situations.Control negative thinking.Compose yourself before the test begins.


Focus on answering the questionsDon’t focus on how well/poorly you are doing in the exam.Don’t focus on what others are doing.Deep breathing can help you relax