How to be a Successful StudentHow to be a Successful Student

Instructor: Basic Medical SciencesInstructor: Basic Medical Sciences

Surgical Technology ProgramSurgical Technology Program

Concorde Career CollegeConcorde Career College

North Hollywood, CANorth Hollywood, CA

Fazal K. Aasi, MD.Fazal K. Aasi, MD.

SuccessSuccess

You define Success:You define Success:

Success depends on what you expect of Success depends on what you expect of yourself.yourself.

Confidence and Self-esteem:Confidence and Self-esteem:

Basic building blocks needed before you start Basic building blocks needed before you start each day’s journey.each day’s journey.

You measure SuccessYou measure Success

Vision and courage: Vision and courage: Are the beacons that illuminate the path of Are the beacons that illuminate the path of success.success.

Use vision to chart your direction, goals, and Use vision to chart your direction, goals, and daily plans.daily plans.

Use courage to take risks, and to change, each Use courage to take risks, and to change, each day becoming a better person.day becoming a better person.

Responsibility, commitment, and persistence:Responsibility, commitment, and persistence:Accept responsibility for all that you do and Accept responsibility for all that you do and for staying committed to your vision.for staying committed to your vision.

Positive enthusiasmPositive enthusiasm

Humorous and helpfulHumorous and helpful

QuestionsQuestions Ask questions and listen to others: Ask questions and listen to others:

Questions are the quickest, easiest and surest way to Questions are the quickest, easiest and surest way to create success. create success. Use questions to validate your vision, to build Use questions to validate your vision, to build confidence, to strengthen your commitment, and to confidence, to strengthen your commitment, and to create enthusiasm and friendship.create enthusiasm and friendship.

Learn how to learn: Learn how to learn: Fine tune your ability to organize information, Fine tune your ability to organize information, improve memory, read and take notes, concentrate improve memory, read and take notes, concentrate while studying, solve problems and take exams.while studying, solve problems and take exams.

Motivate YourselfMotivate Yourself

Discover and use your Learning Style:Discover and use your Learning Style:

a.a. Your five sensesYour five senses

b.b. Your body’s reactionsYour body’s reactions

c.c. Your preferred learning environmentYour preferred learning environment

d.d. Your level of motivationYour level of motivation

Positive thinkingPositive thinking

•• Become a positive thinkerBecome a positive thinker

•• Take responsibility for motivating yourselfTake responsibility for motivating yourself

•• Accept the fact that success results from effortAccept the fact that success results from effort

•• Start listening to yourself talkStart listening to yourself talk

Develop Critical Thinking Develop Critical Thinking and Study Skillsand Study Skills

•• Making decisionsMaking decisions

•• Solving problemsSolving problems

•• ReasoningReasoning

•• Knowing how to learnKnowing how to learn

•• Thinking creativelyThinking creatively

Values that build CharacterValues that build Character

•• TrustworthinessTrustworthiness

•• RespectRespect

•• ResponsibilityResponsibility

•• FairnessFairness

•• CaringCaring

•• CitizenshipCitizenship

COPE method to identify and solve COPE method to identify and solve problemsproblems

CC ChallengeChallenge00 OptionsOptionsPP PlanPlanEE EvaluationEvaluation

Identify problem, cause, resultsIdentify problem, cause, results

- Select the best option from possible solutions- Select the best option from possible solutions

-Make a plan to act on your option-Make a plan to act on your option

-Check for progress; evaluate your plan and revise if -Check for progress; evaluate your plan and revise if necessarynecessary

Prepare for class:Prepare for class:

•• Attend regularly and be punctualAttend regularly and be punctual

•• Use your SyllabusUse your Syllabus

•• Bring Textbooks and other supplies to do Bring Textbooks and other supplies to do the assignments.the assignments.

•• Anticipate the next lessonAnticipate the next lesson

•• Preview the next day’s assignmentPreview the next day’s assignment

•• Focus your attention on the speakerFocus your attention on the speaker

•• Encourage the speakerEncourage the speaker

•• Take notesTake notes

•• Decide what is important to review and Decide what is important to review and remember for class every dayremember for class every day

Guidelines for Note TakingGuidelines for Note Taking

•• Keep track of your notes by heading your Keep track of your notes by heading your paper with the paper with the date, name of course, anddate, name of course, and lecture topic.lecture topic.

•• Use Use standard sizedstandard sized paper paper (8 (8 ½½ x 11) that will x 11) that will fit into most notebooks or folders. Small sheets fit into most notebooks or folders. Small sheets of paper won’t hold enough writing and may of paper won’t hold enough writing and may get lost or out of place.get lost or out of place.

•• Keep the notes for one class separated from Keep the notes for one class separated from the notes for other classes. the notes for other classes.

Use separate notebooks for each class or use Use separate notebooks for each class or use dividers to distinguish different sections in onedividers to distinguish different sections in one notebook.notebook.

Use spiral notebooks or a loose-leaf binder so Use spiral notebooks or a loose-leaf binder so that lecture notes, textbook notes, and the that lecture notes, textbook notes, and the instructor’s handouts may be organized for instructor’s handouts may be organized for study purposes.study purposes.

•• Use Use aa black or blue ballpointblack or blue ballpoint penpen for taking for taking notes because it is easier on the eyes. This way notes because it is easier on the eyes. This way the ink will not go through the paper as it does the ink will not go through the paper as it does with ink pens. Pencil tends to smear and fade with ink pens. Pencil tends to smear and fade away.away.

•• If you know your handwriting is poor, If you know your handwriting is poor, print print for clarity or type your notes. for clarity or type your notes. This will save This will save time when you review for tests.time when you review for tests.

•• Use abbreviations Use abbreviations soso that you can be at the that you can be at the same speed as the instructor’s speed of talking. same speed as the instructor’s speed of talking.

It is easier to remember things if you write It is easier to remember things if you write them in your own words, rather than write them in your own words, rather than write what the instructor says word for word. To what the instructor says word for word. To save even more time omit periods from the save even more time omit periods from the abbreviations.abbreviations.

•• Copy Copy into your notes anything that is into your notes anything that is written written on the board or onon the board or on transparencies.transparencies. Test Test questions may come from material that is questions may come from material that is presented these ways.presented these ways.

•• Take organized notes. Take organized notes.

•• ReviewReview your notes to fil1 in any gaps your notes to fil1 in any gaps right right after the class is over. Review them frequently after the class is over. Review them frequently

If something is missing, compare notes with a If something is missing, compare notes with a classmate or the instructor.classmate or the instructor.

1. Divide the page into two columns, a smaller 1. Divide the page into two columns, a smaller left column and a broader right column.left column and a broader right column.

2.2. Record facts and ideasRecord facts and ideas in the wide column. in the wide column. After the class, fill in any gaps and neaten After the class, fill in any gaps and neaten your notes.your notes.

3.3. QuestionQuestion facts and ideas presented in the facts and ideas presented in the lecture that you do not understand or what you lecture that you do not understand or what you think the instructor might ask on a test.think the instructor might ask on a test.

4.4.Recite Recite the facts or ideas from memory and in the facts or ideas from memory and in your own words. This will help you improve your own words. This will help you improve your retention, if you are an auditory learner. your retention, if you are an auditory learner.

Check yourself: Cover up the answer and Check yourself: Cover up the answer and question first, then try to recall, and see if you question first, then try to recall, and see if you got the right answer.got the right answer.

55.Reflect .Reflect on what you have learned from lectures on what you have learned from lectures by applying the knowledge to real-life.by applying the knowledge to real-life.

66.Review .Review and read your notes daily. This is a and read your notes daily. This is a good way of beginning a study session.good way of beginning a study session.

77.Recapitulate .Recapitulate by writing a summary of your by writing a summary of your notes.notes.

Scheduling Your TimeScheduling Your Time

Making the Most of Making the Most of Your TimeYour Time

How to How to GRABGRAB Some Time. Some Time.

1.1. GoalGoal: Set a goal.: Set a goal.

2.2. ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities: Determine your : Determine your responsibilities.responsibilities.

3.3. Analysis:Analysis: Analyze where your time Analyze where your time goesgoes

4.4. Balance:Balance: Balance work, class, study Balance work, class, study and and free time.free time.

Make daily, weekly, monthly and semester Make daily, weekly, monthly and semester schedules.schedules.

Schedules put you in control of your time and Schedules put you in control of your time and your life.your life.

Use your Syllabus and a calendar to make Use your Syllabus and a calendar to make schedules.schedules.

Time management and Time management and Learning StyleLearning Style

When you feel yourself getting drowsy, take a When you feel yourself getting drowsy, take a few deep breaths.few deep breaths.

Change your position every few minutes: cross Change your position every few minutes: cross and uncross your legs, sit up straight, and and uncross your legs, sit up straight, and make other adjustments in the way you are make other adjustments in the way you are sitting.sitting.

Eat a snack, as a handful of raisins or a piece Eat a snack, as a handful of raisins or a piece of fruit before you go to class. This will raise of fruit before you go to class. This will raise your blood-sugar level and your body your blood-sugar level and your body temperature, making you feel more alert.temperature, making you feel more alert.

Take deep, rhythmic breaths to get more Take deep, rhythmic breaths to get more oxygen into your bloodstream.oxygen into your bloodstream.

Time Management and Time Management and ReadingReading

You may be frustrated by the number of pages You may be frustrated by the number of pages per week that each instructor assigns. The per week that each instructor assigns. The reading has to be done. reading has to be done.

Are there any short cuts? No. Are there any short cuts? No.

Reading takes time. The more difficult the Reading takes time. The more difficult the reading, the more time it takes. reading, the more time it takes.

To read more efficiently:To read more efficiently:

Determine the time you will need for reading.Determine the time you will need for reading. Schedule your reading time.Schedule your reading time. Develop active reading habits and study skills Develop active reading habits and study skills

so that you do not waste time.so that you do not waste time.

ProcrastinationProcrastination

How to Beat How to Beat Procrastination?Procrastination?

1.1. Break a large assignment or project into Break a large assignment or project into smaller units of work that you can complete in smaller units of work that you can complete in one sitting.one sitting.

2.2. Plan rewards for yourself for completing each Plan rewards for yourself for completing each part of the assignment. Take a break or do part of the assignment. Take a break or do something you enjoy.something you enjoy.

3.3. Schedule enough time for completing a long Schedule enough time for completing a long assignment. Set a goal to spend a certain amount of assignment. Set a goal to spend a certain amount of time working each day until the assignment is time working each day until the assignment is finished.finished.

4.4. Get organized. Your attitude toward studying will Get organized. Your attitude toward studying will improve if you have an orderly work area with improve if you have an orderly work area with everything you need at your fingertips—books, pens everything you need at your fingertips—books, pens and pencils, paper—so that you will be ready to begin and pencils, paper—so that you will be ready to begin the moment you sit down.the moment you sit down.

5.If you put off assignments because you don’t 5.If you put off assignments because you don’t know where to begin or aren’t sure how to do know where to begin or aren’t sure how to do the work, find out what you need to know.the work, find out what you need to know.

6.Assume an attitude of confidence.6.Assume an attitude of confidence.

Your Study Place Your Study Place

Choose a quiet place to study. You probably Choose a quiet place to study. You probably have to fight distractions, so schedule your have to fight distractions, so schedule your study time when and where you are least likely study time when and where you are least likely to be disturbed.to be disturbed.

Creating Your Study SystemCreating Your Study System

If you see yourself as a visual learner, your If you see yourself as a visual learner, your study system may include making diagrams or study system may include making diagrams or charts of information you want to remember. charts of information you want to remember.

Study when you are most alert.Study when you are most alert.

Identify and use the common parts of Identify and use the common parts of textbooks and chapters as convenient study textbooks and chapters as convenient study aids.aids.

Devise your own system to meet course Devise your own system to meet course requirements or specific learning tasks.requirements or specific learning tasks.

SQ3R:SQ3R: The Basic SystemThe Basic System

There is a big difference between reading and There is a big difference between reading and studying. studying.

You can’t merely read a chapter from the first You can’t merely read a chapter from the first word to the last and expect to retain the word to the last and expect to retain the information. information.

You must read You must read actively actively by underlining, making by underlining, making notes, asking questions mentally, and looking notes, asking questions mentally, and looking for the answers.for the answers.

SurveySurvey

A A survey survey is a quick review or brief overview is a quick review or brief overview of an entire textbook or a single chapter. You of an entire textbook or a single chapter. You can survey a textbook in about ten minutes, can survey a textbook in about ten minutes, and you need to do it only once to determine and you need to do it only once to determine what it covers and what helpful aids it what it covers and what helpful aids it contains.contains.

How to Survey a How to Survey a Textbook Chapter.Textbook Chapter.

Survey a chapter before you read it for the first Survey a chapter before you read it for the first time. Then resurvey chapters that you are time. Then resurvey chapters that you are reviewing for a major exam.reviewing for a major exam.

Surveying helps you make assumptions about Surveying helps you make assumptions about what a chapter covers. It is a pre-reading what a chapter covers. It is a pre-reading activity that focuses your attention on a topic.activity that focuses your attention on a topic.

QuestionQuestion

As you read each heading, turn it into a As you read each heading, turn it into a question. question.

The “what” question asks you to read for a The “what” question asks you to read for a definition. definition.

The “how” and “why” questions stimulate you The “how” and “why” questions stimulate you to think critically about the value of to think critically about the value of concentration and how to improve it.concentration and how to improve it.

ReadRead

Read slowly and carefully, concentrating on one Read slowly and carefully, concentrating on one section at a time. It takes time to absorb new ideas. section at a time. It takes time to absorb new ideas.

Do not skip unfamiliar words or technical terms. If Do not skip unfamiliar words or technical terms. If you can’t infer their meanings from context, look you can’t infer their meanings from context, look them up in the books’ glossary or in a dictionary. them up in the books’ glossary or in a dictionary.

Reread the sentence in which each new word appears Reread the sentence in which each new word appears to make sure that you understand it. to make sure that you understand it.

Carefully examine each diagram, chart, illustration, Carefully examine each diagram, chart, illustration, table or other visual aid. Ideas that are hard to table or other visual aid. Ideas that are hard to understand when you first read about them are easier understand when you first read about them are easier to comprehend in a diagram or other graphic.to comprehend in a diagram or other graphic.

Try to determine the main idea of the section. Try to determine the main idea of the section. Summarize this idea in a marginal note that will aid Summarize this idea in a marginal note that will aid your recall when you review. your recall when you review.

Read through the section again and underline the Read through the section again and underline the main idea and key details or examples.main idea and key details or examples.

Making notes, underlining or highlighting, and Making notes, underlining or highlighting, and constructing study guides are essential steps of constructing study guides are essential steps of active reading.active reading.

ReciteRecite

After reading a section, try to state—aloud or After reading a section, try to state—aloud or silently—the important ideas covered in that silently—the important ideas covered in that section. If the important ideas stand out, then section. If the important ideas stand out, then you are probably comprehending what you you are probably comprehending what you read.read.

ReviewReview

Review each chapter immediately after reading it. Review each chapter immediately after reading it.

One quick way to review it is by re-surveying the One quick way to review it is by re-surveying the chapter. Go over any notes you made in the margins. chapter. Go over any notes you made in the margins. Reread any underlined or highlighted passages. Reread any underlined or highlighted passages.

Review a chapter before you take a test. It is a good Review a chapter before you take a test. It is a good idea to review a chapter at least once between your idea to review a chapter at least once between your first reading and your last pre-test review. With first reading and your last pre-test review. With practice, you will discover how often you must practice, you will discover how often you must review a chapter.review a chapter.

Make your own diagrams of Make your own diagrams of processes and concepts processes and concepts

Make your own diagrams of processes and conceptsMake your own diagrams of processes and concepts

Draw organisms and label their parts. You’ll find it Draw organisms and label their parts. You’ll find it easier to retrieve your own words from memory easier to retrieve your own words from memory during an exam than to recall someone else’s words during an exam than to recall someone else’s words that you have memorized. that you have memorized.

Make flash cards of specialized terms to recite from Make flash cards of specialized terms to recite from and review.and review.

Organizing Information Organizing Information for Studyfor Study

Concept or Information Maps: If your Concept or Information Maps: If your learning style is visual, you may prefer learning style is visual, you may prefer information maps to outlines. Identify the information maps to outlines. Identify the topic and write it in a box. Identify the ideas topic and write it in a box. Identify the ideas that relate to the topic and write them that relate to the topic and write them connecting boxes to show their relationship connecting boxes to show their relationship to the topic.to the topic.

Attitudes for StudyAttitudes for Study

Commitment: means a willingness to pledge Commitment: means a willingness to pledge your time and effort to reach your goals. your time and effort to reach your goals.

PersistencePersistence: : is the willingness to sustain effort is the willingness to sustain effort over time, even in the face of difficulty.over time, even in the face of difficulty.

Controlling Your Controlling Your Concentration Concentration

To concentrate meansTo concentrate means to pay attention by focusing to pay attention by focusing your thinking on what you are doing.your thinking on what you are doing.

Know what causes you to lose concentration. Identify Know what causes you to lose concentration. Identify your distractions and eliminate them.your distractions and eliminate them.

Find or create your best study environment.Find or create your best study environment.

Study with a system that helps you concentrate.Study with a system that helps you concentrate.

Eliminate DistractionsEliminate Distractions

Identify Identify whatwhat is distracting you so that you can is distracting you so that you can eliminate its source.eliminate its source.

You can eliminate some internal distractions if You can eliminate some internal distractions if you you anticipate your needsanticipate your needs. . Study when you are Study when you are fresh and rested. fresh and rested.

Study in a comfortable place. Study in a comfortable place. Make sure you understand how to do an Make sure you understand how to do an

assignment before you begin.assignment before you begin.

Find Your Best Study EnvironmentFind Your Best Study Environment

Visual learnersVisual learners. Make your place visually appealing. . Make your place visually appealing. Display calendars, lists, and study aids where you can Display calendars, lists, and study aids where you can see and use them.see and use them.

Auditory learnersAuditory learners. . Keep a cassette recorder in your Keep a cassette recorder in your study place.study place.

Tactile learnersTactile learners. If you have a personal computer, use . If you have a personal computer, use a word-processing program, make your own study a word-processing program, make your own study guides.guides.

Tips for MemorizationTips for Memorization

1) Get rid of distractions: 1) Get rid of distractions: TV, radio, phone, your boyfriend or TV, radio, phone, your boyfriend or girlfriend, or whatever tends to draw your girlfriend, or whatever tends to draw your attention away.attention away.

2) Break the material you are studying into 2) Break the material you are studying into logical parts:logical parts:

Our minds remember information in Our minds remember information in categories and hierarchies.categories and hierarchies.

3)Pause from time to time to allow your brain to store 3)Pause from time to time to allow your brain to store the information the information

4) Make sure you understand the main idea well 4) Make sure you understand the main idea well before attempting to memorize details. It is far before attempting to memorize details. It is far easier to remember something that you understand.easier to remember something that you understand.

5) Explain these ideas out loud in your own words 5) Explain these ideas out loud in your own words

6)6) Try to find patterns or connections in the material you Try to find patterns or connections in the material you are memorizing, especially cause and effect patterns. are memorizing, especially cause and effect patterns. Ask yourself how details or facts logically relate to Ask yourself how details or facts logically relate to one another.one another.

7)7) Make associations in your mind to remember key Make associations in your mind to remember key ideas or facts. Think of something easy to remember, ideas or facts. Think of something easy to remember, such as funny, odd, or familiar things.such as funny, odd, or familiar things.

8)8) Quiz yourself or have friends ask you questions to Quiz yourself or have friends ask you questions to reinforce what you are memorizing.reinforce what you are memorizing.

9)9) Don’t panic if you can’t recall something Don’t panic if you can’t recall something immediately. Just come back to the question later; immediately. Just come back to the question later; straining your mind doesn’t work. If it’s in your straining your mind doesn’t work. If it’s in your memory bank, it will come out eventually if you can memory bank, it will come out eventually if you can just relax.just relax.

10)Above all, don’t cram! Straining to memorize 10)Above all, don’t cram! Straining to memorize material the night before doesn’t allow enough time material the night before doesn’t allow enough time for your brain to store it, and you’ll lose 80-90% of for your brain to store it, and you’ll lose 80-90% of it. The next day you’ll only find you’re very tired and it. The next day you’ll only find you’re very tired and frustrated.frustrated.

The 7 most common mistakes the The 7 most common mistakes the students makestudents make

Mistake #1 Mistake #1

Lack of motivation and commitment.Lack of motivation and commitment.

Mistake #2 Mistake #2

Expressing negative comments about school, Expressing negative comments about school, classes or a teacher. classes or a teacher.

Mistake #3 Mistake #3 Chronically behind, lack of time and Chronically behind, lack of time and

procrastination.procrastination. Mistake #4 Mistake #4 Poor concentration and boredom.Poor concentration and boredom. Mistake #5 Mistake #5

Too much memorization and Too much memorization and compartmentalization of ideascompartmentalization of ideas

Mistake #6 Mistake #6 Coupling of grades, confidence and self-Coupling of grades, confidence and self-esteem. esteem.

Mistake #7Mistake #7 Don’t go to class.Don’t go to class.

Getting ready to take Getting ready to take Quiz / ExamQuiz / Exam

1)1) Come prepared. Bring at least two #2 pencils, Come prepared. Bring at least two #2 pencils, a good eraser, and a sharpener. If you arrive a a good eraser, and a sharpener. If you arrive a little early and feel rested, you will probably little early and feel rested, you will probably remember the material better.remember the material better.

2) Read the instructions and questions very 2) Read the instructions and questions very carefully. Note how many questions there are, carefully. Note how many questions there are, the value of each, and how long you have to the value of each, and how long you have to complete the test. A good strategy will help complete the test. A good strategy will help you gain the most points possible.you gain the most points possible.

3)3) Try answering the question in your mind Try answering the question in your mind before reading all the possible answers. This before reading all the possible answers. This can focus your thinking and help you avoid can focus your thinking and help you avoid confusion later on.confusion later on.

4)4) Read all the choices, and eliminate the Read all the choices, and eliminate the obviously incorrect ones first.obviously incorrect ones first.

This will help you verify whether your answer This will help you verify whether your answer is truly the best one.is truly the best one.

5)5)Do the easy questions first This will build your Do the easy questions first This will build your confidence and help you budget your time to confidence and help you budget your time to use up on the harder questions.use up on the harder questions.

How to Answer Multiple-Choice How to Answer Multiple-Choice QuestionsQuestions

1.1. Anticipate the answer to a question and look Anticipate the answer to a question and look for it among the choices by eliminating the for it among the choices by eliminating the distracters.distracters.

2.2. Answer all questions for which you know the Answer all questions for which you know the correct answer.correct answer.

3.3. When you are uncertain of a correct answer, When you are uncertain of a correct answer, look for clues to correct answers:look for clues to correct answers:

•• ““All of the above”All of the above”

•• one of two similar-looking answersone of two similar-looking answers

•• the most inclusive answerthe most inclusive answer

4. When you cannot find a clue to a correct 4. When you cannot find a clue to a correct answer, look for clues to incorrect answers:answer, look for clues to incorrect answers:

•• an extreme modifier (such as an extreme modifier (such as always)always)

•• an unfamiliar terman unfamiliar term

•• a joke or insulta joke or insult

•• the highest and lowest number in a setthe highest and lowest number in a set

5.5. Underline key words. Watch out for words like Underline key words. Watch out for words like “always,” “never,” “all,” “every,” and “none.” “always,” “never,” “all,” “every,” and “none.” Extreme statements may be false. Extreme statements may be false. Exaggerations are false. Exaggerations are false.

(if any part of a statement is false, the whole (if any part of a statement is false, the whole can be considered so.)can be considered so.)

6.Fill in everything. Rarely is there ever any 6.Fill in everything. Rarely is there ever any penalty for a wrong answer, and you may be penalty for a wrong answer, and you may be fortunate enough to guess right on some of fortunate enough to guess right on some of them.them.

7.Never change an answer unless you are 7.Never change an answer unless you are completely sure of your reason for changing it. completely sure of your reason for changing it. Most of the time, our first answer is the correct Most of the time, our first answer is the correct one. Learn to trust your intuition. Never one. Learn to trust your intuition. Never change answers at the last minute simply out change answers at the last minute simply out of fear!!! That’s a habit that can lose you a lot of fear!!! That’s a habit that can lose you a lot of points.of points.

8.8. Use the whole class period to complete the Use the whole class period to complete the exam. Many instructors will provide clues or exam. Many instructors will provide clues or explanations that are very helpful, especially explanations that are very helpful, especially toward the end of the exam period.toward the end of the exam period.

9.Budget your time, and always leave time to 9.Budget your time, and always leave time to review your answers. You may catch a review your answers. You may catch a mistake or remember something important as mistake or remember something important as you read over your answers.you read over your answers.

The RusherThe Rusher Hurries through the entire process of taking an Hurries through the entire process of taking an

examination in a desperate rush to complete the test examination in a desperate rush to complete the test before essential facts that have been studied are before essential facts that have been studied are forgotten.forgotten.

Is at high risk for misreading, misinterpreting, and Is at high risk for misreading, misinterpreting, and mistakingmistaking

Should practice relaxation exercisesShould practice relaxation exercises Develop a plan of studies and review before examsDevelop a plan of studies and review before exams Practice test –taking strategies at home and Practice test –taking strategies at home and

attempting to slow down his/her pace of reading and attempting to slow down his/her pace of reading and answering.answering.

The Second GuesserThe Second Guesser

Believes that a second look at each answered question Believes that a second look at each answered question will allow to “catch” any possible error, and so will allow to “catch” any possible error, and so proceeds with reviewing the entire completed proceeds with reviewing the entire completed examination, changing initial responses.examination, changing initial responses.

The examinee is far more likely to respond correctly The examinee is far more likely to respond correctly to a question with a first answer than if she/he repeats to a question with a first answer than if she/he repeats the item and alters the initial response.the item and alters the initial response.

Reread only the few items you are very unsure of and Reread only the few items you are very unsure of and avoiding erasing or changing any initial response avoiding erasing or changing any initial response unless absolutely necessary.unless absolutely necessary.

Taking an ExaminationTaking an Examination

Before you begin answering Before you begin answering Questions!!!Questions!!!

•• Preview the test to learn what types of Preview the test to learn what types of questions you must answer, whether questions questions you must answer, whether questions are printed on both sides of each page, and are printed on both sides of each page, and where you must write your answers.where you must write your answers.

• • Read the directions carefully and follow them Read the directions carefully and follow them exactly.exactly.

Listen attentively to everything the teacher Listen attentively to everything the teacher says before and during the test.says before and during the test.

•• Plan your test taking time so you will answer Plan your test taking time so you will answer all the questions you know in case time runs all the questions you know in case time runs out.out.

•• Answer the easiest questions first.Answer the easiest questions first.

•• Answer all the questions unless you are Answer all the questions unless you are instructed not to.instructed not to.

•• Check your answers, but be careful not to Check your answers, but be careful not to change correct answers to incorrect answers.change correct answers to incorrect answers.

• • Don’t let other students see your answers. Don’t let other students see your answers. (You may be accused of cheating.) (You may be accused of cheating.)

•• When a test is returned, study your incorrect When a test is returned, study your incorrect answers to learn how you might do better on answers to learn how you might do better on the next test the teacher gives.the next test the teacher gives.

The EndThe End

Thanks for ListeningThanks for Listening