Test Taking StrategiesTest Taking Strategies……How to get that “A” How to get that “A”

you always wantedyou always wanted

What will be covered..What will be covered.. Techniques for improving your test Techniques for improving your test

taking abilities including:taking abilities including:

– Physical, emotional, and mental Physical, emotional, and mental preparationpreparation

– Study strategiesStudy strategies– Overcoming test anxietyOvercoming test anxiety– Test taking tips for the many types of testsTest taking tips for the many types of tests– Avoiding academic dishonestyAvoiding academic dishonesty

Self assessmentSelf assessment 1. __ I always begin studying for an exam at least 1. __ I always begin studying for an exam at least

a a week in advance week in advance 2. __ I usually find that my class notes are very 2. __ I usually find that my class notes are very

helpful helpful when I’m preparing for an exam when I’m preparing for an exam 3. __ I usually study for an exam with at least one 3. __ I usually study for an exam with at least one

other person other person 4. __ I usually know what to expect on a test 4. __ I usually know what to expect on a test

before I before I go into the exam go into the exam 5. __ I study for tests by predicting possible 5. __ I study for tests by predicting possible

questions questions and seeing if I am prepared to and seeing if I am prepared to answer themanswer them

Self AssessmentSelf Assessment 6. __ I predict essay questions and develop 6. __ I predict essay questions and develop

outlines of outlines of the answers the answers 7. __ I am careful to maintain good eating, 7. __ I am careful to maintain good eating,

sleeping, sleeping, and exercise habits before and exercise habits before examsexams

8. __ If I finish an exam early or on time, I recheck 8. __ If I finish an exam early or on time, I recheck my my paper paper

9. __ I usually know that I have done well on an 9. __ I usually know that I have done well on an exam exam when I finish. when I finish.

10. __ I seldom feel overly nervous when studying 10. __ I seldom feel overly nervous when studying for or for or taking exams taking exams

Exam PreparationExam Preparation Starts at the beginning of the Starts at the beginning of the

semestersemester– Talk to the instructorTalk to the instructor

Structure of testsStructure of tests Time allowedTime allowed

– Time managementTime management Make a scheduleMake a schedule

Physical PreparationPhysical Preparation Get plenty of sleepGet plenty of sleep

– Staying up late to cram the night before will Staying up late to cram the night before will impair your mental abilitiesimpair your mental abilities

Get exerciseGet exercise– Aerobic activities reduce stressAerobic activities reduce stress– Keeps you relaxed, positive, and provides Keeps you relaxed, positive, and provides

study breaksstudy breaks Eat rightEat right

– Eat breakfast before an exam to give you the Eat breakfast before an exam to give you the energy you needenergy you need

Emotional PreparationEmotional Preparation Know the materialKnow the material

– Confidence is important or doing wellConfidence is important or doing well Practice relaxation techniquesPractice relaxation techniques

– Go for a runGo for a run– Sit in a quite area and take a few deep breathsSit in a quite area and take a few deep breaths– Do some stretchesDo some stretches

Positive self-talkPositive self-talk– Remind yourself that you are prepared, and Remind yourself that you are prepared, and

will do great!will do great!– Self Fulfilling ProphecySelf Fulfilling Prophecy

Planning for SuccessPlanning for Success Find out about the testFind out about the test

– Leave no unanswered questionsLeave no unanswered questions Schedule out study timeSchedule out study time

– Leave plenty of time to prepareLeave plenty of time to prepare Study GroupsStudy Groups

– Get a group of people together to review Get a group of people together to review for testsfor tests

– Quiz each other, teach each otherQuiz each other, teach each other

Planning for SuccessPlanning for Success Get a tutorGet a tutor

Get help early onGet help early on

We are always here to help!We are always here to help!

Studying for TestsStudying for Tests Make Review SheetsMake Review Sheets

– Condense notes into units for easy Condense notes into units for easy managementmanagement

– Make a list of key terms for quick Make a list of key terms for quick reference and studyreference and study

Flash CardsFlash Cards– Great for making use of dead time Great for making use of dead time

(waiting for the bus, waiting for a class (waiting for the bus, waiting for a class to start etc.)to start etc.)

Studying for TestsStudying for Tests Write summaries of class topicsWrite summaries of class topics

– A good way to judge your know how is A good way to judge your know how is to explain what you have learned to to explain what you have learned to someone elsesomeone else

Test AnxietyTest Anxiety Sources of Test AnxietySources of Test Anxiety

– Pressure to SucceedPressure to Succeed

– Expectations of loved onesExpectations of loved ones

– Lack of preparationLack of preparation

Test AnxietyTest Anxiety Specific or generalizedSpecific or generalized

– One test will not make or break youOne test will not make or break you

– Anxious about a specific type of test? Anxious about a specific type of test? Specific subject? Specific subject? practice, practice, practicepractice, practice, practice

Test AnxietyTest Anxiety Symptoms - can manifest at different Symptoms - can manifest at different

times for different people:times for different people:– ““butterflies” in the stomachbutterflies” in the stomach– Feeling queasy or nauseousFeeling queasy or nauseous– HeadachesHeadaches– Fast heartbeatFast heartbeat– HyperventilatingHyperventilating– ShakingShaking– SweatingSweating– Muscle cramps Muscle cramps

Test AnxietyTest Anxiety During the testDuring the test

– Experience the sensation of “going Experience the sensation of “going blank”blank”

– Undermines all test preparationUndermines all test preparation

Severe Test AnxietySevere Test Anxiety– If you become physically ill please seek If you become physically ill please seek

help from a physician, campus health help from a physician, campus health services, or a counselor services, or a counselor

Test AnxietyTest Anxiety Combating Test AnxietyCombating Test Anxiety

– Study hard, eat right, and get lots of sleepStudy hard, eat right, and get lots of sleep

– Long deep breathes, and a slow exhaleLong deep breathes, and a slow exhale

– Stretch routinesStretch routines

– Stay positiveStay positive

Types of TestsTypes of Tests Problem-Solving TestsProblem-Solving Tests

– In the sciences, math, statistics, etc.In the sciences, math, statistics, etc.– Show all work to avoid careless mistakesShow all work to avoid careless mistakes– Read all directions carefullyRead all directions carefully– Double check work when doneDouble check work when done

Types of TestsTypes of Tests Machine-Scored TestsMachine-Scored Tests

– Fill out all personal information required Fill out all personal information required on answer sheeton answer sheet

– Fill in each answer fullyFill in each answer fully– Make sure the number on answer sheet Make sure the number on answer sheet

corresponds to the number on the corresponds to the number on the questionquestion

– Erase stray marksErase stray marks

Types of TestsTypes of Tests Computerized TestsComputerized Tests

– Make sure you are comfortable with the Make sure you are comfortable with the formatformat

– Ask professor to clarify anything you Ask professor to clarify anything you don’t understanddon’t understand

– If available, take practice testsIf available, take practice tests

Types of TestsTypes of Tests Laboratory TestsLaboratory Tests

– Always attend Lab!Always attend Lab! This is where you practice for the examsThis is where you practice for the exams

Review notesReview notes– Also, practice drawing any diagrams you Also, practice drawing any diagrams you

might be required to recreatemight be required to recreate

Types of TestsTypes of Tests Open-Book/Open-Note TestsOpen-Book/Open-Note Tests

– Usually Usually HARDERHARDER than than closed-book/closed-note testsclosed-book/closed-note tests Professor expects more from your answersProfessor expects more from your answers

– Study and organize your notesStudy and organize your notes– Make sure you know where everything is Make sure you know where everything is

in your bookin your book– Do not make the mistake of not Do not make the mistake of not

studying, just because your book is therestudying, just because your book is there Looking things up in your notes or book takes Looking things up in your notes or book takes

time!time!

Types of TestsTypes of Tests Take-Home TestsTake-Home Tests

– Usually Usually HARDERHARDER than in-class tests than in-class tests– Allow plenty of time to complete the Allow plenty of time to complete the

take home testtake home test– Your professor usually expects more Your professor usually expects more

from your answersfrom your answers– Check with professor to find out to what Check with professor to find out to what

extent collaboration is allowedextent collaboration is allowed

Tips for Test TakingTips for Test Taking Essay QuestionsEssay Questions

– Budget the timeBudget the time– Read the question carefullyRead the question carefully– Make an outline firstMake an outline first– Make answers clear, concise, and Make answers clear, concise, and

organizedorganized– Know the key task wordsKnow the key task words

Examples: Compare, Analyze, Contrast, Examples: Compare, Analyze, Contrast, Criticize, Define, Describe, Discuss, Evaluate, Criticize, Define, Describe, Discuss, Evaluate, Etc.Etc.

Tips for Test TakingTips for Test Taking Multiple-Choice QuestionsMultiple-Choice Questions

– Read the question, and generate your own Read the question, and generate your own answeranswer

– Pick the answer that best matches your ownPick the answer that best matches your own– If you don’t know the answer to a question If you don’t know the answer to a question

right away, narrow down your optionsright away, narrow down your options– Skip questions you don’t know and Skip questions you don’t know and

comeback later. A later question might give comeback later. A later question might give a clue to its answer!a clue to its answer!

Tips for Test TakingTips for Test Taking Fill-in-the-Blank QuestionsFill-in-the-Blank Questions

– If you don’t know it right away, generate a few If you don’t know it right away, generate a few possible answerspossible answers

– Pick the one you feel best fits the questionPick the one you feel best fits the question True/False QuestionsTrue/False Questions

– For a question to be true, every detail must be For a question to be true, every detail must be truetrue

– Definite terms such as always, never, only are Definite terms such as always, never, only are usually falseusually false

– Don’t second guess yourself when a sequence of Don’t second guess yourself when a sequence of questions is all true or all falsequestions is all true or all false

Tips for Test TakingTips for Test Taking Matching QuestionsMatching Questions

– Review all terms and descriptions before Review all terms and descriptions before answeringanswering

– Match the ones you are most sure ofMatch the ones you are most sure of

– Use process of elimination to help finishUse process of elimination to help finish

Before the TestBefore the Test Get to class a little earlyGet to class a little early

– Make sure you have all the materials you Make sure you have all the materials you needneed

– Go to the bathroom, get a drink of waterGo to the bathroom, get a drink of water

– Take a few deep breaths to calm Take a few deep breaths to calm yourselfyourself

When You Get Your TestWhen You Get Your Test Skim over the whole test to get the big Skim over the whole test to get the big

picture, schedule time accordinglypicture, schedule time accordingly

““Mind Dump” – On some tests it is helpful Mind Dump” – On some tests it is helpful to write a few notes down of important to write a few notes down of important concepts you don’t want to forgetconcepts you don’t want to forget

When you finish don’t leave!When you finish don’t leave!– Use spare time to go back over the test Use spare time to go back over the test

to catch mistakesto catch mistakes

After the TestAfter the Test If your professor reviews the exam, If your professor reviews the exam,

GO TO CLASS! GO TO CLASS! – It is helpful to hear what he was looking It is helpful to hear what he was looking

for and whyfor and why Review your test to see the mistakes Review your test to see the mistakes

you madeyou made– Reviewing mistakes and learning from Reviewing mistakes and learning from

them helps you to prepare for future them helps you to prepare for future teststests

Academic HonestyAcademic Honesty Types of MisconductTypes of Misconduct

– Cheating – intentionally using Cheating – intentionally using unauthorized materials such as notes, unauthorized materials such as notes, study aids, the guy sitting to your leftstudy aids, the guy sitting to your left

– Plagiarism – taking another person’s Plagiarism – taking another person’s ideas and claiming them as your own. ideas and claiming them as your own. When in doubt, cite itWhen in doubt, cite it

Reducing likelihood of problemsReducing likelihood of problems – Know the rules, Set clear boundaries Know the rules, Set clear boundaries

with peers, seek help when neededwith peers, seek help when needed

Seek Help!Seek Help! Student Support ServicesStudent Support Services

Your InstructorYour Instructor

AdvisorAdvisor

CounselorCounselor

TutorTutor

The ARC (Academic Resource Center) The ARC (Academic Resource Center)

ReferenceReference http://www.studygs.net/tsttak1.htm http://www.testtakingtips.com/ http://www.ucc.vt.edu/academic_sup

port_students/online_study_skills_workshops/improving_test_performance/index.html