Test Preparation

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Test Preparation

• Academic Success Centers guide to help you
  succeed on your tests!

Academic Success Center Kent State University MSC
207
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• Make preparations in advance.
• You never have trouble if you are prepared for
  it.
• Theodore Roosevelt

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Coping with Test Anxiety

• What Causes Test Anxiety?
• Lack of preparation as indicated by
• cramming the night before the exam.
• poor time management.
• failure to organize text information.
• poor study habits.
• Worrying about the following
• past performance on exams.
• how friends and other students are doing.
• the negative consequences of failure.

Source http//ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stresste
stanxiety.shtml
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Coping with Test Anxiety

• Confronting and Handling Test Anxiety
• Don't think about fear just think about what you
  have to do.
• Stay relevant.
• Relax you're in control.
• Take a slow, deep breath.
• You should expect some anxiety it's a reminder
  not to panic and to relax and cope steadily with
  the situation.
• Tenseness can be an ally, a friend it's a cue to
  cope.
• Coping with the Feeling of Being Overwhelmed?
• When the fear comes, just pause.
• Keep the focus on the present what is it you
  have to do?
• You should expect your fear to rise some.
• Don't try to eliminate fear totally just keep it
  manageable.
• You can convince yourself to do it. You can
  reason your fear away.
• It's not the worst thing that can happen.
• Do something that will prevent you from thinking
  about fear.
• Describe what is around you. That way you won't
  think about worrying.

Source http//ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stresste
stanxiety.shtml
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Planning a Study Strategy

• Failing to plan is planning to fail.
• Alan
  Lakein

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Tips for Test Taking

• Long Term Prep
• Review old tests
• Review notes daily after class
• Keep up with the reading
• Join a study group

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Tips for Test Taking

• Short Term Prep
• One week before the test
• Prepare a study schedule
• Put the material into a useful study tool
• Day Before
• Have a brief review session
• Get eight hours of sleep
• Morning of
• Eat a well-balanced breakfast (Stay away from
  caffeine and sugar)

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Know the Test

• What format will the test be?
• Multiple choice, essay, or fill in the blank
• What will the test cover?
• Use a study guide

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Cumulative Exam Preparation

• Tips on how to study for cumulative exams
• Get copies of old exams. These can act as study
  guides and help you to plan a review strategy.
• Consult the syllabus to refresh your memory with
  what was covered over the semester.
• Consult your textbooks table of contents to draw
  up a comprehensive list of the materials that
  should be reviewed.

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Preparing for Tests

• Find a study place without distractions
• Restructure your notes
• Outlines or lists
• Concept maps (focus on main concepts)
• Flashcards (good for memorization)
• Form study groups
• Explain the material to someone else
• Ask questions
• Compare notes

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Restructuring Notes

• Examples

Concept Map
Outline
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Tips for Test Taking

• Taking the Test
• Arrive early for tests and be prepared.
• Read the directions carefully
• Answer questions in a strategic order
• First easy questions
• Then difficult questions
• Review your test before turning it in.

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Multiple Choice Test

• Circle or underline important words in the item.
• Read all the answer choices before selecting one.
• Cross out answer choices you are certain are not
  correct.
• Look for two answers choices that are opposites.
• Look for hints about the correct answer choice in
  other items on the test.
• Look for answer choices that contain language
  used by your teacher or found in your textbooks.
• Do not change your initial answer unless you are
  sure another answer is correct.
• Choose all of the above if you are CERTAIN all
  other answer choices in the item are correct.
• Choose none of the above if you are CERTAIN all
  other answer choices in the term are incorrect

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Dealing with Difficult Questions

• Eliminate options you know to be incorrect
• Give each option of a question the "true-false
  test"?
• Question options that grammatically don't fit
  with the stem?
• Question options that are totally unfamiliar to
  you?
• Question options that contain negative or
  absolute words.?
• Number answers?
• "Look alike options"?probably one is correct
  choose the best but eliminate choices that mean
  basically the same thing, and thus cancel each
  other out?
• Double negatives?Create the equivalent positive
  statement and consider?
• Echo options?If two options are opposite each
  other, chances are one of them is correct?
• Favor options that contain qualifiers?The result
  is longer, more inclusive items that better fill
  the role of the answer?
• If two alternatives seem correct,?compare them
  for differences, ?then refer to the stem to find
  your best answer

From http//www.studygs.net/
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Essay Exams

• Read through the exam
• Start with a prompt you are comfortable with.
• List main ideas
• Create a rough outline
• If you are stuck, move on.

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GOOD LUCK!