Test Taking Skills

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Test Taking Skills

• Created by
• Ida Hoelscher
• Learning Support Coordinator Title III
• Sul Ross State University

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Before the Test

• Daily Reviews
• Short pre- and post-class reviews of notes
• Concentrate on material you have just learned and
  on material that requires memorization
  (definitions, dates, equations, formulas)
• 5 to 10 minute reviews several times a day

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Before the Test - continued

• Weekly reviews
• Should be one hour
• More structured than the daily reviews
• Include review of assigned reading, lecture
  notes. Practice answering questions
• Review mind maps and flashcards

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Before the Test - continued

• Major Reviews
• Start the week before major tests or finals.
• Spend two to five hours with frequent breaks.
• REMEMBER-learning effectiveness lessens after an
  hour.
• Study the hardest subjects early while the brain
  is fresh.

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Before the Test - continued

• Create Review Tools
• Study Checklists that you can physically mark off
  as you accomplish each item. (Ex pages to
  review, notes to review, major ideas,
  definitions, theories)
• Mind Map Summaries that can provide a framework
  for recall that will access both the right and
  left sides of the brain. Mind mapping helps you
  to think from the general to the specific and is
  visual.
• Flashcards can be taken anywhere and are like a
  test. On one side write the question, on the
  other the answer. Carry them with you so you can
  study.

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During the Test

• The Beginning
• Arrive early so you can do a relaxation exercise.
• Pay attention to the verbal instructions.
• Scan the whole test to evaluate the importance of
  each section and decide how long to spend on it.
• Read the directions slowly.
• Jot down memory aids, formulas, facts, etc. in
  the margin.

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During the Test - continued

• Order
• First answer easiest, shortest questions.
• Second answer multiple-choice, true-false, and
  fill-in-the-blank questions.
• Next answer short-answer questions.
• Finally proceed to essay questions.

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During the Test - continued

• Techniques
• When youre stuck, use your memory techniques.
• Go from general to specific to unblock.
• Pace yourself and move on when youre stuck. Come
  back later.
• Leave plenty of space between answers so you can
  add additional info later.
• Look for answers or memory triggers in other
  questions.
• Use your first instinct unless you know its
  wrong when doing short answers.

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Predicting Possible Test Questions

• Where do test questions come from?
• Book
• Chapter
• Captions
• Side Story
• Lecture
• Handouts
• After the test, can you find the answer?

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Predicting Questions - cont.

• Find out the test format
• Find out at the beginning of the semester so you
  know what to look for.
• How long will it be?
• What kinds of questions?
• Essay
• Multiple Choice
• Short answer
• Fill in the Blank
• Problems

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Predicting Questions - cont.

• Create a section in your notebook to jot down
  possible questions
• Add to this section after each class.
• Also, after you read each chapter
• Watch for questions
• By observing how the instructor says something
• If the instructor repeats something
• Questions other students ask

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Predicting Questions - cont.

• If you were the instructor what would you ask?
• Turn key words into questions.
• Save quizzes and study them (they might appear in
  a slightly different form).

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Multiple-Choice Questions

• Check the directions to see if you need more than
  one answer.
• Answer in your head before you look at the
  answers so you wont be confused.
• If you cant answer it quickly then put your best
  guess, mark it to check, and go on - dont waste
  time.
• When youre finished come back to the marked
  questions.

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When in doubt!

• If two answers just differ by 1 or 2 words -
  choose one.
• If two answers have similar words - choose one.
• If two quantities are almost the same - choose
  one.
• If answers cover a wide range - choose one in the
  middle.
• On sentence completion, eliminate the answers
  that are not grammatically correct.
• If none of the above works, close your eyes and
  guess.

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True-False Questions

• Answer these quickly because they dont count for
  much
• A false statement can be indicated by the
  following words always and never
• Check qualifiers like all, most, rarely, never,
  sometimes because they answer T or F.

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Short-answer or Fill-in-the-blank

• Over learning is the key here because you can
  answer these quickly.
• These questions are usually definitions or short
  description.
• Concentrate on key words and facts.
• BE BRIEF.

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Essay Questions

• Make sure you know what the question is asking.
• Make a quick outline.
• you will be less likely to leave something out
• you can write quicker
• if you run out of time you might still get some
  points for your outline
• Dont write introductory sentences. State your
  point then go on to supporting facts.

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Essay Question - Style

• Be Brief
• Remember that your teacher is probably going to
  be tired and overworked , so leave out filler.
• Write Clearly
• Sloppy, difficult to read writing can lead to a
  lower grade(sloppy writing - sloppy incorrect
  answer).
• Pens Only
• Pencils can be difficult to read can be sloppy.
• One Side Only
• Answers are easier to read and you can add later.

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Open Book Tests

• While studying, write down formulas so you dont
  have to hunt.
• Use paperclips or tabs to mark important pages
  (ex. tables) so you dont waste time flipping.
• Number make a table of contents for your notes.
• Open-book are the most difficult.

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Study Groups

• Compare notes
• make sure you all understood key points the same
  way
• Teach each other
• vocalizing helps you to reinforce and also gives
  you the attitude of I know this
• Test each other
• each person brings 4 or 5 questions each time
• Brainstorm
• use 5 to 10 minutes to think of possible
  questions
• Discussions/Debates
• help with insight and understanding

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Keep at it till you finish!Dont give upthe
fight!!!