Taking a Test

1
Taking a Test

• The Everything Study Book
• By Steven Frank

2
On Exam Day

• Give yourself enough time to get ready in the
  morning
• While you shower, talk about key terms concepts
• If the exam is in the afternoon, read over notes
• Go for a walk or watch TV

• Dont try to memorize new material, its too
  late!
• Eat a high carb meal to give your brain an energy
  boost. (dont eat a big meal or youll get
  sleepy)
• Bring several pencils/pens

3
Before the Test

• 1. Remember The Big Picture. A single test is
  only a small part of your overall educational
  experience.
• Doing poorly on an exam is not a reflection on
  you as a person.

• 2. Avoid Alarmists.
• Panic is infectious. Stressed out people may
  shake your confidence.
• Avoid
• talking to
• them before
• an exam.

4
Before the Test

• 3. Take A Breather
• When studying before the exam, take a 10 min
  study break every hour
• Exams are physically and mentally exhausting, so
  take a breather during the exam (stretch your
  muscles)

5
The Test

• 1. Practice Relaxation Techniques
• Close your eyes for a minute breath deeply
• Visualize yourself doing well on the test
• 2. Glance Through The Entire Exam
• Get a sense of
• How many sections
• Type of questions
• Point values of each section (ex if a
  short-answer section is worth 10pts and an essay
  section is worth 30pts, start with the essay)
• Consider levels of difficulty of each section
• Create a rough schedule of time

6
The Test

• 2. Read All Directions!
• You may NOT be expected to answer all questions
• 3. Understand the Question
• Read the Q a few times, look at what the Q is
  essentially asking (dont focus on specific
  words)
• Underline key terms. Figure out the theme. Make a
  guess based on your knowledge of the theme
• 4. Read Each Question Carefully Watch For Trick
  Words
• Trick words not, always, sometimes, never, all,
  some, none, except, more, less.

7
The Test

• 5. Watch the Time and Pace Yourself
• Make sure you can get through all the questions
• Skip difficult questions (star ? it), answer
  easy questions and go back
• 6. Visualization
• If youve forgotten information your sure you
  studied, close your eyes, see the page in your
  mind and read the answer.

8
Intelligent Guessing

• Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
• The most difficult to guess on
• Consider your notes to narrow down possible
  answers. Identify the theme think of key terms
  that relate
• True/False Questions
• 50/50 chance
• If the Q states always, sometimes, or never,
  just think of an instance when the statement is
  not true the answer will be
• look for the one word that invalidates the whole
  statement
• Short Answer Questions
• Always guess on short answer questions
• Take advantage of what you do know to figure out
  what you dont

9
Intelligent Guessing

• Multiple Choice Questions
• Eliminate choices
• Read all possible choices
• Examine each choice, looking for something
  incorrect within the answer itself (grammatically
  incorrect)
• Narrow down to two options.
• Eliminate all of the above, by identifying one
  incorrect answer
• Eliminate none of the above by identifying one
  correct answer
• Go with your gut instinct
• Dont go back change it unless you are
  absolutely certain of the correct answer.

10
Essays

• 1. Read Directions Carefully
• How many Qs do you need to answer and can you
  choose the Q?
• 2. Read Questions Carefully
• Know what you need to address in the essay
• Underline phrases you need to consider

• 3. Choose Questions Carefully
• Select the Q you can write the most about feel
  confident answering
• Dont lose your nerve half way thru and change
  Qs
• Stick with your decision!

11
Essays

• 5. If the Question is Confusing or Difficult
• Always write something (at least get partial
  credit)
• Try to write a confident, well-organized response
  that addresses something related to the question

• 4. Connect the Essay Question to a Theme
• Include the various points youve studied from
  your notes
• Add relevant key terms

12
Essays

• 7. Neatness Counts!
• Essays that are difficult to read, arent viewed
  positively.
• If your script is hard to read, print.
• Make changes clear (Cross out, dont scribble)
• Use margins to add a line

• 6. Jot Down a Few Notes In the Margin
• Organize your response (plan the order which you
  will address the points).
• Begin finish with your strongest points
• Most time should be spent writing the essay not
  planning it

13
Essays

• 8. Communication is Key
• Have a confident attitude. It will reflect in
  your essay show that you have mastered the
  material
• Write in a clear manner
• Describe each point in detail
• Use sophisticated vocabulary terminology

• Include relevant key terms w/ explanations
  definitions
• Dont pad the essay (irrelevant facts, incorrect
  info, or anything you dont fully understand)
  
• Your teacher will see through these tactics
  you will be penalized

14
Essays 9. Use Three Part Structure

• I. Introduction
• Write a few sentences that rephrases expands on
  Q

• III. Conclusion
• Give yourself time to write the conclusion
• Summarize key points
• The conclusion comes right before you are given
  your grade, make it good!

• II. Body
• Must be clearly organized well
  structured
• Divide into paragraphs, each centering on a
  specific point that supports your topic
• Use many short paragraphs, rather than a few
  long ones

15
Essays

• 10. Pace Yourself Move Quickly
• Dont get caught up in a single point

• If time runs out, finish the point you were on
  jump to conclusion
• In conclusion, refer to addl points you would
  have made if you had more time (could buy you a
  few more points)

16
After The Exam

• Examine your test after its been graded
• Study Errors. Understand why you lost points
• Identify patterns in your errors
• Ask for advice from the teacher on what you might
  do in the future to raise your grade. (shows you
  take the grade seriously)
• Look for errors. If you find an error in grading,
  kindly point it out.

17
Points to Remember

• 1. Studying means thinking working, not
  passively reading
• 2. Know what your in for get as much info about
  the exam as possible
• 3. Get help if you need it
• 4. Stay healthy a sound mind
• body improves
• performance
• on exams
• 5. Use strategies
• to fight panic

• 6. Guess intelligently use what you know to
  figure out what you dont
• 7. Take exams strategically keep a clear head,
  watch the time, pace yourself
• 8. Read all questions carefully
• 9. Learn something from each exam that can
• help you on
• future exams
• Good Luck on Your
• Next Exam!