Effective Strategies for Test Preparation and Management

Taking Tests Center for Academic Advising and Retention Services (CAARS)

Taking Tests ONo. 1 Tip No. 1 Tip OBefore the test Before the test ODuring the test During the test OTypes of tests Types of tests OTrue True- -False False and beyond and beyond

Most Important * Practice* Practice* Practice* Practice* Practice* Practice*

Before the Test OStudy in Study in advance time management time management skills OKnow what type of test will Know what type of test will be given be given OStay caught up Stay caught up on assignments assignments advance - -use use good good skills on reading reading

Before the Test OStudy the most difficult Study the most difficult material first material first OGet help from teacher Get help from teacher and a tutor and a tutor OStudy your teacher Study your teacher

Before the Test OPredict likely questions Predict likely questions OWhat have past tests What have past tests featured? featured? OQuiz Yourself Quiz Yourself

What NOT To Do ODo not cram Do not cram ODo not stay up all night Do not stay up all night

The Day of the Test OBe careful about what you Be careful about what you eat and drink eat and drink ODo not talk with other Do not talk with other students, about the test students, about the test this can give you unwanted anxiety can give you unwanted anxiety this

The Day of the Test OAnxiety? Anxiety? OArrive early for the Arrive early for the exam exam OWrite down your fears Write down your fears ORemember this is just Remember this is just one test one test

The Day of the Test Skim the test OSkip a difficult Skip a difficult question but be sure question but be sure to come back to it to come back to it OIgnore other students Ignore other students ODon t Panic Don t Panic OSkim the test

Types of Tests

Matching Tests ORead items in BOTH Read items in BOTH columns columns first first OAnswer the items you know Answer the items you know first first ORecheck Recheck your answers your answers

True False Tests OMost Most tests have tests have more more true answers true answers ORead Read the question the question thoroughly and look for thoroughly and look for words words that may make that may make the the answer answer false false

True False Tests Look For: Look For: OExtreme Extreme M Modifiers odifiers

True False Tests OExtreme modifiers: Extreme modifiers: best, always, best, always, none, none, all, all, never , certainly, certainly, everybody, everybody, nothing nothing These phrases are often These phrases are often false. false. never ,

True False Tests Look For: Look For: OQualifiers Qualifiers

True False Tests OQualifiers: Qualifiers: seldom, often, often, may, may, unlikely , many, probably, many, probably, a a majority, majority, and sometimes sometimes These phrases are often These phrases are often true true. . seldom, unlikely , and

True False Tests ODouble Double negatives negatives. . Example Example: : not uncommon not uncommon means common . means common .

Multiple Choice Exam s OKnow how much time Know how much time you have you have ORead the entire Read the entire question question OAnswer the easiest Answer the easiest questions first questions first

Multiple Choice Example Which of the following statements best characterizes delivery reliability? A company that a. delivers on the same day of the week b. delivers at the promised time c. delivers more frequently than its competitors d. delivers faster than its competitors

Multiple Choice Exam s ORead the questions Read the questions answer without looking answer without looking at the choices at the choices ODecide which choice Decide which choice most closely matches most closely matches your initial response your initial response

Multiple Choice Exam OMark out answers you Mark out answers you KNOW are incorrect KNOW are incorrect OAlways guess unless Always guess unless you are penalized you are penalized

Multiple Choice Exams ODo Do not change your first not change your first response unless you are response unless you are sure it is it is incorrect incorrect OLook for answers which use Look for answers which use familiar language familiar language sure

Essay Exams At the exam: At the exam: OFirst First- - read OAnswer easiest question Answer easiest question first first OManage your Manage your time OUse a pencil Use a pencil read all all the questions the questions time

Essay Exams At the exam: At the exam: OWrite Write down about the about the topic, including key topic, including key terms terms OOrganize what you write Organize what you write OYour answers should Your answers should inform & persuade persuade down what you what you know know inform &

Essay Exams Think in Threes Think in Threes O Include three main points Include three main points about the topic about the topic O Support each point with Support each point with three specific details. three specific details.

Essay Exams Cont. Look for a direction word Look for a direction word OAnalyze Analyze OCompare Compare OContrast Contrast ODefine Define ODescribe Describe ODiagram Diagram OEvaluate Evaluate OExplain Explain OInterpret Interpret OJustify Justify OList List OOutline Outline OSummarize Summarize

Short Answer Test O Provide Provide a definition or a short description a definition or a short description O Flash Flash cards can cards can be beneficial be beneficial Quizlet.com O Do not leave an answer Do not leave an answer blank O These These tests will ask you to: tests will ask you to: O Define Define O Identify Identify O List List O Name Name Quizlet.com blank

**Activity** The Story of Billy and Tom The Story of Billy and Tom An Inference Check An Inference Check

References O Downing, S. 2008. On course: Strategies for creating success in college and in life. 5th edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. O Walther, D. R. 1994. Toolkit for college success. Belmont: International Thomson Publishing. O Muskingum College. (2010). Learning Strategies Database. Retrieved January 16, 2011, from Muskingum College: www.muskingum.edu/~cal/database/general/index.html. O Begley, S. (2011). Can you build a better brain. Retrieved January 16, 2011, from Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/03/can-you-build-a- better-brain.html.

For More Information Contact: Heather Unger-Robertson Learning Support Coordinator/Academic Advisor University of North Alabama Keller Hall 119 256-765-5949 hurobertson@una.edu