chapter 12 performing well on tests and quizzes. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights...

Chapter 12

Performing Well on Tests and Quizzes

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 12 | 2

Two basictypes of test questions

• Essays: Take a broad view and emphasize recollection and organization

• Objective: Focus on details and emphasize recognition


What it takes toperform well on a test or quiz

• Preparation to counteract anxiety

• An understanding of the question types

• A systematic approach

• An ability to learn from experience


Preparationcounteracts test anxiety

• Works like a fire drill

• Can be done academically and psychologically


How to prepare academically

• Start early

• Stay on top of your coursework

• Organize yourself and your study plan

• Be a study switch-hitter

• If you have to cram, cram systematically


Ways to start early

• Pick up your textbooks as early as you can

• Read your syllabus

• Find help if you think you’re going to need it


How to stay ontop of your coursework

• Take notes

• Master your material


How to get organized

• Organize your time with time schedules

• Organize your notes with summary sheets


Time schedulesfor exam preparation

• The “homestretch” schedule: Ties off any end-of-semester loose ends so you can focus on your exams.

• The exam week schedule: Gives you a big picture view of exam week and encourages you to schedule enough time for sleep, meals, recreation, and study.


Summary sheets makeyour notes more manageable

• Regular summary sheets can be created from the Silver Dollar ideas in your notes.

• Advanced summary sheets promote reflection by rearranging and re-categorizing your notes.


Studyswitch-hitting increases

flexibility

• Use your questions to study answers and your answers to study questions

• Put key questions and answers on separate cards and shuffle them


If you have to cram

• Limit what you try to learn. It’s too late to try to learn everything

• Recite instead of re-read: The only reliable way to embed important ideas in your mind


How to prepare psychologically

• Find out what you can about the exams

• Get acquainted with the test site

• Maintain a positive attitude


Ways to learnabout an upcoming exam

• Check with your instructors. They won’t tell you everything, but instructors will often answer many of your questions about an upcoming exam.

• Use past exams: Instructors frequently take the same approach to their exams from one semester to the next.


Ways to getacquainted with the test site

• Spend some time studying at the actual test site

• Study in quiet

• Practice at a chairdesk

• Impose a time limit


How tomaintain a positive attitude

• Learn to relax: Do breathing exercises

• Use self-talk: Change any negative internal conversations to positive ones

• Visualize success: Envision yourself doing well on your exam.


Know the requirementsof each question type

• Understand objective questions

• Learn the basics of writing an essay


Objectivequestions are like pasta

• Different types, same basic ingredients

• Basic pasta ingredients: flour and water

• Basic objective question ingredients: true and false statements


The basic objectivequestion types

• True-false questions leave no room for ambiguity

• Multiple-choice questions are like a cluster of true-false statements

• Matching questions provide a multiple multiple choice

• Sentence-completion is multiple-choice without the choice


True-false strategies

• Mark “true” if you’re stumped. Most instructors want to supply you with more true statements than false ones.

• Be wary of longer statements. The longer a statement, the more likely that it will be false.


Multiple-choice can be more complicated than true-false

• The directions may vary

• The context is divided

• The formats can differ


Multiple-choice strategies– but only if you’re stumped

• Pick “all of the above” if you’re in doubt. Instructors prefer the truth..

• Use the “true-false” technique. A shift in perspective can make some questions easier..

• Discard foolish options. They create “noise” and confusion.

• Choose the middle number in a range of numbers


Matching question strategies

• Once you make a match, mark it off

• Match shorter items to longer ones


Sentence-completion strategies

• Clarify any ambiguities with a question. Don’t let misunderstanding lose your points.

• Disregard the length of the blank. The blank’s length is often arbitrary

• Treat some sentences as two questions. Multi-blank questions can be easier to solve in pieces.


The basics of writing an essay

• Understand each question with precision: To write a precise answer you must understand the question precisely

• Make sure your essay is well-constructed: That means well-organized, well-supported, and neatly written


Strategies for writinga well-organized essay

• Answer the question right at the start of the essay

• Organize things in a recognizable way

• Use transitions to make your answer easier to follow

• Wrap things up with a summary


The support your essay needs

• Back up your answer with solid evidence

• Use examples, details, and further evidence

• Try to incorporate your instructor’s “pet ideas”

• Steer clear of personal opinions or unsupported statements


Neatness does count

• Write legibly and on only one side of a page

• Use pen instead of pencil to avoid undue smearing

• Leave “breathing room” around the edges of your essay

• Avoid needless errors in spelling or grammar


How to work systematically

• Read before you answer

• Map out your time

• Using markings and jottings


Things to readbefore you start to answer

• The directions

• The question you’re about to answer if it’s an objective test

• All of the questions if you’re taking an essay test


How to map out your time

• Read the directions and questions first

• Divide the time that remains by the number of questions you have to answer

• Try to stick close to your schedule without becoming overly anxious

• Build momentum by answering the easiest questions first


Things to mark or jot down

• Use the back of your exam sheet to jot down ideas you want to remember

• On the front, annotate questions, cross off items, and highlight important words or questions


When you get your test back …

• Don’t throw it away

• Don’t file it away immediately

• Do try to learn from it


How to learn from atest you’ve gotten back

• Analyze your answers

• Plot a course correction


Analyzing your answers

• Try to correctly answer any questions you got wrong

• Try to figure out why you got it wrong the first time

• Look for any patterns in the answers you got right

• Pay attention to any comments from the grader, especially with essays


Need to plot a new course?

• Navigators and students rely on feedback to decide if a course correction is needed

• Use what you learned from the last test to come up with study plan for the next one

chapter 12 performing well on tests and quizzes. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights...

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