Test-Taking Strategies

Moultrie Technical College

Student Academic Center

To provide helpful hints to Moultrie Technical College students.

Purpose

Outline

• References• Ten Step Process• Extra Techniques• Summary• Conclusion

References

• How to Get Good Grades in College, Linda O’Brien, Woodburn Press, 2001

• Becoming a Master Student, Dave Ellis, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006 (textbook for COL 099, College Success)

• Making Your Mark, 5th Edition• University of West Georgia

Student Development Center

Test/Exam Planning

• Any plan is better than none

• Conduct planning for trips and tests/exams

The Ten Step Process1. Get off to a good start2. Develop a plan3. Mark questions that you want to return

to4. Increase your odds on multiple-choice

questions5. Know how to approach essay

questions6. Look for key words in True/False

questions7. Be prepared for open book tests8. Improve your math test scores9. Check your answers 10. Go over all returned tests

Step 1-Get off to a good start

• Get to the test early

• Check that you have everything you need (pencil, calculator, etc.)

• On receipt of your test, dump or write down anything you need to remember (dates, facts, equations, memory cues, etc.)

• Listen very closely to any verbal instructions

• Carefully read the test directions

Step 2-Develop a plan

• Quickly look over the entire test and develop a plan

• For example– a. Plan 15 minutes to

complete 25 multiple-choice questions

– b. 15 minutes for each essay question

– c. 10 minutes to check your answers

Step 3-Mark Questions that you want to return to

• Place a light dot or ? Mark by any answer you're not sure of or any question that you didn’t answer

• After going through all questions, go back to the ones you marked and try again

• If you aren’t sure, go with your first instinct

• Don’t panic if you don’t know the answers to the first few questions, since it sometimes takes a few minutes to get “in gear”

Step 4-Increase your odds on multiple-choice questions

• Read the question twice to make sure you understand what is being asked

• While reading the question, try to come up with the answer before looking at the choices

• Read all of the answer choices• Don’t be tempted to mark the first one

that sounds correct• Pay attention to the meaning of the words

in the question• If you aren’t sure, cross out choice(s)

you know are incorrect, then make an educated guess

• If two of the choices are similar or opposite, probably one of them is the correct answer

• Take questions at face value, don’t get caught up looking for tricks

Step 4-Increase your odds on multiple-choice questions (continued)

If you are having trouble:– Rephrase question in

your own words– Underline key words

to help untangle complicated questions

– Look for answers in other test questions

Step 4-Increase your odds on multiple-choice questions (continued)

Taking A Guess– If two answers have similar words

(perpetrate, perpetuate) choose one of them

– If two answers have opposite meanings, choose one of them

– Choose the longest answer– Studies indicate the following

• (b)-correct 40% of the time• (c)-correct 30% of the time• (a)-correct 20% of the time• (d)-correct only 10% of the time

Step 5-Know how to approach essay questions ( 1 of 4)

• Read each essay question and start with the easiest one to increase your confidence and give you a little time to think about the harder question(s)

• Read directions twice to be sure you understand what you are being asked to do

Step 5-Know how to approach essay questions (2 of 4)

Know what the meanings of these direction words (refer to handout)

• Analyze• Compare• Contrast• Criticize• Define• Discuss• Enumerate• Evaluate• Explain• Illustrate

• Interpret

• Outline

• Prove

• Relate

• State

• Summarize

• Trace

Step 5-Know how to approach essay questions (3 of 4)

• Note how many points each essay is worth so you can adjust your time

• Before writing, brainstorm by recording key words, dates, points to cover

• If you have time, organize these points into a simple outline

• If you don’t have time, number the points in order you want to present them

• Make sure you are really answering the question

• Write legibly so your instructor doesn’t have to guess

• Use clear, concise and complete sentences (standard written English)

• Data shows that when two identical essays are graded, the one that is more legible/standard written English gets the higher grade

Step 5-Know how to approach essay questions (4 of 4)

• Introduce your topic in the opening paragraph and tell the instructor what he/she can expect to learn from the essay

• In the middle paragraphs, present details, evidence and facts to support the points

• Remember, each paragraph has a topic sentence (controlling idea) with the remainder of the sentences providing support

• Summarize main points, your analysis, etc. in the final paragraph

• Proof read your essay• Keep to the point, quality doesn’t depend on

quantity• If you don’t know the answer, write whatever

you know about the subject-you might get credit

• If you don’t have time to finish, explain that you ran out of time and list the points you would have covered- you might get partial credit

Step 6-Look for key words in True/False

questions ( 1 of 4)• Statements with always, everybody, all, no,

none, never, every, all and none in them tend to be false

• Statements with usually, often, sometimes, most, many, usually and few in them tend to be true

• Unfamiliar looking phrases and terms are usually incorrect

• Choose an unfamiliar term only when you are certain all the other options are incorrect

• When one answer to a multiple choice question is more complete or inclusive than other answers, it is likely to be the correct answer

• If you are certain that two of the options are correct and “all of the above” is an option, choose “all of the above”

Step 6-Look for key words in True/False and multiple-choice questions ( 2 of 4)

• When options for a multiple choice question are a series of numbers, the highest and lowest numbers tend to be incorrect

• When two options to a multiple choice question look similar, the correct answer tends to be one of those options

• Read True/False questions very carefully since one word will often determine whether a statement is true or false

• For a statement to be judged true, all parts of the statement must be true

• Assume statements are true unless you know otherwise

Step 6-Look for key words in True/False and multiple-choice questions ( 3 of 4)

• True/False questions that state a reason tend to be false either because they give an incorrect reason or they don’t give all the reasons– Look for words such as

“since, because, and reason”

Step 6-Look for key words in True/False and multiple-choice questions ( 4 of 4)

• Be careful with negatives and double negatives– True or False: A cloudy sky is an

unclear sky.– Answer: True

• Two negatives cancel each other out– He is not unintelligent=He is intelligent– See handout for other examples

• Watch for absolute statement: a statement that excludes all possibilities except the ones stated

• Double-check each number, fact, and date– Look for numbers that have been

transposed or facts that have been slightly altered which are often signals of a false statement

Step 7: Be prepared for open book tests

• Be able to locate quickly locate information

• Use post it flags or bookmarks to identify specific info

• Highlight your notes and write down all info on one page

• Create an informal table of contents• Predict which material will be covered

on the test and highlight relevant sections in your readings and notes

• Write all formulas, definitions, etc. on a separate sheet of paper for easy referral

Step 8: Improve your math test scores

• As soon as you get your test, write down any formulas, equation, etc. that you will need

• Try to estimate the answer before solving the problem

• Draw a picture or diagram • Don’t spend too much time on

one problem, if “stumped” go on and come back to it later

• Show all your work-you might get credit

Additional hints for math and science

• Translate problems into English: I =P x R/100 x T

“Interest equals principal times the rate as a percentage times the time period

• Determine the unknown• Check for a logical answer• Check to see if you used all data

supplied• Check the steps of each problem

Step 9: Check your answers

• Check all your answers

• You may have read the question wrong or made a careless mistake: 0.1 instead of 0.01

• If you are unsure, don’t change your answer

• Use all of the testing time to answer and check your responses

• Professors and instructors didn’t give extra credit for finishing before time is elapsed

Step 10: Go over all returned tests

• Review each question you missed and write in the correct answer

• Make sure that your test was correctly graded sometimes instructors make simple math errors

• Keep a record of your test scores– You might see the questions

again on the final

Extra

• Computer-graded tests– Make sure the answer you mark

corresponds to the question you are answering

– Check the text booklet against the answer sheet when you change sections and whenever you come to the top of a column

– Watch for stray marks which can be interpreted as answers

– If you change the answer, completely erase the wrong answer

Extra, Extra

• Short answer/fill-in-the-blank tests– Concentrate on key words and

facts– Be brief

Example: The attack on ______ ______ caused the United State to declare war on Japan.

Look for grammatical hints: a sentence that begins with “An_” indicates the word starts with a vowel

Extra, Extra, Extra• Matching Tests

-Begin by reading through each column, starting with the one with fewer items-Look for any items with similar wording and make special note of the differences -Match words that are similar grammatically (verbs with verbs, verbs with verbs and nouns with nouns)-When matching individual words with phrases, first read a phrase then look for the word that logically completes the phrase-Cross out items in each column when you are through with them

Summary

Successfully taking tests and exams requires a few moments of planning.

Conclusion

“If you always do what you have always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten!”

“Who dares, wins!”