TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES

FIRST THINGS FIRST 70 questions in 55 minutes… That's roughly 1.27 questions per minute. Time management will become your greatest asset. The multiple choice section is where you will run into time issues. (Very few people run out of time on the essay portion.) You want to have at least a shot at all 70 questions. So, DO NOT GET STUCK ON A SINGLE QUESTION. If you find yourself lingering for more than a minute or two… skip it. You want to at least have a shot at each question. You don’t want to get bogged down on a question on Zoroastrianism for 20 minutes and end up not answering the last 10 questions. What if the last 10 questions were ones you knew?

So… the history of the world, eh? Here’s the general breakdown of questions (Note – “Foundations” includes two time periods- ancient and classical. There will be very few questions about the ancient era.)

By the way The multiple choice section kind of goes in chronological order… but it goes in cycles. So, first 30ish questions will cover foundations – present, and then it will restart, and the last 30ish questions will again cover foundations – present

What do they want from me!?! In a nutshell: Can you make connections between different societies over different periods of time? In other words, for any given period of history, can you explain who was doing what? How did what they were doing affect the rest of the world? What changed about the society during this period of time? To show what you know about world history, keep this big-picture perspective in mind as you study and answer multiple-choice questions or construct essays. To help you do this, keep an eye out for certain recurring themes throughout the different time periods. Specifically, be on the lookout for the following:

Key Concepts How did people interact with their environment? Why did they live where they did? How did they get there? What tools, technology, and resources were available to them? How was the landscape changed by humans? What new ideas, thoughts, and styles came into existence? How did these cultural developments influence people and technology (for example: new religious beliefs or Renaissance thought)? How did different societies get along—or not get along— within a time period? Who took over who? How did leaders justify their power? Who revolted or was likely to revolt? And were they successful? How did economic systems develop and what did they depend on in terms of agriculture, trade, labor, industrialization, and the demands of consumers? Who had power and who did not within a given culture and why? What was the status of women? What racial and ethnic constructions were present?

Rules for the Multiple Choice 1. There is no penalty for guessing. DON’T LEAVE ANY QUESTION BLANK. 2. There will not be many questions you immediately know – don’t freak out. That’s normal. 3. Remember: four out of every five answer choices you read are wrong. There will never be two completely right answers. 4. If your gut is telling you it’s right, then it’s right. (BTW, your gut is probably quoting Ms. Neinast or Ethel… just listen to it…)

Timing 70 questions in 55 minutes average: 45 seconds per question There is no way you will be able to focus on every question equally so BE STRATEGIC. Remember: we are trying to get at least half the questions right. So if you can narrow most questions down to two answer choices, you’re doing it right.

Step One: The Ones You Know 1. Go through the entire test and answer the questions you KNOW. Eliminate as many answer choices as possible on the other questions as you read them, but if you’re not sure – just skip it for now.

Step Two: The Ones You Think You Know 2. Go back through and answer the questions you could narrow down to 2-3 answer choices. You will have to make educated guesses here – go with your gut.

Step Three: The Ones Where You Have NO Idea 3. With at least 5 minutes left – NO MATTER WHAT – go back through and guess on all the questions you’ve left blank so far. Try to make educated guesses when you can, but if you’re running out of time then just pick a letter and bubble that in for every blank answer!

Approaching a Multiple-Choice Question Step 1. Figure out what the question is asking. Step 2. Answer the question in your own words. Step 3. Eliminate any clearly wrong answers. Pay attention to extreme answer choices – they are often incorrect.

1. Signed in 1215 C.E., England's Magna Carta was a document that (A) increased the wealth of the European nobility (B) intensified the conflict between the church and state (C) established England as a monarchy under King Richard (D) guaranteed individual liberties to all men (E) contained articles that were the foundation for modern justice

PROCESS OF ELIMINATION Y’all. This is key. Four out of the five answer choices you read are wrong. For every. Single. Question. As you read through ALL of the answer options, cross out (physically cross out) the ones you know are wrong. THEN deal with any answer choices you have left. You should be able to eliminate two or three answer choices pretty quickly. Then make an educated guess!

Other helpful strategies Make sure that you understand the question – put it in your own words – you can even rephrase it Answer the question in your own words FIRST – what comes to mind when you read the question? Avoid words like always, never, exclusively, only – they’re way too specific If there are two things that are exact opposites, one of them is probably the answer

So remember… Answer the questions you KNOW. Make educated guesses on the questions you THINK you know. Guess on the questions where you have NO idea. And, if you have spent more than 1 ½ minutes on a question, just

LET’S PRACTICE!

3. When the Europeans arrived in sub-Saharan Africa in the 1400's and 1500's, the African slave trade was (A) just beginning (B) an institution the Europeans had to establish (C) well established and about 500 years old (D) still under the control of Muslim traders (E) not economically viable and did not interest the Europeans Rephrase it – “what was up with the African slave trade from 1400-1500?” What do you know about the slave trade in that time period? PROCESS OF ELIMINATION!

3. When the Europeans arrived in sub-Saharan Africa in the 1400's and 1500's, the African slave trade was (A) just beginning (B) an institution the Europeans had to establish (C) well established and about 500 years old (D) still under the control of Muslim traders (E) not economically viable and did not interest the Europeans Rephrase it – “what was up with the African slave trade from 1400-1500?” What do you know about the slave trade in that time period? PROCESS OF ELIMINATION!

The expansion of western culture to the island of Japan Which of the following is an example of Chinese influence in Japan during the sixth, seventh, and eighth centuries? The expansion of western culture to the island of Japan The adoption by Japan of the Chinese civil service exam for government employees The Taika Reforms enacted after the death of Prince Shotoku The conversion of most Japanese Shinto to Buddhism The development of a feudal system in Japan The history of japan video!!

Which of the following is an example of Chinese influence in Japan during the sixth, seventh, and eighth centuries? The expansion of western culture to the island of Japan The adoption by Japan of the Chinese civil service exam for government employees The Taika Reforms enacted after the death of Prince Shotoku The conversion of most Japanese Shinto to Buddhism The development of a feudal system in Japan

All of the following are results of the bubonic plague, which swept through China and Europe from the 1200s to the 1600s, EXCEPT Social unrest Tremendous population loss Labor shortages Anti-viral vaccines Less rigidity between social classes

All of the following are results of the bubonic plague, which swept through China and Europe from the 1200s to the 1600s, EXCEPT Social unrest Tremendous population loss Labor shortages Anti-viral vaccines Less rigidity between social classes

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, European mercantilism in Latin America led to The exploitation of people and resources The European Renaissance The rejection of Spanish culture The Protestant Reformation The growth of democratic forms of government

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, European mercantilism in Latin America led to The exploitation of people and resources The European Renaissance The rejection of Spanish culture The Protestant Reformation The growth of democratic forms of government

The establishment of the Hanseatic League (1241 CE) was significant because it Set a precedent for large, European trading operations Organized to become the first joint-stock company Comprised nearly 50 port cities along the Mediterranean Held exclusive rights to trade along the Silk Road Established trade routes that connected ports in western India to ports in the Persian Gulf

The establishment of the Hanseatic League (1241 CE) was significant because it Set a precedent for large, European trading operations Organized to become the first joint-stock company Comprised nearly 50 port cities along the Mediterranean Held exclusive rights to trade along the Silk Road Established trade routes that connected ports in western India to ports in the Persian Gulf

Which of the following reasons motivated both the Abbasids and the Mongols to expand their empires? The conversion of nonbelievers to their faith The desire to attack first to keep invaders from their own territories The need to gain a port on the Baltic Sea The desire for wealth and plunder Population pressures within their own empires

Which of the following reasons motivated both the Abbasids and the Mongols to expand their empires? The conversion of nonbelievers to their faith The desire to attack first to keep invaders from their own territories The need to gain a port on the Baltic Sea The desire for wealth and plunder Population pressures within their own empires

Which of the following was not true of nomadic groups? Nomadic societies were patriarchal They had some social hierarchy Most of the themes of nomadic art centered on their animals Nomadic societies had little positive influence on settled peoples Nomadic societies engaged in peaceful trade

Which of the following was not true of nomadic groups? Nomadic societies were patriarchal They had some social hierarchy Most of the themes of nomadic art centered on their animals Nomadic societies had little positive influence on settled peoples Nomadic societies engaged in peaceful trade