Test-Taking Goals identify your reactions to test taking determine how your reactions to test taking affect your ability to be successful use the ‘ten rules’ of test-taking identify and explain winning strategies for different types of tests explain the difference between paper tests and computer tests use this information to improve your testing success

Testing Self Check

Stress, Tests, and You How does test taking affect you? calm and relaxed tense and uptight How does your body react? muscles tighten appetite disappear overeat Do your sleeping habits change? Is your breathing steady? yawn a lot before a test

Good Stress helps you perform better gets your adrenaline flowing even when you feel anxious or scared gets your adrenaline flowing can sharpen your awareness keeps you alert helps you become motivated energizes your body

Bad Stress makes performing or achieving your goals challenging may be linked to increased health problems depression heart disease cancer demotivates you zaps your energy is a symptom of test anxiety can prevent you from doing your best on exams

Stress Reactions

Stress Reactions cont’d

Letting Go of Anxiety Dealing with Feelings breathe scan your body tense and relax use guided imagery describe it exercise aerobically get help

Letting Go of Anxiety Dealing with Thoughts mentally yell ‘STOP’ daydream visualize success focus praise yourself consider the worst

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 1: Act as if you will succeed. thought is powerful negative thoughts raise stress levels confidence may drop leads to feelings of failure think about success smile take deep, slow breaths close your eyes imagine getting test back with a good grade written at the top learn more about visualization and positive self-talk

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 2: Arrive ahead of time. being on time sets your mind at ease have a better chance of getting your favorite seat let go of your anxiety spend time relaxing and preparing yourself for the game ahead

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 3: Bring the essential testing tools. extra pens, sharpened pencils, erasers, a calculator, dictionary, other needed items if open-book: notes – create your own index textbook – plan on using text’s index Post-It© notes placed at important spots flashcards you have made other study tools you have made

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 4: Ignore panic pushers. people who ask you questions about the material to be tested on people who ask about how much or long you studied if you know the answers you will be confident if you do not know the answers you may panic and lose your confidence spend your time concentrating on what you know, not what you don’t know

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 5: Pre-view the playing field. listen to instructions read directions slowly and carefully clarify anything you do not understand determine the point spread decide how much time you can spend on each question and still finish the test on time know the point value; ask if necessary look for easier and more challenging sections do these first

Rule 5 continued budget your time use the test as an information tool look at point value of a section not the number of questions stick to your time limits on sections budget time to look over the test at end use the test as an information tool look for clues that answer other questions use terminology from objective questions for essays

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 6: Write in the margin. before you begin the test; do a memory dump; write down: key terms names dates memory aids formulas any information you’ll need and might forget do an outline or mind map before starting each essay question

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 7: Complete the easiest, shortest questions first. helps build your experience of success stimulates associations and prepares you for more difficult questions mark tough questions so you can come back later avoid spending too much time on a challenging question might run out of time to answer the questions you do know if you are stuck, move on

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 8: Know if there is a guessing penalty. no penalty and time is running out take a wild guess (true or ‘c’) there is a penalty choose your answers wisely leave blank the answers you do not know unsure about guessing penalties ask your instructor

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 9: Avoid changing answers. research has shown that three out of four times your first choice is usually correct if you think your first answer is wrong because you misread the question do change your answer avoid changing answers unless you are absolutely sure your answer is wrong

Ten Rules of Test-Taking Rule 10: Write clearly and neatly. easy to read look presentable answers in the right places easier it is for the instructor to read better your chances of getting a higher grade

True-False Questions read directions carefully usually easier as you have only two choices read the whole statement carefully one word can make a statement inaccurate look for absolute or limiting words examples: always, every, all, no, never, none, only, entirely, guaranteed, great, much, etc. leave little room for exceptions sentences containing these words would seldom be true

True-False Questions look for tentative words. examples: seldom, sometimes, some, often, most, many, few, usually, generally, frequently, ordinarily, etc. provide room for exceptions sentences containing these words would usually be true long true-false statement more likely is true

True-False Questions any part of it is false whole statement is false watch for negative words and prefixes examples: not, never, none, no, except, etc. and il-, im-, ir-, dis-, un-, non-, a-, etc. circle or underline these negatives do not disregard them consider omitting the word decide the answer without the negative put the word back in reverse the answer

Sample True-False Test

Multiple-Choice Questions read directions carefully how many correct answers are possible? are you looking for the correct answer(s) or the best answer or the worst answer? are you looking for similarities or opposites? do you need a singular or plural answer? clarify if you are not sure

Multiple-Choice Questions be wary of ‘all of the above’ or ‘none of the above’ responses especially if not used very often often are ‘fill’ answers answer each question in your head before you look at the possible answers read the question and each option separately make sure you consider all options consider each as a true or false statement mark it to the side accordingly

Multiple-Choice Questions be suspicious of negatives and absolutes circle or underline these to make sure you are aware of them answer negatives positively first, then the exception will stand out carefully consider similar options, opposite answers, more general or more inclusive options learn how to make educated guesses

Sample Multiple-Choice Test

Sample Multiple-Choice Test

Scantron Tests make sure the answer you mark corresponds to the question you are answering check the test booklet against the answer sheet whenever: you switch sections come to the top of a column if you skip a question make sure you are marking the correct answer spot watch for stray marks can be ‘read’ as answers use the right kind of pencil

Matching Questions when used similar to multiple choice usually only a part of a test similar to multiple choice only the correct response needs to be identified more challenging must locate the matching terms or ideas from a list

Matching Questions read directions carefully ask questions if necessary can options be used more than once? are you looking for similar or opposite terms or ideas? count number of choices in each column if not equal – work from longer column to shorter column

Matching Questions consider each option each time systematically eliminate distracters answer the easiest ones first where possible, cross off the used ones consider grammatical clues match up nouns, adjectives, events, dates mentally repeat the choices helps you to focus

Sample Matching Test

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions usually are only a part of a test more difficult than multiple-choice, matching or true-false sections leave this part until the last look for the answer in other questions use memory techniques when stuck reword the question so that the blank is at the end, if possible

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions watch for grammatical clues is the verb singular or plural? does the word “a” or “an” appear before the blank? your answer must make sense in the context in which it is written consider the length of the blank; usually: a short blank means a short answer a long blank means a long answer two blanks means a two-word answer

Sample Fill-in-the-Blank Test

Short Answer Questions think before you write generally requires an answer of only a few sentences look for key words learn these definitions start off by restating the key words in your answer give direct, concise answers over-learning material really pays off when you are unsure of the answer: guess if there are no guessing penalties leave plenty of space between answers

Essay Questions test directions are especially important how many essay questions do you need to answer? how long should the essay be? how should you budget your time? what type of answers should you give? use the list of key words how many components do you need to respond to within the question?

Essay Questions write for the intended audience intended audience is your professor write as though the reader knows nothing about the topic write in essay form; this means: paragraphs topic sentences transition words between paragraphs complete sentences etc.

Essay Questions organize your ideas before you begin writing think about how the ideas flow consider using an outline or mind map in the margin enables you to write faster less likely to leave out important facts if you don’t have time to finish: your outline could win you some points

Essay Questions get to the point quickly forget introductions include part of the question in your answer when you expand your answer with supporting materials and facts, start out with the most solid points be accurate grammatically and with spelling consider using a pocket dictionary if allowed

Essay Questions make your paper easy to read write neatly use an erasable pen write on the right-hand side of your test leave the left side for making changes and additions leave space between answers write on top side of paper only leave margins – side, top, and bottom name, date, and number every loose page summarize your answer first substitute synonyms for words you use frequently use connecting words to make the essay flow

Essay Questions proofread your answers silently reread word for word pronounce every word in your head catch grammatical and spelling mistakes look at flow of ideas and organization

Performance Tests different than written tests require a performance or demonstration preparation: study and understand the information you have to demonstrate practice until you are sure you can perform the required task well study, then practice, practice, practice

Open-Book Tests prepare thoroughly for these usually more difficult when studying: write down any formulas you will need on a separate sheet place Post-It © notes or paper clips on important pages tables, flowcharts, etc. number notes and make a short table of contents

Computer-Based Tests usually multiple choice score based on how well you answer and on the number of questions you answer usually a penalty for wrong answers testing time management is key complete on-line tutorials and sample questions before attempting test visit web site of the test maker for more information on the test

Computer-Based Tests results are usually provided immediately before you finish you may have the opportunity to cancel the results before you see your score if you cancel: you will need to reschedule another testing date you will pay again if you see your score cannot cancel the test must accept the results

Computer-Based Tests linear mode: questions are preset and given in numerical order can return to any question

Computer-Based Tests computer- adaptive selects the difficulty of the next question based on your previous answer you must answer the question the first time you see it you cannot go back and change your answer

Test-Taking taking a test is like playing a game object of the game is to get as many points as possible in the time you are given to play remember there is always another opportunity to play the game, or take a test you can use these strategies for every type of test you take may not work all the time works most of the time