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

Taking Tests O No. 1 Tip O Before the test O During the test O Types of tests O True-False and beyond…

Most Important * Practice*

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

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

Before the Test O Predict likely questions O What have past tests featured? O Quiz Yourself

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

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

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

The Day of the Test O Skim the test O Skip a difficult question but be sure to come back to it O Ignore other students O Dont Panic

Types of Tests

Matching Tests O Read items in BOTH columns first O Answer the items you know first O Recheck your answers

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

True False Tests Look For: O Extreme Modifiers

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

True False Tests Look For: O Qualifiers

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

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

Multiple Choice Exam s O Know how much time you have O Read the entire question O Answer the easiest 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 O Read the questions – answer without looking at the choices O Decide which choice most closely matches your initial response

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Exams Cont. O Analyze O Compare O Contrast O Define O Describe O Diagram O Evaluate O Explain O Interpret O Justify O List O Outline O Summarize Look for a direction word

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

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

References O Downing, S On course: Strategies for creating success in college and in life. 5th edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. O Walther, D. R Toolkit for college success. Belmont: International Thomson Publishing. O Muskingum College. (2010). Learning Strategies Database. Retrieved January 16, 2011, from Muskingum College: O Begley, S. (2011). Can you build a better brain. Retrieved January 16, 2011, from Newsweek: better-brain.html.

For More Information Contact: Heather Unger-Robertson Learning Support Coordinator/Academic Advisor University of North Alabama Keller Hall