PREPARATION This power point, and the suggestions given in it, has been designed with the assumption that students have adequately prepared for the test. That means that you have put the expected/adequate time and effort into your work DURING the unit, as well as studying for the test itself. Failure to do this will make the following suggestions mostly irrelevant. Proper preparation will not guarantee an A, but it will significantly increase the likelihood that you will perform to your potential on the test…whatever that may be. That is what YOU CAN control!!

Tip #1… Read the entire question all the way through before you look at the answers (translate the ENTIRE question). You may think you know the answer, but wait! Don’t anticipate the rest of the question

Tip #2… After reading the entire question, first try to answer the question without looking at the answer choices. This can prevent you from being “tricked” by answers. Also, if you come down to two possible answer choices, your initial thought/answer will more likely lead you to the correct answer.

Tip #3… Read each selection individually and completely. DO NOT choose an answer before you have read all of the answer choices. Don’t re-read the answer choices over and over. After a time, the answers will tend to run together.

Tip #4… Immediately ELIMINATE the answers you know to be incorrect. This will give you fewer choices to pick from and “narrow the search”. All of the above – if one is false, “all” is false (usually, one will clearly be false or “all” will be the correct answer). None of the above – if one is true, “none” is false (same as above). All of the above – if two are correct, it has to be “all”

Tip #5… Try to avoid changing your answers! Generally speaking, your first instinct is correct. Once you have answered a question….LET IT GO!!!

TIP # 6 Take a breather…come up for air…don’t obsess over a question for longer than 60 seconds… Your anxiety will build up and you will get frustrated. All of the answers will look right or the question gets “muddled”. This will also allow you to have a more “clear head” and give you a chance to reconsider an answer.

Tip #7… If there is an answer with significantly more information, studies show it is often the correct answer. Studies show, a positive choice is more likely to be true than a negative choice.

Tip #8… Go back and review your test. Did you read each carefully? Did you mark some for re-reading? Did you mark an answer for re- consideration? Did you answer them all?

Tip #9 Be sure to review these “tips”, as well as your unit material, before your next test. If you do not have these committed to memory, you will likely continue to make the same mistakes. BE PREPARED!!!!!

Tip #10… Be POSITIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your outlook is going to determine in many ways how your performance is going to be on a test. If you think you will do poorly…you will! SLEEP before the test Studies show us that it is the most important factor in test taking over and above any other because some people think you have to be up all night! WRONG!!!