Disarming Tests

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 2 Disarm Tests Grades are what we use to give power to tests Let go of your misconceptions about grades Don’t exaggerate the pressure on yourself Keep the risk in perspective

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 3 Remember… Grades are not measures of: –Intelligence –Creativity –Self-worth Test scores do not measure accomplishment in a course— they measure performance on a test

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 4 “F” Is for Feedback, not Failure Getting an “F” means only that you failed a test—not your life An “F” is feedback that you didn’t understand the material Feedback helps you change to promote future success

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 5 What to Do Before the Test Manage your review time –Daily reviews: short, several times per day –Weekly reviews: about an hour per subject, cover reading and lecture notes –Major reviews: 2–5 hours at a stretch, week before major exams

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 6 What to Do Before the Test Create review tools –Study checklists –Mind map summary sheets –Flash cards

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 7 What to Do Before the Test Plan a strategy –Do a dry run –Ask instructor what to expect –Get copies of old exams

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 8 Ways to Predict Test Questions Get organized –Have a separate section in your notebook labeled “test questions” Ask your instructor to describe the test Ask yourself: What questions would I ask?

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 9 Ways to Predict Test Questions Watch for clues from instructor during class –Repeating certain points –Writing information on board –Gestures –Questions posed to students –Extensively covering some material from readings

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 10 Ways to Predict Test Questions Save all quizzes, papers, lab sheets, and graded material Practice working problems using different variables Brainstorm test questions with other students

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 11 Ways to Predict Test Questions Look out for: This material will be on the test!

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 12 Studying with Others Test each other Teach each other Compare notes Brainstorm test questions Set an agenda Three at a computer Create wall-sized mind maps Give “book reports” in pairs Lecture each other Ask for personal support

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 13 What to Do During the Test As you begin –Arrive early –Do a relaxation exercise –Pay attention to verbal directions

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 14 What to Do During the Test As you begin –Scan the whole test –Evaluate the importance of each section –Read the directions slowly, twice –In margins, jot down memory aids, formulas, equations, facts

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 15 What to Do During the Test Answer easiest, shortest questions first Then answer multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank Use memory techniques Pace yourself Look for answers in other test questions

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 16 Multiple-Choice Questions Check directions to see if more than one answer is called for Answer questions in your head before looking at answer choices Read all answers to each question before selecting one

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 17 Multiple-Choice Questions Your first instinct is usually best Use guessing techniques when appropriate

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 18 True/False Questions Answer quickly Read carefully Look for qualifiers –All –Most –Sometimes –Never –Rarely

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 19 True/False Questions Absolute qualifiers often indicate false statements –Always –Never

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 20 Computer-Graded Tests Make sure the answers you mark correspond to the right questions Check the test booklet against the answer sheet Do not make stray marks on the answer sheet

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 21 Open-Book Tests Write formulas you need on separate sheet Place Post-It ® notes or paper clips on important pages Number your class notes and write a short table of contents Prepare thoroughly

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 22 Short Answer/ Fill-in-the-Blank Questions These often ask for definitions or short descriptions Concentrate on key words and facts Be brief

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 23 Matching Tests Read through each column Make note of differences between similarly worded items Match words that are similarly grammatically Look for the word that logically completes a phrase

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 24 Essay Questions Find out precisely what the question is asking Make a quick outline Get right to the point Put the most solid supporting points first

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 25 Essay Style Write legibly Use a pen Be brief Use one side of the paper only

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 26 Words to Watch for in Essay Questions Analyze Compare Contrast Criticize Define Describe Discuss Explain Prove Relate State Summarize Trace

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 27 The Costs of Cheating We learn less We lose money Fear of getting caught promotes stress Violating our values promotes stress Cheating once makes it easier to compromise our integrity Cheating lowers our self-concept