2. Study Skills & Test taking Want SUCCESS? “Study is nothing else but a possession of the mind” - Thomas Hobbes, 1651

3. SUCCESS  S ee UsUs  C onquer  C lasses  E nlisting  S tudy  S kills

4. What is the average retention rate using the following strategies?

6. Learning to Listen  The average high school student spends about 55% of each day in school listening.  Listening is more than just hearing: you must direct your attention to what you are hearing and make sense of it.

7. Why is it hard to listen even when you’re interested?  People talk about 125 words per minute – we think about 400 words per minute.  So… our thoughts move much faster than the words or whatever we’re listening to – out attention wanders.  The key to being a good listener is to be an active listener.

8. How can you become an active listener?  Ask yourself questions about what the speaker is saying ( what is he/she telling me?, does this make sense?)  Try to “picture” what you are hearing in your mind’s eye.  Regularly summarize what the speaker has already said. Ask yourself: what are the main points of what’s already been said?  at the person who is speaking – establish eye contact if possible  Listen first, judge later – listen first then react or you may miss what they will say next.

9. Memory  Two types: Long -term: what you know and can bring to mind whenever you choose. Short-term: in the moment (most people can only remember 5-9 things) See handout

10. Moving information from short- term to long-term memory:  Grouping information  Visualizing information  Repeating information  Choosing to remember: Mnemonic methods:  Link method  Acronym  Acrostics

11. The Read / Review / Review Graph

12. SQR3 method: see handout SURVEY QUESTION READ RECITE REVIEW

13. Memory Aids:  Study actively – more likely to remember if you are write it or say it out loud  Make sure you understand (If you don’t you will forget 50% within the first hour)  Associate new information with old  Make up examples  Visualize what you are trying to learn – mental or drawing (chart, graph)  Group items into categories – like a shopping list  Be selective – concentrate on general concepts & examples. Look for teacher signals  Space your study sessions – days not crash sessions  Use key words – (e.g. for this slide – active, understand, examples, visualize, etc.)  Learn how many items are on a list – so you don’t forget, there are 9 items to remember above

15. Time Management Set deadlines, keep a calendar handy Make a daily “to-do” list Set up rewards Find out how you are wasting time… Promote reviewing not cramming (puts into long-term memory) Reduces stress & tension Better prepared for classes – you are more confident!

18. Handout: “Reading and Study Skills: Note Taking – The Cornell System ” And “Sample Cornell Notes Chart” Always date the notes and number the pages!

21. Define any unfamiliar terms after class

24. Recite notes out loud REVIEW as soon as you can after class

29. Test – Taking Skills:  Be Physically  Mentally  And emotionally ready

30. Before you start a quiz/test:  Arrive early and take time to relax and reduce anxiety.  Read directions, skim the questions and plan your time according to points.  Never leave a blank (unless penalized)  Start with the easier questions  Change answers only after you’ve given the question more thought (1 st hunch is usually right).  Use all your time – don’t leave early

31. True-False Questions:  It must be ALL true in order to be true.  Identify key words or phrases.  Extreme modifiers such as always, all, never, or only make it more likely the question is false.  Qualifiers such as seldom, often, most or many make the question more likely true.  There are usually more true than false question on an exam.

32. Matching Tests:  Examine both lists to determine the types of items and their relationships.  Work from one side of the sheet – use one list as the starting point.  Answer known questions first.  Cross off as you go – look at the whole list first.  Don’t guess until the ones you are certain off are done.

33. Multiple Choice Tests  Answer the question mentally before reading choices.  Read the question and ALL of the answers before selecting.  Eliminate incorrect answers before looking for the correct answer.  Choose answers that are longer and more descriptive.  Watch for negative words in the instructions ( you may be asked for something that is NOT true)

34. Fill-in- the-blank questions:  Read the question with the intent to give an answer and make the sentence grammatically correct.  Concentrate on the number of blanks and the length of the space.  Provide a descriptive answer when you cannot think of the exact word or words (you may get partial credit)

35. Essay Questions:  Organize your thoughts – a short outline will help (main idea, supporting issues, examples)  Paraphrase the original question to start off.  Write clearly.  Identify the verbs or words that give you direction.  Save space for a brief but adequate summary.

36. Let’s Practice!  Go to: http://ccc.byu.edu/ccc/learning/strategy.php This is a website on test taking strategies, First read the guidelines and then click on the practice tests for each section – a pop-up response will come up with a reason on the T/F and the M/C why the answer is correct, or not, etc.