1. Study Skills & Test Taking Tips
Presented by Deborah Nettles
Career and Retention Advisor
Meridian Community College

2. Seminar Objectives
Develop a personalized study plan for academic success
Learn note-taking skills to allow for better retention of information
Improve time management and organizational skills
Learn how to stay motivated and focused
Develop better test taking strategies
Reduce and eliminate test anxiety

3. Find Your Learning Style
3 Major Learning Styles:
Auditory
Visual
Kinesthetic
Take the Learning Styles Assessment:

4. What Does This Mean for Me?
How Do People Learn ?
1 % through TASTE
1.5 % through TOUCH
3.5% through SMELL
11% through HEARING
83% through SIGHT
What Does This Mean for Me?

5. How Much Do You Remember?
10% of what you READ
20% of what you HEAR
30% of what you SEE
50% of what you SEE and HEAR at the same time
70% of what you SAY as you talk
90% of what you SAY as you DO a thing
What Does This Mean for Me?

6. Study Skills
WHEN do you study?

7. Study Skills
WHERE do you study?

8. Study Skills
How many hours do you study per week?

9. For example: 15 credit hours equal 15 hours a week
Study Skills
Statistics tell us that a college student should study the same number of credit hours they are studying.
For example: 15 credit hours equal 15 hours a week

10. College Schedule Time Planner
Study Skills
College Schedule Time Planner

11. Study Tools
Use highlighters
Flash cards
Audio recorders

12. Memorization Techniques
Study Skills
Memorization Techniques
Acronyms
Ex: MCC
Ex: ATM
Ex: USA
Ex: KFC

13. Memorization Techniques Repetition Word Association Etc.
Study Skills
Memorization Techniques Repetition Word Association Etc.

14. Study Skills
Name the Great Lakes ?

15. Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie or Superior
Study Skills
Name the Great Lakes ?
HOMES
Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie or Superior

16. Try the Cornell Note Taking System
Note Taking Skills
Try the Cornell Note Taking System

17. Test Anxiety
A combination of physiological over-arousal, worry and dread about test performance that often interferes with normal learning and lowers test performance.

18. Test Anxiety What does test anxiety feel like?
Physical distress symptoms such as headaches, nausea, faintness, feeling too hot or cold, extreme emotions (laughing, crying, anger), feeling helpless.

19. Test Anxiety
Affects thinking ability. It can cause you to black out or have racing thoughts that are difficult to control.

20. Test Anxiety
Remember, test anxiety can be minimized by doing the following:
Be well prepared for test
Avoid “cramming” for the test
Maintain a healthy lifestyle, get enough sleep, good nutrition, exercise
Positive thinking
Avoid distractions
Calm yourself with self-talk

21. What is a test ?
A test is defined as a critical examination, observation or evaluation. A procedure used to measure the skill, knowledge, intelligence, capacities, or aptitudes of an individual or group.

22. Types of Tests Multiple Choice Tests True/False Tests Short Answer
Essay Exams
Online
Open Book

23. Multiple Choice Tests Look for answers that are grammatically correct
Look for root words in the answers that are similar to words in the stem
Eliminate silly or suspicious choices
If you see “all of the above” or “none of above” and 2 of the response are true, that is usually the correct answer

24. Multiple Choice Tests
Which of the following is the IT capital of India?
A. Bangalore
B. Mumbai
C. Mysore
D. Mexico

25. Multiple Choice Tests
The correct answer is:
A. Bangalore

26. True/False Tests
For a statement to be true, each part must be true. One detail can make an entire statement false.
These words tend to make a statement false – never, none, always, all, every, only, some, many, often
Ex: Everyone should exercise daily.

27. True/False Tests
Double negatives (two negatives in sentence) tend to indicate a positive relationship in standard English, just as in algebra multiplying two negative numbers equals a positive number.
Ex: Aspirin is not an illegal drug.
Hint – Cancel the negatives to turn questions into a positive statement.
Aspirin is not an illegal drug. True or False.

28. Short Answer Tests Make sure you understand the question.
Compare/contrast
Describe/apply
Explain
Illustrate
Write a concise answer, do not ramble
Check for spelling and grammar errors

29. Online Tests Be sure to watch the time.
Review answers as you go. Some online tests end quickly and will not give you the opportunity to review answers.
Read directions to ensure you are answering correctly – ex: click on answer, up/down arrow or submit button.

30. Open Book Tests
Study for test as if you are studying for a closed-book test
Familiarize yourself with the book
Highlight important points, use post-it notes and bookmarks; if it is allowed
Answer the questions you know first, then go back and answer the questions where you need to reference the textbook

31. Before the Test Be sure to get enough rest Eat breakfast or a snack
Ask last minute questions
Listen carefully to instructions
Read directions carefully and underline/circle important parts
Unload (transfer information in your brain to the back of the test paper)

32. During the Test Watch your time, pace yourself
Complete the easiest problems first
Complete the problems with the most point values first
If you have time left, go back and review questions
If you do not know the answer, try an educated guess.

33. After the Test Review the questions and check your answers
Make sure you understand your mistakes
If the instructor reviews the answers, be sure to take notes
Keep the test as study material if final test is cumulative

34. Studying is the key to test taking.
Preparation
Studying is the key to test taking.

35. Review Plan enough time for study Study at the same time every day
Plan study periods to follow classes
Space study periods
Plan for weekly reviews
Leave some unscheduled time
Make use of your alert time
Don’t forget FREE TIME

36. Resources Test Taking Tips Memorization Tips
Memorization Tips
DVC College Learning Styles
Essential Study Skills by Linda Wong
Houghton-Mifflin Company, Fifth Edition

37. Review
Questions Or Comments ?

38. That’s All Folks !