1. California Cadet Corps Curriculum on Study Skills
“Taking Tests”

2. Test Taking Agenda B1. Test Preparation Tips
B2. Strategies for Improving Test Performance
B3. Short Answer Tests
B4. Taking Essay Tests
B5. Multiple Choice Test Taking Tips
B6. True/False Tests
B7. Quantitative & Math Test Preparation Strategies
B8. Open Book Tests
B9. Oral Test Taking, Boards, and Interviews

3. Test preparation & Test taking tips
B1. Identify test preparation and test taking tips

4. Test Preparation Tips Prepare early → don’t procrastinate
Have a study routine → stick to it
Take good notes
Compare notes
Instructor clues
Test content
Question types
Healthy choices
Get sleep
Eat a good breakfast
No junk food or sugar

5. Test Preparation Tips Listen for instructor tips/instruction/insight
Review material with study group
Prepare outline
Main topics and concepts
Study from it
Use/study visual aids & charts

6. Test Taking Tips Show up early Test instructions
Listen!
Read!
Do a ‘memory dump’ at test start

7. Test Taking Tips Plan your time Plan early finish
Answer easy questions first
Circle back to others
Plan early finish
Go back & review
Ensure no skipped questions
First instinct is usually correct

8. Check on Learning
T/F: A “memory dump” refers to writing down key ideas/formulas at the beginning of a test.
T/F: You should answer a question before moving on to the next one.
T/F: Comparing notes with others in class is usually not a good thing to do.

9. Strategies for improving test performance
B2. Identify strategies for improving test performance

10. Improve Test Performance
Take good notes
Prepare
Organize
Review
Ask Questions

11. Improve Test Performance
Use Comprehension Strategy
Actively Listen
Manage Time
Review & Plan A Week Ahead
Practice With Test Taking Method
Use Test Prep Tips

12. Check on Learning
What should you do if you don’t understand what was taught?
How far in advance should you start reviewing for a test?
What is one good way to take notes?
What is a good way to manage your time?

13. Short answer Essay tests
B3. Describe how to effectively take Short Answer Tests

14. Short Answer Essays Show you understand a concept
Can you explain it?
Concentrate study time on understanding
Practice writing out answers
Explain major points in 1 or 2 sentences
Focus on sub-topics/concepts
Memorize facts & info

15. Short Answer Essays Test Prep
Write practice questions
Have someone review your answers
Use flashcards
Make educated guess, if necessary

16. Check on Learning
Briefly explain (short answer essay) how to study for a short answer essay test?

17. Taking Essay tests
B4. Describe how to effectively take Essay Tests

18. General Format Be clear & to the point! Introduction Body Conclusion
Identify purpose
State thesis (theory, idea, notion, hypothesis)
Body
State main points
Explain main points
Include examples
Conclusion
Restate purpose
Summarize supporting points
Be clear & to the point!

19. General Format

20. Intro – Body – Conclusion
Essay Exam Tips
Outline topic before writing answer
Always follow format:
Intro – Body – Conclusion
Cover your points
Get out!

21. Check on Learning
T/F: The Introduction part of an essay exam is where you summarize your argument.
In what part of the essay exam do you place your main points?
What are the three main parts of an essay exam?

22. Multiple choice test Taking Tips
B5. Describe how to effectively take Multiple Choice Tests

23. Multiple Choice Read entire question before looking at answers
Read every answer before making a choice
Eliminate answers you’re sure are incorrect
Once incorrect ones eliminated, focus on remaining answers
Select the best answer

24. Multiple Choice
First answer questions you know, then go back to other questions
If possible, make an educated guess
Don’t leave unanswered questions

25. Multiple Choice Pay attention to these words:
Not → changes sentence meaning
Sometimes → makes occurrence possible
Always → an absolute
Never → another absolute
All of the Above → often right, but be sure!
None of the Above → often right, but be sure!

26. Multiple Choice
Usually best to stick with first choice, but not always
If two answers correct, “All of the Above” is probably right choice
If choice between positive & negative options, likely to be the positive
If guessing, pick answer that contains the most info

27. Check on Learning
T/F: If you already know the answer in a Multiple Choice test, you don’t need to spend time reading the other answers.
T/F: If you don’t know the answer on the test, don’t guess at the answer.
If there’s a choice between positive & negative options, which one is it likely to be?

28. True/false tests
B6. Describe how to effectively take True/False Tests

29. True/False Consider statement true → Determine if any part false
One false aspect? → Entire statement false

30. True/False If T/F sentence contains a negative:
drop negative word
read remainder
Is sentence true or false w/out the negative?
If true, then correct answer would be False.
Watch out for double negatives
Example: “It is unlikely the battalion will not win the drill competition” is same as “It is likely the battalion will win the drill competition.”

31. True/False
Carefully consider how following words affect the given statement:
Frequently reflect False statement
Always
Never
Sometimes
Frequently
Seldom
Often
Generally
Ordinarily
All
Few
Many
Entirely
Completely
Best
Worst
None
Often reflect True statement

32. True/False Long sentences (more likely to be false):
Review each phrase
Ensure it says what you think it says
If one phrase is false, the answer is False
If completely unsure of an answer → more likely True than False

33. True/False
Statements that include a reason (use of ‘because’, ‘reason’, ‘since’, etc.) → more likely to be false
Plan your time
Go through whole test
Answer questions you know
Go back & tackle ones not sure about

34. Check on Learning
‘Always’ & ‘Never’ frequently reflect a statement/answer.
If a T/F statement has a has a negative word, the negative & re-read. If the statement now reads as true, then the correct answer would be .
If you’re completely unsure of an answer, it’s more likely than .

35. math preparation and test Taking Strategies
B7. Describe how to effectively prepare for and take Math Tests

36. Math Tests Practice, practice, practice Understand concept/theory
Review problems in book, notes, & homework
Ask for help if needed
Focus on understanding principles & step-by-step procedures
Practice explaining processes

37. Math Tests Keep a list of all formulas & theories Study in groups
Memorize them
Study in groups
Work through problems together
Immediately write down formulas (from memory) on test paper/worksheet

38. Math Tests Read test & question instructions carefully
Pay attention to detail!
Show work, even if unsure if it’s correct answer
Sometimes partial credit given even if not correct answer

39. Check on Learning
What is the first thing it’s good to do when given a test paper/worksheet?
What is something you should practice for tests that will require you to provide a logical explanation of how you arrived at your answer?
T/F: Group study is one recommendation for taking math tests.

40. Open book tests
B8. Describe how to effectively take Open Book Tests

41. Open Book Tests Time limit (normally) Organize notes
Impossible to look up every answer
Require prep & knowledge of info location
May be able to tab text
Answer mostly from memory
Rely on understanding material
Organize notes
Include key formulas or precepts

42. Open Book Tests Answer easy questions first Answer remaining questions
Rely on your memory
Look at resource material
Don’t plagiarize

43. Oral test Taking, boards, & interviews
B9. Describe how to effectively take Oral Tests, Boards, and Interviews

44. Oral Test Taking, Boards, & Interviews
Lifetime Skills
Performance Task Assessments (PTA)
Promotion Boards
Job or other interviews
Oral presentations
Public speaking

45. Oral Test Taking, Boards, & Interviews
Formal or Informal process
Do you know the material?
How well do you present yourself?
Preparation reduces anxiety
Knowledge
Self-confidence

46. Oral Test Taking, Boards, & Interviews
Preparation & Practice!
Research possible questions asked
Have others quiz you
Know what to expect
If impressive, present it!

47. Oral Test Taking, Boards, & Interviews
Be on time! Never late!
Critical first impression
Room entry
Properly follow reporting procedure
Practice customs and courtesies throughout
“Sir,” “Ma’am,” or “Sergeant”
If in uniform
Correct and sharp
Have someone familiar w/uniform look you over before entering

48. Oral Test Taking, Boards, & Interviews
Bring notepad
Jot notes
Remember the question
Multiple parts? Jot notes!
Listen carefully & respond appropriately
Don’t understand a question? Ask for clarification!

49. Oral Test Taking, Boards, & Interviews
Cadet Promotion Boards outlined in Cadet Regulation 1-5
Don’t go unprepared!

50. Oral Test Taking, Boards, & Interviews
Pay attention to body language and posture
Sit, if offered
Do so formally
Keep posture upright—Don’t slouch!
Stand → told to be At Ease
Don’t move around
Stay in At Ease position
Don’t cross hands over chest
Don’t put hands in pockets or on hips

51. Oral Test Taking, Boards, & Interviews
Likely to be asked if you have questions or anything to add
Be prepared ahead of time
If new position/promotion, prepare brief statement
Don’t repeat info
Thank interviewer/examiner/board for taking time to interview

52. After Action Review Afterward Assess how you think you did
Write down some review notes
Next oral exam, board, or interview:
Review previous notes as prep process
Open to providing feedback?
Ask board how to do better next time

53. Check on Learning
T/F: If offered to sit at an interview or before a board, you should refuse so you don’t appear too casual.
The key to being confident when taking an oral exam, presenting for a board or going for an interview is to prepare and practice ahead of time.