1. Test-Taking Strategies
Moultrie Technical College
Student Academic Center

2. To provide helpful hints to Moultrie Technical College students.
Purpose
To provide helpful hints to Moultrie Technical College students.

3. Outline References Ten Step Process Extra Techniques Summary
Conclusion

4. References
How to Get Good Grades in College, Linda O’Brien, Woodburn Press, 2001
Becoming a Master Student, Dave Ellis, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006 (textbook for COL 099, College Success)
Making Your Mark, 5th Edition
University of West Georgia Student Development Center

5. Test/Exam Planning Any plan is better than none
Conduct planning for trips and tests/exams

6. The Ten Step Process Get off to a good start Develop a plan
Mark questions that you want to return to
Increase your odds on multiple-choice questions
Know how to approach essay questions
Look for key words in True/False questions
Be prepared for open book tests
Improve your math test scores
Check your answers
Go over all returned tests

7. Step 1-Get off to a good start
Get to the test early
Check that you have everything you need (pencil, calculator, etc.)
On receipt of your test, dump or write down anything you need to remember (dates, facts, equations, memory cues, etc.)
Listen very closely to any verbal instructions
Carefully read the test directions

8. Step 2-Develop a plan
Quickly look over the entire test and develop a plan
For example
a. Plan 15 minutes to complete 25 multiple-choice questions
b. 15 minutes for each essay question
c. 10 minutes to check your answers

9. Step 3-Mark Questions that you want to return to
Place a light dot or ? Mark by any answer you're not sure of or any question that you didn’t answer
After going through all questions, go back to the ones you marked and try again
If you aren’t sure, go with your first instinct
Don’t panic if you don’t know the answers to the first few questions, since it sometimes takes a few minutes to get “in gear”

10. Step 4-Increase your odds on multiple-choice questions
Read the question twice to make sure you understand what is being asked
While reading the question, try to come up with the answer before looking at the choices
Read all of the answer choices
Don’t be tempted to mark the first one that sounds correct
Pay attention to the meaning of the words in the question
If you aren’t sure, cross out choice(s) you know are incorrect, then make an educated guess
If two of the choices are similar or opposite, probably one of them is the correct answer
Take questions at face value, don’t get caught up looking for tricks

11. Step 4-Increase your odds on multiple-choice questions (continued)
If you are having trouble:
Rephrase question in your own words
Underline key words to help untangle complicated questions
Look for answers in other test questions

12. Step 4-Increase your odds on multiple-choice questions (continued)
Taking A Guess
If two answers have similar words (perpetrate, perpetuate) choose one of them
If two answers have opposite meanings, choose one of them
Choose the longest answer
Studies indicate the following
(b)-correct 40% of the time
(c)-correct 30% of the time
(a)-correct 20% of the time
(d)-correct only 10% of the time

13. Step 5-Know how to approach essay questions ( 1 of 4)
Read each essay question and start with the easiest one to increase your confidence and give you a little time to think about the harder question(s)
Read directions twice to be sure you understand what you are being asked to do

14. Step 5-Know how to approach essay questions (2 of 4)
Know what the meanings of these direction words (refer to handout)
Analyze
Compare
Contrast
Criticize
Define
Discuss
Enumerate
Evaluate
Explain
Illustrate
Interpret
Outline
Prove
Relate
State
Summarize
Trace

15. Step 5-Know how to approach essay questions (3 of 4)
Note how many points each essay is worth so you can adjust your time
Before writing, brainstorm by recording key words, dates, points to cover
If you have time, organize these points into a simple outline
If you don’t have time, number the points in order you want to present them
Make sure you are really answering the question
Write legibly so your instructor doesn’t have to guess
Use clear, concise and complete sentences (standard written English)
Data shows that when two identical essays are graded, the one that is more legible/standard written English gets the higher grade

16. Step 5-Know how to approach essay questions (4 of 4)
Introduce your topic in the opening paragraph and tell the instructor what he/she can expect to learn from the essay
In the middle paragraphs, present details, evidence and facts to support the points
Remember, each paragraph has a topic sentence (controlling idea) with the remainder of the sentences providing support
Summarize main points, your analysis, etc. in the final paragraph
Proof read your essay
Keep to the point, quality doesn’t depend on quantity
If you don’t know the answer, write whatever you know about the subject-you might get credit
If you don’t have time to finish, explain that you ran out of time and list the points you would have covered- you might get partial credit

17. Step 6-Look for key words in True/False questions ( 1 of 4)
Statements with always, everybody, all, no, none, never, every, all and none in them tend to be false
Statements with usually, often, sometimes, most, many, usually and few in them tend to be true
Unfamiliar looking phrases and terms are usually incorrect
Choose an unfamiliar term only when you are certain all the other options are incorrect
When one answer to a multiple choice question is more complete or inclusive than other answers, it is likely to be the correct answer
If you are certain that two of the options are correct and “all of the above” is an option, choose “all of the above”

18. Step 6-Look for key words in True/False and multiple-choice questions ( 2 of 4)
When options for a multiple choice question are a series of numbers, the highest and lowest numbers tend to be incorrect
When two options to a multiple choice question look similar, the correct answer tends to be one of those options
Read True/False questions very carefully since one word will often determine whether a statement is true or false
For a statement to be judged true, all parts of the statement must be true
Assume statements are true unless you know otherwise

19. Step 6-Look for key words in True/False and multiple-choice questions ( 3 of 4)
True/False questions that state a reason tend to be false either because they give an incorrect reason or they don’t give all the reasons
Look for words such as “since, because, and reason”

20. Step 6-Look for key words in True/False and multiple-choice questions ( 4 of 4)
Be careful with negatives and double negatives
True or False: A cloudy sky is an unclear sky.
Answer: True
Two negatives cancel each other out
He is not unintelligent=He is intelligent
See handout for other examples
Watch for absolute statement: a statement that excludes all possibilities except the ones stated
Double-check each number, fact, and date
Look for numbers that have been transposed or facts that have been slightly altered which are often signals of a false statement

21. Step 7: Be prepared for open book tests
Be able to locate quickly locate information
Use post it flags or bookmarks to identify specific info
Highlight your notes and write down all info on one page
Create an informal table of contents
Predict which material will be covered on the test and highlight relevant sections in your readings and notes
Write all formulas, definitions, etc. on a separate sheet of paper for easy referral

22. Step 8: Improve your math test scores
As soon as you get your test, write down any formulas, equation, etc. that you will need
Try to estimate the answer before solving the problem
Draw a picture or diagram
Don’t spend too much time on one problem, if “stumped” go on and come back to it later
Show all your work-you might get credit

23. Additional hints for math and science
Translate problems into English: I =P x R/100 x T
“Interest equals principal times the rate as a percentage times the time period
Determine the unknown
Check for a logical answer
Check to see if you used all data supplied
Check the steps of each problem

24. Step 9: Check your answers
Check all your answers
You may have read the question wrong or made a careless mistake: 0.1 instead of 0.01
If you are unsure, don’t change your answer
Use all of the testing time to answer and check your responses
Professors and instructors didn’t give extra credit for finishing before time is elapsed

25. Step 10: Go over all returned tests
Review each question you missed and write in the correct answer
Make sure that your test was correctly graded sometimes instructors make simple math errors
Keep a record of your test scores
You might see the questions again on the final

26. Extra Computer-graded tests
Make sure the answer you mark corresponds to the question you are answering
Check the text booklet against the answer sheet when you change sections and whenever you come to the top of a column
Watch for stray marks which can be interpreted as answers
If you change the answer, completely erase the wrong answer

27. Extra, Extra Short answer/fill-in-the-blank tests
Concentrate on key words and facts
Be brief
Example: The attack on ______ ______ caused the United State to declare war on Japan.
Look for grammatical hints: a sentence that begins with “An_” indicates the word starts with a vowel

28. Extra, Extra, Extra Matching Tests
-Begin by reading through each column, starting with the one with fewer items
-Look for any items with similar wording and make special note of the differences
-Match words that are similar grammatically (verbs with verbs, verbs with verbs and nouns with nouns)
-When matching individual words with phrases, first read a phrase then look for the word that logically completes the phrase
-Cross out items in each column when you are through with them

29. Summary
Successfully taking tests and exams requires a few moments of planning.

30. Conclusion
“If you always do what you have always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten!”
“Who dares, wins!”