1. Test and Assignment StrategiesThat Really Work!
A Student Services Workshop

2. Does This Sound Familiar?
“I do so well on class work, but when I get to the test, I just freeze!”
“I have no idea how to study for tests in this course!”
“I always think I’ve done well on
a test or assignment, and am so
disappointed when it comes back
with a poor mark.”
“I always seem to be losing marks on
assignments…but I don’t really know
why.”
“ I am not getting a mark in this class
that reflects what I know.”
4/1/2017

3. Part 1: Why can studying for tests be such a challenging task?
It can be overwhelming to study weeks of material from a course for one test – so much to remember!
The test can pull together several concepts from a unit – can create confusion
You are still juggling other courses and commitments
while trying to prepare for a test
Some students can prepare adequately for
the test but “freeze” when it’s time to write it –
such a frustrating experience!
We don’t teach students how to study
effectively for each subject area, and
we assume that they know how to do
this by the time they get to high school
4/1/2017

4. Part 2: Why can working on assignments be such a challenging task?
Assignment expectations are not clear in the student’s mind from the start – and clarification questions are not asked
The student doesn’t know where to begin or what steps need to be taken to complete the assignment
The student doesn’t budget enough
time to do each part of the assignment
as well as they would like
The student doesn’t do a final check of
the assignment to ensure that they
met all assignment expectations
4/1/2017

5. How do students make test and assignment preparation an even MORE stressful experience?
They have unorganized an/or incomplete notes
They have not been asking questions along the way to ensure understanding
They don’t budget their time wisely or start
studying/working far enough ahead of time
They don’t consider ways to make the
most of their study time
They don’t recognize the time and effort
that will be required to adequately prepare
They don’t adjust other priorities to be
able to put in the time required to do well
4/1/2017

6. Test and Assignment Preparation Strategies Quiz
Take a moment to complete the quiz in your package and then score yourself using the key at the bottom of the quiz.
How much work do you need to
do to become better at test and
assignment preparation?
4/1/2017

7. The Two Phases of Successful Test Writing
Phase One: The Preparation
Paying attention in class
Organizing notes
Setting Priorities
Reviewing
Seeking clarification
Taking care of yourself
Phase Two: The Writing
Remaining Calm
Start with what you know
Managing your time
4/1/2017

8. Phase One: The Preparation
Throughout the semester you should be…
Paying attention in class
Asking questions as soon as you don’t understand something
Doing your homework daily
Reviewing your notes regularly
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9. Phase One: The Preparation Continued…
In the week leading up to the test, there are many practical and effective strategies to ensure that you are as prepared as possible.
Let’s flip to your package to explore
these in more detail.
4/1/2017

10. Phase Two: The Writing
Now that the test day has arrived, there are other strategies you can implement to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible.
Let’s check out the “Tips for
Test-Taking” in your package.
4/1/2017

11. Coping with Test Anxiety
Test anxiety can be a major concern for students both during the preparation and the writing phases.
There are lots of useful strategies
that can be applied to reduce
stress and maximize results for
the student
Let’s look at your package to
explore some of these strategies
4/1/2017

12. Different Types of Test Questions
Different kinds of tests will call for different types of question styles – multiple choice, matching, short answer, longer answer, essay or paragraph style etc.
Every type of question has a
series of tips and tricks that help
students maximize their success
on that question type
Let’s explore in your package…
4/1/2017

13. Assignment Preparation Strategies
Regardless of the subject area, there are some key steps that students should follow to be successful on any assignment
Let’s look at the steps in your package-
as well as the assignment
preparation template
4/1/2017

14. In Summary…
Tests and assignments are a major part of the evaluation in any high school course
These are common “challenge areas” for students – they can pull together lots of different
concepts and require considerable
preparation
Implementing the strategies
outlined in this package can make
a great difference to your success in
these areas – give them a try and let
me know how they work for you!
4/1/2017