IMPROVE YOUR TESTTAKING

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IMPROVE YOUR TESTTAKING

• Ameenah Ahad
• Senior Lecturer, Bermuda College

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Why do we take tests?

• Almost all schools use tests and exams to measure
  successful learning
• Finals
• SATs
• School entrance exams

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Why focus on testtaking?

• There are normally 2 major exams at Bermuda
  College - Mid-semester Finals
• Finals often take 3 hours and may be worth 30-50
  of your total grade!
• Its worth taking the time to improve your
  testtaking skills!

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Lets talk about...

• Why are you here?
• What problems are you experiencing?
• What problems do you anticipate?
• What solutions can you share?

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FOCUS ON

• Learning Styles
• Notes for Review
• Preparing for Objective Tests
• Taking Objective Tests
• Preparing for Essay Tests
• Taking Essay Tests
• Overcoming Test Anxiety
• Pulling it all together

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Learning Style

• The way each person begins to concentrate on,
  process, internalize and retain new and difficult
  information (Dunn Dunn, 1993).
• Most people have between 6 and 14 preferences
  that constitute their learning style.
• Perceptual preferences may be visual, auditory,
  tactual, kinesthetic or a combination.

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Review

• Use your notes to recall the main points of the
  lesson.
• Outline the major points and fill in important
  details from memory.
• Review on a regular basis.
• There are several formats for your notes...

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1. Concept card

• Marriage
• page 357

• Socially recognized, legitimized, and supported
  union of individuals of opposite sexes.

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Concept card (flip side)

• Differs from other relationships (e.g.
  friendships)
• Takes place in public
• Sexual intercourse is explicit element of the
  relationship
• Legitimates offspring
• Intended to be stable and enduring relationship

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2. Notebook - Cornell Method
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3. Notebook - Concept Map
Sexual intercourse
Legitimates offspring
Marriage differs from other relationships
Takes place in public
Stable enduring
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Review Cards
Define marriage and describe how it differs from
other relationships.
Front side
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Review Card (flip side)

• Marriage
• Def socially recognized, legitimized, and
  supported union of individuals of opposite sexes.
• How differs
• Takes place in public
• Sexual intercourse is explicit element
• Legitimates offspring
• Intended to be stable enduring

Back side
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Testtaking What to study?

• Key terms- their definitions examples
• Enumeration- lists of items in text or notes
• Points emphasized (The most important)
• Topics identified by lecturer
• Questions from previous tests

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Objective Tests
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Preparing for Objective Tests

• Allow enough time for study
• Be prepared to memorize (dates, facts, other
  details)
• Ask what kind of items will be on the exam
• Go to the library look at old exams
• Review main points presented in class
• Make up practice test items.

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Taking Objective Tests

• Answer all the easiest questions first
• Go back to the difficult ones
• Answer all questions unless penalty
• Circle or underline key words in difficult
  questions main idea
• Express difficult questions in your own words
• Change answer only if sure it is wrong

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Multiple Choice

• Use logical reasoning 2 correct all of the
  above.
• Validate True responses on All the following
  except.
• Note any oversights.
• Choose best available answer.
• Eliminate wrong answers.
• Read question. Supply own answer.
• Follow Hints in time of emergency!

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True -False

• Simplify questions with double negatives/ cross
  out negatives
• Moderate qualifiers (generally, some) frequently
  true
• Absolute qualifiers (never, all) usually false
• Part true/part false false

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Fill - In

• Read the questions to yourself so you can
  actually hear what is being asked
• Each answer should fit logically grammatically
• May be more than one word

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Matching

• Read both columns first to get a sense of
  alternatives
• Start with the easiest
• Cross out items as you use them

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Hints - For Emergency Use Only!

• The longest m/c choice is often correct.
• The most complete and inclusive m/c choice is
  often correct.
• Answer in middle with most words is often
  correct.
• If there are two choices with opposite meanings,
  choose one.
• Choose answers with qualifiers.
• Dont choose absolutes.

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Essay Tests

• require a composition of at least one paragraph
• ask you to organize what you know and express it
  in a way that responds to the question
• focus on ideas and understandings yet you use
  facts as supporting details

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Preparing For Taking Essay Tests

• Anticipate 10 probable questions
• Prepare memorize outline for each
• Read directions carefully
• Read all questions
• Budget your time
• Start with the question you can do best
• Begin with thesis statement
• Review returned exams to learn from mistakes

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HELP!

• Determine your sources of help
• Teachers
• Parents
• Friends
• Tutors

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Good Luck!

• Intention and attitude is everything
• Make a commitment to change
• Feedback questions, comments
• Lets get BUSY!