TIPS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

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TIPS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Dr. Michelle Nicopolis, PC, NCC Cuyahoga
Community College Phone [phone] michelle.nic
opolis_at_tri-c.edu
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AGENDA

• How to Prepare for Tests
• Test-taking Tips
• Multiple choice
• True/False
• Essay
• Matching
• Science/Math
• Boosting Test Confidence
• RACING

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HOW TO PREPARE FOR TESTS 

• Familiarize yourself with the test.
• Ask instructor how long/type of ?s
• When reading notes/books, guess what questions
  will be asked.
• If your mind starts to wander or worry about
  other things, relax a few minutes rethink what
  youre doing.

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HOW TO PREPARE FOR TESTS 
5. Practice doing what youll be doing on the
test. 6. Learn how to deal with anxiety (study
in test room, plan ahead, etc.) 7. Prepare
physically. 8. Teach material to someone (or
imagine youre asking the question when
taking the test) 
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You have thirty seconds to complete the following
test. Read all the instructions before doing
anything else. Instructions 1. Write your
initials in the top right corner of the paper. 2.
Write the total of 3 16 30 in the bottom
right corner. 3. Circle your answer to Question
2. 4. Draw three circles in the top left
corner. 5. Put a dot in each of the circles
mentioned in Question 4. 6. Sign your signature
at the bottom center of the page. 7. On the top
center of this page, write the number 3. 8.
When you get to this point in the test, stretch
your arms. 9. Draw a circle in the center of the
page. 10. Now that you have finished reading all
the instructions, obey only Questions 1 and
2. www.businessballs.com - (ack.Graeme Hall)
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HOW TO TAKE TESTS 

• Arrive early to test room
• Be well-rested, fed and hydrated
• Read the question as is
• Dont panic if you see a surprise question
• Avoid overanalyzing or oversimplifying
• Imagine youre the expert and youre telling
  someone the answer be confident!

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MULTIPLE CHOICE TIPS 

• First, determine what the question asks.
• Think of answer before looking at answers.
• 3. The longest answer is often correct.
• 4. The most inclusive answer is often correct.
• 5. If 2 answers are similar, choose 1 of the 2.
• 6. Choose all of the above when gt1 is correct.
• 7. Circle key words that signal the ?s focus

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MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST TIPS 

• 8. If answers have numbers which cover a wide
  range, choose the one in the middle.
• 9. If you dont know an answer, try to rule out
  some choices.Write why answers are wrong.
• 10. Qualifying Words
• Usually Sometimes tend to be correct
• Always Never tend to be incorrect choices

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TRUE/FALSE TEST TIPS 

• Basic Strategy Assume the questions are true.
• The following tend to be FALSE(99 of the time
  in non-scientific subjects)
• Statements/answers containing extreme
  modifiers such as always, all, only,
  never, completely, totally
• Statements/answers including because,
  since, and due to e.g.,  Women earn less
  money than men because they have less
  education than men. 

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TRUE/FALSE TEST TIPS 

• The following tend to be TRUE
• Answers with qualifiers e.g., generally, some,
  probably, most often, sometimes, usually
• Dont assume that answers are in certain
  order or pattern.
• A partly false statement should be marked
  false dont look for wild exceptions.

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ESSAY TEST TIPS 

• Answer all parts of the question.
• Do what the direction words instruct.
• 3. Write well-organized answer.
• Plan major point make outline.
• Write introduction summarizing answer.
• Make major points stand out headings.
• 4. Write complete answers.
• Include everything relevant to answer.
• Write to uninformed reader.

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MATCHING TEST TIPS 

• Read the directions to determine if answers
  can be repeated
• Read both columns first.
• Use the process of elimination.
• Define key words be sure that you understand
  everything.
• Try to distinguish similarities differences in
  the column choices.

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MATCHING TEST TIPS 

• See if your definitions of the items are
  similar to the choices given.
• Use prefixes and roots to help you to
  understand word meanings.
• Do the easiest matches first.
• Cross an answer out after matching it - unless
  it can be repeated.
• Use logical deduction - eliminate most of the
  choices, then read the few that are left to see
  what fits best. Only guess when you have reduced
  the number of choices to as few as possible.

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RACING TIP to approach a test
R Read questions over A Approach with a
plan C Clarify question I  Instincts
usually right N Notice your time G Go for the
easy ones first
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BUILDING CONFIDENCE

• As you anticipate the exam, think positively,
  e.g., "I will do well on this exam. I've
  studied and I know my stuff."
• Engage in "thought stopping" if you find you
  worry a lot, compare self to peers, or
  think about what others may say about your
  performance.
• The night before the exam, organize what you
  will need for the exam (pen, pencil,
  eraser, calculator). Check the
  time/location of the exam.
• Set the alarm clock and then get a good night's
  sleep before the exam.

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• Get to the exam on time - not too late or too
  early.
• Be cautious about talking to other students about
  the exam material just before going into the
  exam, especially if it makes you more anxious.
• Sit in a location in the exam room where you
  will be distracted as little as possible.
• As the papers are distributed, calm yourself by
  taking some slow deep breaths.
• Make sure to carefully read instructions on the
  exam.
• As you work on the exam, focus only on the exam,
  not on what other students are doing
• Focus on the present, not past exams or future
  goals.

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• If you feel anxious during the exam, take a few
  minutes to calm yourself. Stretch, breathe, have
  positive internal self-talk direct your focus on
  the test associate questions to the
  lecture/text
• If the exam is more difficult than you
  anticipated, try to focus and do your best. It
  might be enough to get you through with a
  reasonable grade!
• When the exam is over, treat yourself. A break
  may be the "pick up" you need.

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RESOURCES/SUGGESTIONS

• Testtakingtips.com
• http//www.ogtprep.com/
• http//www.ogtprep.com/highschool_ogt.htm
• http//www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/
  ODEPrimary.aspx?page2TopicRelationID216