Study Skills and Test Taking Strategies

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Study Skills and Test Taking Strategies
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Study Smart

• Find a good place to study
• Well lit
• Comfortable
• Eliminate Distractions
• If you like to study to music, try classical
  music
• Get Started
• Dont put it off- begin with something simple

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Know your learning style

• Visual Learners
• Learn best from films, pictures, TV, reading, and
  demonstrations.
• Flash cards, notes, charts and diagrams are
  helpful
• Kinesthetic Learners
• Learn best by doing- role playing, labs, hands-on
  activities
• Move around while you study

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Know your learning style

• Auditory Learners
• Learn best from lectures, discussions, TV, films,
  and music.
• Read aloud, have discussions, listen to tapes,
  use memory tricks involving rhythm and rhyme.

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Be Organized

• Use an assignment notebook
• Write down your assignments for every class,
  every day
• Break down large assignments into smaller parts,
  giving yourself deadlines for getting each part
  done.
• Use 3 ring notebooks for class notes
• Easy to insert handouts and keep items in order.

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Be Organized

• Use colored folders for homework.
• Use a different color for each class.
• When you finish an assignment, put it in the
  folder and put your folder in your backpack.
• Keep returned assignments in one side of the
  folder, so you can look back at them when you
  study.
• Have phone numbers for classmates.
• If you are absent you can call someone to find
  out what you missed.

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Be Organized

• Keep your locker and backpack neat.
• Always put loose papers in the appropriate folder
  before putting them in your locker or backpack.
• Get organized before you go to bed.
• Put completed work in the appropriate folder and
  put folders in your backpack. Keep it in the
  same place each night.
• If you need to remember to do something in the
  morning, leave yourself a note.

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Take Good Notes

• Be an active listener
• Dont just hear what your teacher is saying,
  think about it and try to understand the
  material.
• Take notes
• Taking notes helps you pay attention
• Recognize important information
• Pay attention to teacher cues when they emphasize
  important points. Anything written on the board
  should be in your notes.
• Underline or hi-light things you feel are most
  important.

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Take Good Notes

• Make your notes easy to read
• Write the date and the name of the class at the
  top of each notes page.
• Write on every other line and only use one side
  of paper
• Use symbols and abbreviations when possible.
• Use pencil
• Leave a wide margin on the left side so you can
  add key notes there later.
• Go over your notes as soon as possible.
• Get copies of notes if you are absent.

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Good Time Management

• Use class time wisely
• Always use the time teachers give you in class to
  start on homework, ask questions, and get help.
• Create a study plan
• Schedule the time you are going to spend on
  homework, and stick to it.
• Dont let distractions (TV, phone calls, etc.)
  get you off schedule.

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Organize your study time

• Make a plan
• Decide what you are going to get done and the
  order you are going to do it in.
• Make sure you spend the most time on the most
  important things.
• Break overwhelming projects into smaller parts
• Allow more time than you think you will need.
• Study your least favorite subject first.
• Take short breaks every 20-30 minutes.

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Reduce Test Anxiety

• Start studying early
• Dont leave everything for the night before the
  test.
• Visualize yourself doing well.
• Mentally practice the testing experience.
• See yourself calm and confident.
• Walk into the test with confidence.
• Keep your head up and shoulders back.
• How you act can affect how you feel, and how you
  perform.

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Relaxation Techniques

• Take a deep breath, hold it, and then slowly
  release the breath and the tension.
• Start at the top of your head, flexing, and then
  relaxing each part of your body.
• Close your eyes and let your arms hang down at
  your sides. As you relax, visualize the tension
  from your head, neck, and shoulders flowing down
  your arms and out through your fingertips.
• Close your eyes, visualize warm sunshine washing
  over you, melting away the tension, and relaxing
  all of your muscles.
• Think of a place where you feel very relaxed and
  calm. Close your eyes and visualize being in
  that place.

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Test Taking Strategies

• Get off to a good start
• Have everything you need with you- pencil,
  calculator, etc.
• Write down things you want to remember as soon as
  you get the test- facts, dates, equations, etc.
• Put your name on the test and read the directions
  carefully.

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Test Taking Strategies

• Develop a plan
• Look over the entire test and decide how much
  time you are going to spend on each part.
• Mark the questions you want to return to.
• If you have time, you can go back and look at the
  question again.

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Test Taking Strategies

• Multiple Choice Questions
• Eliminate all choices you know are incorrect
• Read all the answer choices- Dont be tempted to
  go with the first answer that sounds good.
• Sometimes questions can give you information
  about other questions on the test.
• True/False
• Statements with always, never, every, all, and
  none are usually false. Statements with usually,
  often, most, sometimes, most, and many in them
  are usually true.
• Read carefully one word will often determine
  whether a statement is true or false.

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Test Taking Strategies

• Essay Questions
• Read each question and start with the easiest, to
  build confidence and give you more time to think
  about the harder questions.
• Brainstorm before writing. Jot down key words,
  and ideas, and points you want to cover. If you
  have time, make a quick outline.
• Begin writing. Use clear, concise, complete
  sentences. Write legibly. Make sure you have an
  introduction, a middle (with your key points,
  examples, details, etc.), and a conclusion.
• Reread the essay when you are done.

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Test Taking Strategies

• Math Tests
• Before starting, try to estimate what the answer
  will be.
• Draw a picture or diagram.
• Dont spend too much time on one problem- skip it
  and go to the next one. Come back to it later.
• Show all your work

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Test Taking Strategies

• Check your answers
• Always use all the time you are given
• Go over all returned tests
• You may see these questions again.
• Keep record of your test scores and keep them in
  your returned assignments folder.

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Get help when you need it!

• If you are struggling, get help. Talk to your
  teacher, counselor, or parents if you have
  questions.
• Dont let a problem go for so long that it cant
  be solved. Get help early.

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References

• OBrien, Linda, How to get good grades in ten
  easy steps. 2006, Woodburn Press