Strategies for College Success

1
Strategies for College Success

• University Learning Center
• University of Arizona

2
Introduction

• The purpose of this course is to expose you to
  various strategies and techniques that will
  enable you to become a successful student in the
  postsecondary environment

3
Course Contents

• Section 1 Self-assessment and Self-management
• Steps in Successful Goal Setting and Achievement
• Learning Styles
• Anxiety/Stress Management

4
Course Contents

• Section 2 Study Skills Development
• Time Management
• Memory Techniques
• Methods of Reading College Textbooks
• Note Taking Strategies
• Exam Preparation Tips
• Test Taking Strategies
• Internet Resources

5
Section 1 Self-assessment and Self-management
6
Lesson 1 Goal Setting and Achievement

• What well be covering
• characteristics of goals
• how to break down goals
• where goal setting can go wrong

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Goals should be...

• Realistic
• The goals of winning a marathon after two weeks
  of training is an unrealistic goal. Use what
  youve accomplished in the past to set a
  reasonable goal for the future.

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Goals should be...

• Self-chosen
• You are much more likely to achieve a goal that
  you set for yourself than one that has been set
  for you

9
Goals should be...

• Moderately difficult
• A goal that is too hard or too easy will decrease
  your motivation and wont show you what youre
  really capable of accomplishing
• Use what youve accomplished in the past as a
  guide

10
Goals should be...

• Specific
• For example, getting an A in Math and a B in
  Geography is a lot more specific than just saying
  that you would like to get good grades this
  semester

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Goals should be...

• Measurable
• Youre more likely to give up if you cant see
  any progress toward your goal
• For example, getting an A on your midterm is
  measurable progress toward getting an A in the
  class.

12
Goals should be...

• Positive
• Say what you do want to accomplish instead of
  what you dont want to do.
• For example, try I will attend all classes,
  instead of I wont skip any classes.

13
Goals should be...

• Flexible
• If it looks like you cant reach your original
  goal, be flexible and redraw your plan

14
Goals should be...

• Associated with a deadline
• When do you plan on accomplishing this goal, in a
  month, day, or year?

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Goals should be...

• Written down
• It will serve as a better reminder to keep you
  motivated

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Where goal setting can go wrong

• When goal setting is disorganized
• For example, keep personal and academic goals
  separate

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Where goal setting can go wrong

• When goals are unrealistic
• For example, becoming a company CEO immediately
  after graduation is an unrealistic goal

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Where goal setting can go wrong

• When you set goals that are beyond your control
• For example, winning the lottery is definitely
  beyond your control

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Where goal setting can go wrong

• When goals are vague
• For example, becoming successful or becoming a
  better student are not clear goals to work
  toward.

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Where goal setting can go wrong

• When you set too many goals
• For example, at any one time you should focus on
  achieving only three or four goals

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How to break down and achieve goals

• see example

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Summary

• Goals with certain characteristics will enable
  you to be more successful in goal setting and
  achievement.
• Breaking down large goals into parts will help
  you to see what steps you will need to complete
  on the way to accomplishing your goal

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Homework assignment Apply what youve learned

• set an academic or personal goal
• select one personal or academic long-term goal
  and break it down to the steps you will need to
  achieve in the next year, next 6 months, next
  month, next week, and tomorrow

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Lesson 2 Learning Styles

• What well be covering
• What is a learning style?
• How you develop a learning style?
• Whats your learning style?
• How information on your learning style can help
  to improve your learning

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What is a learning style?

• an individuals characteristic and preferred way
  of gathering, interpreting, organizing and
  thinking about information. Your style includes
  the type of environments you like to learn in,
  your preferences for working with others, and the
  way you perceive information.
• no single style of learning has been shown to be
  better than any other

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How do you develop a learning style?

• learning styles develop over time as a result of
  an individuals inherent preferences and
  experience with his/her environment
• they can and do change over time

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How can information about learning styles improve
your learning?

• You may be more satisfied and more productive if
  you are studying with methods compatible with
  your style. Right now you may be studying with
  methods incompatible with your style and not know
  it.
• You can experiment with building up
  less-preferred styles so that you can be equally
  comfortable with different tasks and in different
  learning environments.

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In class assignment Whats your learning style?

• Complete the learning style assessment
• View Suggestions for Studying and Learning based
  on learning style

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Summary

• Your learning style influences the way that you
  perceive and process information. By knowing your
  learning style, you can employ methods and
  strategies to make studying and learning more
  productive. Without this information, you may
  make studying and learning more difficult for
  yourself without even realizing it.

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Homework assignment Apply what youve learned

• Write full description of how you like to learn
• Answer the following questions How do I learn
  best?, What time of day do I learn best?, What
  kind of environment do I learn best in?, Do I
  learn better alone or with others?
• What study strategies are (or would be)
  particularly helpful for you?
• How will you be changing your study methods now
  that you are aware of your learning style?

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Lesson 3 Anxiety/Stress Management

• What well cover
• What is stress?
• What causes stress?
• Strategies to reduce stress
• Strategies for dealing with stress

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What is stress?

• Stress is the way that you react physically,
  mentally and emotionally to various conditions,
  changes and demands in your life.
• Many students experience varying levels of stress
  each semester.
• High levels of stress can affect your physical
  and mental well-being and academic performance.

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Symptoms of stress

• headaches
• nervous stomach
• change in appetite
• rapid breathing
• rapid heart rate
• sweaty palms
• irritability
• anxiety

• fatigue
• insomnia
• dissatisfaction
• anger
• depression
• inability to concentrate

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In-Class Assignment Reflect on a stressful
situation

• Write a brief description of a recent situation
  that caused you stress. Summarize your mental,
  emotional and physical states at the time.

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What causes stress?

• Anxiety uneasiness and distress about future
  uncertainties

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What causes stress?

• Changes in lifes expectations or demands
• Ex. Marriage, divorce, pregnancy, illness, bills,
  increasing demands of a university course load

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What causes stress?

• Disorganization feeling unprepared and powerless

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What causes stress?

• Physical Constraints
• Ex. Physical exhaustion, lack of good exercise
  and diet strategies

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What causes stress?

• Time constraints multiple projects and deadlines

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In-Class Assignment Self-assessment

• Take the anxiety/stress assessment
• Use the results of this assessment to pinpoint
  specific causes of stress in your life. What (if
  any) control do you have over these areas of your
  life?
• Make a list of things that you can do to lessen
  your stress.

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Strategies to reduce stress

• Take control- manage your time instead of letting
  it manage you. Use a to-do list, follow a written
  plan, set goals and follow through.
• Procrastination is a major cause of stress. Make
  a realistic list of things you need to do each
  day. Start doing the most important things first.
  That way, even if you dont finish the list, you
  get the most important things done.

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Strategies to reduce stress

• Take a break
• Sometimes it is better to get away from the
  situation for a short time- take a brisk walk,
  focus on pleasant thoughts. Then, go back to the
  task feeling refreshed and ready to go tackle
  whatever it is you have to do.

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Strategies to reduce stress

• Work on your attitude
• Put things into perspective- try not to take
  yourself so seriously.
• Think positive- If you think you will fail, or
  think you will succeed, you are probably right.
  --Henry Ford

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Strategies to reduce stress

• Get help
• See your instructor, go to tutoring, and
  participate in study groups. See how to form a
  study group.
• Keep in touch with friends and family, and
  develop a support group.

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Strategies to reduce stress

• Physical stress busters
• eat right, exercise regularly and get plenty of
  rest

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Strategies to reduce stress

• Practice, practice, practice
• Build your confidence- do extra math problems,
  practice test-taking at home, rehearse your
  speech a couple of times before the presentation

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In-class assignment Self-reflection

• Go back to the stressful incident that you
  described in the first part of the lesson and
  list some strategies for dealing with the
  situation, and some things you could have done to
  prevent it from being stressful. Also list some
  ways you can avoid a reoccurrence of such a
  situation in the future.

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• no one can avoid stress all the time. In a
  stressful situation, try these tips to help you
  overcome the effects of stress.

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• Join the crowd
• Even though you may think you are the only person
  in the world who is experiencing stress, the fact
  is that everyone experiences it sometime.

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• Talk to someone
• Find someone you trust, discuss the problems and
  look for solutions

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• Put it in perspective
• Chances are, this is only one small part of the
  rest of your life

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• Visualize
• Sit comfortably and think of a favorite place.
  Imagine yourself in a successful situation.

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• Breathe
• Sit quietly, and breathe deeply and slowly.
  Continue for five or six breaths. It is calming
  and the extra dose of oxygen increases the
  brains thinking ability.

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• Its all in your head... and shoulders
• Roll your head loosely in a wide circle. Repeat
  five times. Tighten right shoulder and raise it
  as far up as possible and hold, then relax
  slowly. Repeat with left shoulder. Repeat with
  both shoulders.

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• Go on a diet
• Eating light and avoiding sugars can help with
  performance and lessen stress. In a stressful
  situation like an exam, have a light meal of
  mostly protein. Remember, a heavy high
  carbohydrate meal can put you to sleep.

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• Lighten up
• Take responsibility for your feelings. When you
  get angry, take a break and cool down before you
  act.

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Strategies for dealing with stress

• Use it
• A little stress is a good thing- athletes use it
  to increase performance. If you are experiencing
  a small amount of anxiety, it can help to keep
  you active and alert. Use it to increase your
  performance.

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Summary

• Stress is mental, emotional and physical tension,
  strain, and/or distress
• The signs of stress are classic. You may get a
  headache, stiff neck, backache, become irritable,
  lose your temper, and you may feel exhausted and
  find it hard to concentrate.
• When these symptoms appear, recognize them as
  signs of stress and find a way to deal with them.
  Just knowing why youre feeling the way that you
  are may be the first step in coping with the
  problem.

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Homework assignment Apply what youve learned

• Write about a situation where you would normally
  experience a high level of stress, (i.e. taking a
  test, giving a presentation, etc). Is the stress
  a bad thing? Can is be used to increase your
  performance? How would you do this? What coping
  strategies can you use to help you deal with the
  situation?

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Section 2 Study skills development
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Lesson 4Time Management

• What well be covering
• advantages to good time management
• assess your time management skills
• create your ultimate schedule
• making to-do lists

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Time Management

• Why is time management important?
• one of the most important skills for beginning
  college students
• being able to accomplish your goals depends, in
  part, on your ability to make the most efficient
  use of the time that you have
• good time management skills can actually save you
  time

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In class assignment Assess your time management
skills

• Complete the Are You Using Your Time Wisely
  assessment
• What areas of time management are you strong in?
• What areas could you improve?

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Time Management Tips

• Monitor your time
• If you feel like you dont have enough time,
  spend a few days monitoring your time to see
  exactly how it is spent
• download Where Does the Time Go?

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Time Management Tips

• Make a daily to-do list

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Steps to making to-do lists

• Write a list of activities that you want or need
  to accomplish today
• Remember to prioritize and list the most
  important tasks first
• Check to see if there are any activities that you
  can accomplish at the same time

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Steps to making to-do lists (cont.)

• Write down how long you anticipate it will take
  you to get the task done
• Write down when you will start each activity

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Making to-do lists Know your options

• Do it now- the most important things with
  approaching deadlines need to be done first
• Schedule it- you can break up large tasks into
  smaller parts and schedule each part
• Ask someone else to do it- in a study group or
  team, each person can be responsible for a
  portion of the project
• Trade tasks- for example, you run the errands
  while your roommate cleans the apartment

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In class assignment Practice making a to-do list

• view a sample to-do list
• think of the things that you would like to
  accomplish for tomorrow
• use the steps we discussed as a guide in creating
  your list

70
Time Management Tips

• Use a planner
• a planner can be an effective and easy way to
  help you organize your time
• look at a number of different kinds of planners
  before you select one- some will help you more
  than others
• choose one that is easy to carry with you
• commit to checking/updating it daily
• try to include your daily to-do list in your
  planner

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Time Management Tips

• Make a long-term calendar

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In class assignment Make a long-term calendar

• Download the Semester-on-a-Page
• write in important dates like exams and due dates
• post it where you can see it, like by the phone
  or on the refrigerator

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Time Management Tips

• Try to be flexible
• Dont overload yourself. Always leave some
  free-time for some last-minute additions

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Time Management Tips

• Avoid marathon study sessions
• a couple of hours each day will help you to
  remember more than eight hours at once
• taking the time to schedule study time will help
  you to avoid procrastination and reduce stress
• remember to schedule study time over 5-7 days
  instead of packing it all into one or two days

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Time Management Tips

• Use waiting time
• Waiting time is the time you spend in between
  meetings, classes, events, etc.

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In class assignment How to effectively use wait
time

• One of the best ways to get more out of your day
  is to use waiting time
• Create a list of 5 things that you can do in 10
  minutes
• Create a list of 5 things that you can do in 20
  minutes

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Time Management Tips

• Learn to say no
• Examples of good ways to say no
• Instead of I really should study, say You
  caught me in the middle of something important,
  Ill call you later.
• I cant go the movies tonight, but I can go on
  Saturday.
• Before I say yes, let me check my planner and
  get back to you.

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Understanding procrastination

• When do you procrastinate?
• low interest or motivation
• large tasks
• What happens when you procrastinate
• increase stress
• poorer performance

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Reducing procrastination

• Break tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks
• for example, writing a paper can be broken down
  into getting references, reading reference,
  writing an outline, creating a rough draft and
  completing the final copy
• When given an assignment, do some work on it
  right away
• Spend some time studying each day
• Reward yourself along the way

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The Ultimate Schedule

• Download the sample Ultimate Schedule

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The Ultimate Schedule

• First, block off time for your FIXED activities
• class
• work
• meetings

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The Ultimate Schedule

• Second, block off time for your RITUAL activities
• meals
• travel/commute
• sleep
• grooming

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The Ultimate Schedule

• Third, block off time for your PRIORITY
  activities
• studying
• try to schedule 2 hours of study time for each
  hour spent in class
• exercising

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The Ultimate Schedule

• Your FREE time is the time that remains, use it
  for
• watching television
• shopping
• socializing

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Summary

• As time management skills develop, your stress
  and anxiety levels will go down and productivity
  will go up
• Time management tools which include day planners,
  to-do lists, weekly and long-term calendars will
  increase organization and help eliminate
  procrastination

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Homework assignment Apply what youve learned

• Download the Weekly Schedule Sheet
• Using the steps for creating the Ultimate
  Schedule, design your ultimate schedule

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Lesson 4 Memory Techniques

• What well be covering
• things that can effect your ability to remember
  something
• basic memory tips
• strategies to improve your memory

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What can effect your ability to remember
something?

• distractions
• time of day
• your comfort level
• stress
• your interest in the material
• your level of motivation

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Thirteen memory tips

• Learn from general to specific
• Before learning something new, get a general
  overview to use as a framework on which to hang
  specific details

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Thirteen memory tips

• Make it meaningful
• Why is this information relevant? What is the
  value in knowing this?
• If you dont see the value-
• Find it! What kinds of situations could you be
  in that you would need this information?
• Use this as an opportunity to use strategies that
  will make you a better student

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Thirteen memory tips

• Create associations
• Relate what youre learning to something that
  you already know
• Try using analogies and metaphors

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Thirteen memory tips

• Learn actively
• Manipulate or change the information in some way
• Try creating a mind map, diagram, pictures, or
  note cards
• Always put information that youre trying to
  learn into your own words

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Thirteen memory tips

• Reduce distractions
• Turn off music, phone, television

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Thirteen memory tips

• Monitor what youve learned
• Check yourself to make sure that youre learning
• Try self-testing yourself using the review
  questions at the end of the chapter or make up
  your own

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Thirteen memory tips

• Check your attitude and anxiety
• Find yourself thinking how much you hate the
  course or instructor? Know when your attitudes
  and/or anxiety are inhibiting learning and try to
  address them

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Thirteen memory tips

• Turn abstract ideas into concrete examples

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Thirteen memory tips

• Distribute learning
• Use many short sessions for studying instead of
  one long session

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Thirteen memory tips

• Remember something else
• When you get stuck and cant remember something,
  try to remember something that is related to it
  or what you were doing at the time that you
  learned it.

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Thirteen memory tips

• Stay away from studying similar topics at the
  same time to avoid confusion

100
Thirteen memory tips

• Use mnemonics, or memory techniques
• Try creating a song or rhyme to help you remember
• Use acronyms

101
Thirteen memory tips

• Avoid studying material in the same sequence
• Try starting at the end or middle of the material

102
Summary

• By using memory techniques you can take steps to
  learn and remember information more quickly and
  effectively
• Most memory techniques require that you change or
  organize the information that you need to learn.
  Repeated reading of text and notes is often not
  enough.

103
Homework assignment Apply what youve learned

• Pick five concepts that you will be required to
  know in a class
• Apply any memory technique that weve discussed
  to each concept

104
Lesson 5 Note taking

• What well be covering
• what to do before, during, and after class
• picking out main points in a lecture
• the Cornell Method
• mind mapping

105
What to do before class

• Pick the right notebook
• there are numerous advantages to picking a 3-ring
  binder
• handouts can be inserted into the relevant
  sections
• pages of notes can be removed and replaced
• dividers can be used to separate sections or
  topics

106
What to do before class

• Read your textbook
• reading your textbook can help you to understand
  what is being discussed in lecture

107
What to do before class

• Skim the notes from the last class
• this will refresh your memory and focus you for
  the next lesson

108
What to do before class

• Make a commitment to attend all classes
• You may be getting only a partial set of notes if
  you copy from other students
• Note taking is a skill and you may be copying
  from someone who is a poor note taker and not
  realize it

109
What to do during class

• Try to sit in the front, center portion of the
  classroom
• fewer distractions
• can see and hear better
• less likely to doze off

110
What to do during class

• You will need to identify the visual and verbal
  cues given by the professor that indicate an
  important topic is being addressed
• examples of visual cues gesturing, writing on
  board, underlining
• examples of verbal cues repetition, summaries,
  listing

111
Identifying important points

• Think of three additional verbal cues that would
  indicate an important point
• Think of three additional visual cues that would
  indicate an important point

112
What to do during class

• Use a method of note taking
• Use Cornell Method
• Create Mind maps

113
The Cornell Method

• Split page method of note taking
• Allows space for possible exam questions
• Allows space for student reflections and summary
• Good for self-testing

114
Practice using the Cornell Method

• Download a sample page of notes using the Cornell
  Method
• Recopy a page of your notes using the Cornell
  Method

115
Mind Mapping

• Pictorial representation of ideas
• Good for visual learners
• Shows how topics and ideas are related
• Uses both sides of your brain

116
Steps to mind mapping

• Identify the topic of the lecture or reading,
  place in the center and circle it
• Branch out the main ideas, each stemming from the
  main topic
• From each branch, mark key words and examples
• Dont be afraid to personalize it with pictures
  or symbols

117
Mind Mapping Practice

• Download a sample mind map
• Practice creating a mind map

118
What to do during class

• Identify possible exam questions
• Use them to self-test yourself later

119
What to do after class

• Review your notes within 24 hours
• Are they complete?
• Do they make sense?

120
What to do after class

• Identify any questions that you may have and find
  the answers
• Re-copy or re-organize if necessary

121
Note Taking Practice

• Watch this short lecture and use the note taking
  strategies we discussed

122
Summary

• Class notes will be a better study tool for you
  if they have the proper content (the main points
  of a lecture) and are organized in a way that
  makes sense. Try using the methods that we
  discussed to accomplish those two crucial aspects
  of note taking.

123
Lesson 6 Reading Textbooks

• What well be covering
• previewing
• annotating

124
Why preview?

• improves concentration, memory, and understanding
• only takes 5 minutes to preview an entire chapter
• if you dont have enough time to read before
  class, previewing may give you enough information
  to understand what is being discussed

125
Steps to previewing material

• (1) Read the chapter title
• The title announces the topic or subject. Try to
  remember what you already know about the topic.

126
Steps to previewing material

• (2) Read the introduction or first paragraph
• This is a lead-in to the material and will often
  itemize what the chapter will cover. If it is
  long, read only the first 5 or 6 lines.

127
Steps to previewing material

• (3) Read the closing paragraph or chapter summary
• These sections are often used to draw conclusions
  based on the facts that have already been
  presented or to restate key ideas.

128
Steps to previewing material

• (4) Read questions or vocabulary at the end of
  the chapter
• This section is used to test your knowledge of
  the material. Reading them beforehand alerts you
  to what is most important within the chapter.

129
Steps to previewing material

• (5) Read each boldface heading
• Headings separate chapters into main divisions
  and indicate important concepts. By looking at
  these headings, you can detect the organization
  of the chapter and the general approach of the
  author.

130
Steps to previewing material

• (6) Look at any pictures, graphs, or charts
• Pictures, illustrations, or captions may help you
  clarify ideas and give direction to your thinking.

131
Why annotate?

• Have you ever felt that youve been reading for
  hours and cant remember what youve read?
• annotating can keep you focused
• annotations tell you WHY important points are
  important
• download a sample page of annotated text

132
Steps to Annotating Text

• First, preview a chapter or subunit of text
• Next, read one or more paragraphs. Then stop
  (the amount will vary, so judge according to your
  texts difficulty and organization).

133
Steps to Annotating Text

• After reading, go back and underline the key
  word, phrase, or idea to which your annotation
  will refer.
• These key ideas often occur as definitions,
  examples, lists, causes/effects, characteristics,
  similarities/differences, and names/dates.

134
Steps to Annotating Text

• Check your annotations to be sure that they make
  sense and that you are not merely copying the
  text into the margins.
• In order to be most effective, your annotations
  must be in your own words, except in the case of
  technical definitions.

135
Steps to Annotating Text

• If you have no annotating, you should have no
  underlining.

136
Steps to Annotating Text

• Go on to the next paragraph or section.
  Remember, not every section of text will have a
  key concept that should be annotated, but every
  page or section usually does.

137
Summary

• Reading your text numerous times is often not
  enough to insure that you have understood and
  retained the information covered.
• You must actively participate in the reading
  process by thinking about what you already know,
  identifying topics that you dont understand and
  picking out important points that are likely to
  be on a test.

138
Homework assignment Apply what youve learned

• download text

139
Lesson 7 Exam Preparation

• What well be covering
• key elements of exam preparation
• creating and using note cards
• the Eight-day study plan

140
What problems are you currently having with
preparing for exams?

• Take a moment to complete Exam Prep A Self
  Check
• What areas could you improve on?

141
Key elements of exam preparation

• Know what the exam will cover
• If you dont know, then ask. Visit instructors
  office hours or ask over e-mail.

142
Key elements of exam preparation

• Know what type of exam will be given
• Match the method of study to the kind of exam you
  will be given
• (hint you wouldnt use note cards to study for
  an essay exam)

143
Key elements of exam preparation

• Avoid procrastination
• If you wait until the last-minute to study,
  youll remember less and stress more

144
Key elements of exam preparation

• Use memory techniques
• Remember the techniques we discussed?

145
Key elements of exam preparation

• Make sure youve taken adequate notes and read
  the text
• Get any notes that youve missed

146
Key elements of exam preparation

• Have the proper attitude

147
Key elements of exam preparation

• Monitor your anxiety level
• A little anxiety is good, but a lot will hurt
  your performance
• Remember what we talked about in the stress
  management lesson?

148
Key elements of exam preparation

• Dont be afraid to ask questions
• Ask during class, over e-mail, at tutoring and in
  your study group

149
Key elements of exam preparation

• Look for (or create) practice tests and questions

150
Creating and Using Note Cards

• When note cards are a good idea
• when you are a visual learner
• when you will be given an objective test

151
Creating and Using Note Cards

• Using them the right way
• frequently shuffle the cards to keep from
  learning them in order
• use only one concept per card- they arent
  designed to hold more
• use your own words- by putting concepts in your
  own words, youre actively learning while you
  create them
• take out the ones you know until the final
  review- dont waste your time studying things you
  already know

152
The Eight Day Study Plan

• download the Eight-Day Study Plan

153
Summary

• Re-reading your text and notes is often not
  enough to prepare you for an exam. You will need
  to have good study strategies and a good study
  plan.
• Its also important that you know where to go for
  additional help, including instructor office
  hours, tutoring centers and preceptors.

154
Homework assignment Apply what youve learned

• Complete the Eight-Day Study Plan for one of your
  classes
• Download the Eight-Day Study Plan Sheet

155
Lesson 8Test Taking Strategies

• What well be covering
• general test taking strategies
• how to take different kinds of tests
• learning from your mistakes
• what to do when you dont know the answer

156
General test-taking strategies

• Try to ignore other test takers (before and
  during the test)
• Sit in your usual seat, if possible
• Bring all necessary materials

157
General test-taking strategies

• Listen carefully to directions
• If something is vague or hard to read, stop and
  ask the instructor for clarification
• Answer the easiest questions first, mark and
  postpone the harder questions
• Change your answer only if youre absolutely sure
  the second answer is correct

158
General test-taking strategies

• Look over the test and budget your time
  accordingly
• Leave time to review your work

159
Suggestions for objective tests

• Circle or underline clue words like all, every,
  none, always, etc.
• Watch for negatives

160
Suggestions for answering essay questions

• use pencil or erasable pen
• read the questions carefully and underline key
  words
• create an outline in the margin of what youd
  like to say
• begin your answer by rephrasing the question
• in the next sentence announce what youll be
  saying in the rest of your answer
• devote a paragraph to each of the main points

161
Suggestions for answering essay questions

• save time to check for the following
• completeness and clarity
• punctuation and word usage
• spelling
• neatness
• did you answer the question?

162
Suggestions for computational exams

• as soon as you receive your test, jot down any
  formulas you needed to memorize
• try drawing a picture if youre stuck
• try to estimate the answer

163
After the test..learning from your mistakes

• dont just look at WHAT you missed, but look at
  WHY you missed it!
• mastery of information you didnt study properly
  and dont know the material
• thinking gap you misunderstood what you were
  being asked
• method of test taking you made some bad mistakes
  like reading too quickly and missing key words
• reaction to situation test anxiety got the
  better of you

164
Correcting mastery of information mistakes

• Go back and look at how you studied. What do you
  need to change? Did you give yourself enough
  time? Are there other study strategies that would
  work better?

165
Correcting thinking gap mistakes

• Next time, raise your hand and ask your professor
  or t.a. to rephrase the question. Keep asking
  until you feel that you fully understand the
  question.

166
Correcting method of test taking mistakes

• Read/listen to the directions carefully
• Force yourself to slow down and read the
  questions carefully
• Identify the key words in the questions
• Read all answers before you select one

167
Stress reduction and management

• have a study plan
• get some exercise
• proper nutrition
• keep a positive attitude
• get enough rest

168
What can you do when you dont know the answer?

• look for wording in the question that may give
  you an idea
• see if the answer appears somewhere else in the
  exam
• try to eliminate some answers before guessing
• plug in numbers to see if they generate a
  possible solution

169
Summary

• You should approach different kinds of tests in
  different ways. Even if you dont know the
  answer, effective test-taking strategies can
  increase your chances of guessing it.
• If you are not getting the grades that you
  expected, check to see where you are making
  mistakes.

170
Homework assignment Apply what youve learned

• get a copy of a test that youve already taken
• code your mistakes using the categories weve
  discussed
• write a plan of how you plan to address these
  mistakes in the future

171
Lesson 9 Internet Resources

• What well be covering
• how to conduct a search
• some of our favorite sites

172
How to conduct a search
173
Some of our favorite sites
174
Homework assignment Apply what youve learned

• Pick five course topics and find a related
  website information for each. Make sure to write
  down the web address for each.