The Art of Test Taking

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The Art of Test Taking
By Dr. Dolores Kiesler
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Pre-test Strategies Test Strategies
Post Test Strategies
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Pre-Test Strategies

• Be organized

• Rewrite notes

• Study with Others

• Spread out your study time

• Ask the Instructor about the Test Format

• Make and Use Practice Questions

• Practice Solving Problems/Answering Questions

• Memorize specific facts/formulas/dates

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More Pre-test Strategies

• Get a Good Nights Sleep

• Have Someone Quiz You

• Review in a Quiet Place before the Test

• Take Needed Items to the Test Paper,
  pen/pencil, notes,
• calculator, textbook

• Dont arrive too early if you have a lot of
  anxiety

• Dont listen to other peoples anxiety/fears

• Dont be late to the class

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Test Strategies

• Listen carefully to the instructors directions
  prior to the test
• Ask questions of clarification
• Turn your paper over and write acronyms, dates,
  names that you memorized
• Scan through the entire test
• Note number of points per section
• Allocate time
• Read instructions carefully
• Begin with T/F, matching, multiple choice

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• Answer questions you know and skip over ones you
  dont know
• Hold to your time allocations
• Keep moving forward
• Dont second guess yourself
• If you are running out of time, outline the
  remaining essay questions.
• Reread essay questions before submitting
• Go back and fill in skipped questions
• Make educated guesses if appropriate

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Post-Test Strategies

• Look through notes and textbooks for answers you
  did not
• know note these for final exam
• Learn from your mistakes
• --what did you not study?
• --what did you not expect about the test?
• --what did you forget and why?
• Pay close attention to the instructors comments
  
• when he or she returns the test
• Reward yourself

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Test Hints When All Else Fails!
T/F Watch for words like always, never
Multiple choice Eliminate answers you know are
wrong Read ALL the choices before answering
Fill in the blank Look for subject/verb
agreement, the article used, etc.
Essays Reword the question as your first
sentence Make a brief outline of the
answer Note how many points relative to other
essays
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Sample Essay Questions
List the ten stages of the developing mosquito
larva. (10)
In a paragraph, name and define the five steps of
the satellite launching sequence. (15)
During World War I, there were several European
leaders who were instrumental in the direction
the war and the rebuilding took. Choose two of
these leaders and discuss the effects they had
both on the war and on the rebuilding efforts.
(20)