Preparing for Tests

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Preparing for Tests
success
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Todays Topics

• Look at different types of reviews
• Develop a test-taking routine
• Look at different test-taking strategies
• Reflect on your test performance

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Grades are something many people worry
about.Tests often contribute significantly to
your grades.
Tests fit into previous SKAC topics PACE, Note
taking, Active Reading, Synthesis, to name a few.
Appropriately dealing with tests increases your
success overall. A tests impact doesnt end
when you submit the test paper.
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Awareness Check
How well do you prepare for tests?

• Significance of your score
• You have developed some strategies that
  help you prepare for tests.
• You may be prepared most of the time, but
  you could do better.
• You probably are not satisfied with your
  grades, and would benefit by being better
  prepared for tests.

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In summary

• Tests are not merely a test of your knowledge
  they are also a test of your planning and
  management skills
• Preparing for a test is not something you should
  save until immediately before the test date.
• Were here to help!

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When to study

• Daily - in just 5-10 minutes a day, review each
  course looking at notes and assignments
• Weekly - as time allows, spend 1 hour each
  weekend to review each subject youre studying
• Pre-exam - about 1 week before a test, do a major
  review youre covering several weeks worth of
  material!

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What to study

• Although it may seem obvious, knowing what
  to study - and having those resources available -
  can greatly impact the quality of your test
  answers. It goes without saying that you
  should have taken notes in class, as they form
  one part of the puzzle of what you need to study.

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to
what
study
Graded tests, papers, homework, etc.
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How to study

• One week before your test, set aside some study
  time.
• Dont attempt to do it all in without any breaks!
• Organize your materials.
• Make flashcards if you have a lot of facts,
  dates, terms, etc. to review.
• Make graphic organizers or other study guides.
• Review these materials once a day until D-Day!

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Develop a Test-Taking Routine

• Arrive on Time
• Jot down memory cues
• Survey the test
• Plan and use all of your time
• Read directions

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Develop a Test-Taking Routine

• Do easy questions first
• Skip and return to difficult questions
• Guess if there is no penalty
• Control your feelings attention
• Maintain a positive attitude

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Develop aTest-Taking Routine

• Check your work
• Learn from your mistakes

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• Turn to your handout and answer the questions
  under the heading Discover your own best way to
  prepare.
• After you finish, make a few notes of what you
  think you should do, based on your answers.

Photo credit Swamibu (Flickr)
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Your own best way

• May change over time
• Probably depends on a number of things
  familiarity with different study methods
  knowledge of your own preferences, among others
• Is something you should think about from time to
  timeAm I studying in the most effective way for
  me?

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Master Objective Tests

• a few strategies to keep on hand

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Master Objective Tests

• Assume a statement is false if it contains
  absolute words.
• Assume a statement is false if any part of it is
  false.

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True-False Quiz!

• Use those strategies!

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Master Objective Tests

• If youre sure, answer mentally, and check each
  option to find the right one
• If unsure, eliminate all the bad options
• If you dont know, guess

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Master Objective Tests

• Decide what kind of answer is needed
• Look at the way the statement is written to find
  clues to the answer
• Scan the statement for keywords

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Using guessing strategies

• Get ready, get set...

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Master Objective Tests

• Know how many sections there are, and whether you
  have to write essays
• Find out whether it is timed, and how long
• If theres an essay, practice writing in a timed
  situation

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Master Objective Tests

• Get a good nights sleep, eat a nourishing
  breakfast, arrive with a positive frame of mind
• During breaks between sections, stand up or
  stretch - makes you alert
• Plan your time, use extra time to proofread

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Master Open-Ended Tests

• Strategies for tackling them

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Open-Ended / Essay Tests

• What type of test is it? Short answer? Essay?
  Paragraph response?
• Recall Blooms Taxonomy of Thinking
• What kind of thinking does this test/question
  require?
• Look for clues in the question
• Jot notes on the back, or another paper, to
  generate key points, an outline

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Blooms Taxonomy of Cognition

1. Knowledge. What are the health benefits of eating
   apples?
2. Comprehension. Compare the benefits of eating
   apples to eating oranges.
3. Application. What kinds of apples are best for
   baking a pie?
4. Analysis. Describe four ways of baking pies.
5. Synthesis. Convert an unhealthy apple pie recipe
   to a healthy one.
6. Evaluation. Do you feel that serving apple pie as
   a snack is healthy for children?

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Answer Essay Questions with Confidence

• Read be sure you understand the question
• Look for instruction words
• Concentrate on being brief precise
• Stay on topic avoid opinions unless asked
• Restate the question in your answer

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Sample Essay Question

• with answer!

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Define memory and illustrate your definition with
examples.

• Memory is a mental process that
  occurs in three stages record, retain, and
  recall. Information comes in through your fives
  senses. Most of this information you will forget
  unless you record it in your short-term memory
  through selective attention. Short-term memory
  is fleeting. It enables you to remember a phone
  number you have looked up long enough to call it
  or the name of someone you met at a party long
  enough to introduce them to someone else. To
  retain information longer, you must transfer it
  from short-term memory to long-term memory. You
  can do this by using or reviewing the
  information. Long-term memory can be permanent.
  For example, you never forget your birthday. In
  the recall stage you retrieve information you
  have stored, much as you would retrieve a file
  from your hard drive.

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Instruction Words

• Have a look

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Finally, reflect

• After your test, reflect
• Mentally review your answers confidence level
• Write down areas you were worried about review
  them
• After you receive your results
• Look for patterns in any questions you got wrong
• Make a study plan for future tests
• Note any suggestions the marker gave you