College Study Tip | School Test Guide | Good Study Skills

College Study Tip | School Test Guide | Good Study Skills | Improve Study Skills |

Tips for Better Test Taking

A child should be approached with reverence

Bronson Alcott, American

...as well as the child in each of us

When you take a test,

you are demonstrating your ability to understand course material or perform certain tasks. Successful test taking avoids carelessness.

Examples of objective tests are true-false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank.

Examples of subjective texts are short answer, essay, or oral exams

NB: If you have any doubts about the fairness of tests,

or of the ability of tests to measure your performance,

please see your academic counseling service.

These suggestions may help you avoid careless errors!

Prepare:

Analyze your past test results

Each test can further prepare you for the next test.

Use your tests to review when studying for final exams

Arrive early for tests

Bring all the materials you will need such as pencils and pens, a calculator, a dictionary, and a watch.

This helps you focus on the task at hand

Be comfortable but alert

Choose a good spot and make sure you have enough room to work, maintain comfortable posture but don't "slouch"

Stay relaxed and confident

Remind yourself that you are well-prepared and are going to do well. If you find yourself anxious, take several slow, deep breaths to relax

Don't talk about the test to other students just before it; anxiety is contagious

Test Taking:

Read the directions carefully

This may be obvious, but it will help you avoid careless errors

If there is time, quickly look through the test for an overview

Note key terms, jot down brief notes

Answer questions in a strategic order:

First easy questions

to build confidence, score points, and mentally orient yourself to vocabulary, concepts, and your studies (it may help you make associations with more difficult questions)

Then difficult questions or those with the most point value

With objective tests, first eliminate those answers you know to be wrong, or are likely to be wrong, don't seem to fit, or where two options are so similar as to be both incorrect

With essay/subjective questions, broadly outline your answer and sequence the order of your points

Review:

Resist the urge to leave as soon as you have completed all the items

Review your test to make sure that you have answered all questions, not mis-marked the answer sheet, or made some other simple mistake

Proofread your writing for spelling, grammar, punctuation, decimal points, etc.

Change answers to questions if you originally misread them

or if you have encountered information elsewhere in the test that indicates that your first choice is incorrect

Decide on and adopt study strategies that worked best for you

Identify those that didn't work well and replace them.