Study Skills, Test-Taking Skills, and Test Anxiety

How to Prepare for Trimester Exams

Planning for Success

NO ONE PLANS TO FAIL…

THEY JUST FAIL TO PLAN

If you don’t have a study plan, you will not perform your best

Persistent and responsible students achieve higher grades and score higher on tests

Managing your study time is a key to success

Question: When should I study?

Answer:Review daily – keep information current in

your mindSchedule weekly study timesAVOID CRAMMING!

• The night before the test, you should only have to study difficult concepts and review main ideas and vocabulary terms but NOT re-read the textbook or memorize your notes

Rule of thumb:REPETITION AIDS RETENTION

Question: Where should I study?

Answer:Find a comfortable (but not too comfortable)

space with good lightingMake sure it is clean and unclutteredStudy in a place with limited distractions

Other helpful tips:Have all materials you need

before you begin to studyBe aware of when you become

distracted and when you may

need to take a break

Question: What should I study?

Answer:Listen carefully in class during the week of

exams and take notes on what your teacher says is important to remember or study

If your teacher gives you a study guide, study and know the information on it – if you know this information, you should do well on the exam

If your teacher does not give you a study guide, make sure you listen to what chapters, notes, or assignments your teacher tells

you to study, and if you are not

sure of what to study, ask!

Question: How should I study?

Answer:Skim through textbooks and read through

notes – try reading them aloudRe-write notes and chapter summaries

• Examples: outlines, lists, flow charts, websReview study guides and quizzesMake flashcards for terms and key conceptsLook for connections with what you already

knowAttend review periods held by

your teacherOrganize a study group with

your friends – teach each other

Information About Learning and MemoryInteresting facts:

• You remember:10% of what you read20% of what you hear30% of what you see50% of what you see and hear70% of what you say90% of what you say and do

Rule of thumb:To remember as much as possible for exams, you should be TALKING and DOING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES!

General Test-Taking Strategies

Glance through the entire test before you begin Write down memory aids, formulas, equations,

facts, or material you may forget in the margins If you do not understand the directions or a

question, raise your hand or go to your teacher and ask for help

Be sure you read the question carefully and that you are responding to the question asked

Pace yourself – don’t spend too

much time on any one question – when

stuck, do your best and move on Answer the easiest questions first,

then go back to questions you skipped

General Test-Taking Strategies (cont.) Underline the details to help you focus on the

important points of difficult questions Visualize your notes, webs, flashcards, study

guides, etc. when thinking about answers Check for clues in other test questions If you are unsure of an answer, mark the

item with a “?” so you know to return to it later Don’t spend time rewriting answers or

worrying about neatness Don’t worry about who is

finished before you Check all your answers before

you turn in your test

Strategies for Multiple Choice Questions

Read the ENTIRE question and ALL answer choices before marking an answer

Underline key words in the question Cross out choices you know are incorrect Plug in your answer – make sure it makes sense Do not change your answers unless you are

certain your first answer choice is incorrect – in general, your first instinct is usually correct

Don’t look for answer patterns Answer every question, and if

you are unsure, make the most

intelligent guess you can – don’t

leave any items blank!

Strategies for True/False Questions Read each question carefully Words such as no, none, never, every, only, all,

and always tend to appear in statements that are FALSE• Example:

True or False? It always snows in winter in St. Louis.

Words such as usually, not usually, most, some, generally, ordinarily, seldom, occasionally, often, sometimes, and many tend to appear in TRUE statements• Example:

True or False? It often snows in

winter in St. Louis.

Strategies for Matching Questions Count the number of items in each column

to see if they are equal Complete the items you know for sure first

and complete the most difficult items last Through the process of elimination, you may

be able to correctly answer some items you don’t know

Use grammar to help you – match verbs with verbs and nouns with nouns

Cross out items in each column after

you use them

Strategies for Short Answer and Fill-in-the-Blank Questions Questions usually ask for definitions or short

descriptions Focus on key words and facts Follow directions carefully – if asked to write

in complete sentences, make sure you do Keep your answers brief – do not add extra

“filler” If a word bank is available for fill-in-the-

blank items, count the number of blanks

and the number of words in the word

bank – cross out terms as you use

them

Strategies for Essay Questions Read carefully, be sure you know exactly what

each question means, and answer all parts of the question

Pay close attention to signal words, such as explain, describe, interpret, compare, or contrast

These questions will likely take you longer to complete, so plan your time wisely

These questions are often worth more points because there are more parts to each question

Plan your answers before you begin writing• Make an outline, list, or web of ideas

If you only know part of an answer,

write it down – you may get partial

credit

Strategies for Open Book/Open Note Exams These are generally the most difficult types of

tests Don’t assume you don’t need to study While studying, write down key ideas and

formulas in your notes so you don’t have to look for them later

Organize and color code your notes so that information is easy to find

Use paperclips or tabs to mark important pages in your book so you

don’t waste time flipping pages

Tips for Avoiding and Overcoming Test Anxiety Be prepared by studying a little each night Don’t wait until the last minute to study or ask

for help Ask a parent or friend to quiz you with practice

tests Arrive a little bit early to class Think positive thoughts Visualize yourself in a peaceful place Relax your muscles Take several deep breaths

The Night and Morning Before Exams

The night before:Review key concepts and any information

that you have found difficult to rememberGo to bed early, or at least on time, to make

sure you get plenty of sleep

The morning before:Eat a good breakfastThink positively Try to leave home a little earlier than usual

so that you arrive at school with plenty of time before exams begin

Key Points to Remember No one plans to fail, they just fail to plan

• Having a study plan in place will ensure that you are prepared, and when prepared, you will not fail

Review study guides and study materials for short periods every day – don’t wait until the last minute!

To maximize your memory for test material, recite information aloud, participate in study groups, and engage in hands-on activities• Remember: You learn and remember the most from

SAYING and DOING at the same time

When stressed, relax and breathe deeply Read exam items carefully, ask for help when

needed, pace yourself, and check your work

GOOD LUCK WITH 1ST TRIMESTER EXAMS!

Questions or Comments?

Remember to contact your teacher, advisor,

or Mrs. O’Toole with any study or exam questions