Test-Taking Strategies

Energy Can Be Used For:

• Power

• Worry

The Worry Circle

• Reality• Do Nothing• Imagine what might

happen• Use energy to feed worry.

Slow breathing• Little energy left to study.• More worry, more fear,

less energy.• Do Nothing• REPEAT

Preparing for the Exam

• What should I study?– Review sheets—do them!– Old tests/quizzes-cover the answers and try– Class notes--rewrite– Rework math problems– Stay active—don’t just stare at the book!– Teachers may give exact essay questions

before the test. Prepare an outline.

Planning Your Study Time

• Prepare for exams in the order they will be given.

• Don’t wait until the night before the exam to begin preparations.

• After you complete the review sheets, save some time to actually LEARN and UNDERSTAND the material.

The Day of the Exam

• Make sure you have had enough sleep.

• Eat breakfast, even if you normally do not.

• Have all supplies necessary:– #2 pencils– Pens– Review sheet– Calculator (If you borrow one, make sure you

know how to use it)

When the Teacher Distributes the Exam

• LISTEN to instructions. There are often changes/typos to correct.

• Sometimes teachers will work a problem or two.• If the teacher goes through the exam, follow

along and make notes about special instructions given.

• Make sure you find out which questions have the highest point values.

• Budget your time.

Starting the Test

• Take some deep breaths to calm you.• Do the easiest sections first. It’s the

number correct that counts. Save the hardest sections until the end.

• Ask ahead of time if extra time is available.• Read the directions carefully for each

section.• Give more time to those questions that

give more credit.

General Hints

• If you come to a question you don’t understand, mark it and come back to it.

• There may be clues on the test to help you answer questions that have you stumped.

• Place an “X” on the bottom of each page that is fully complete.

• Re-read your test for careless mistakes before submitting it.

• Never leave an answer blank; always guess.

True/False Tests

• Never leave an answer blank.

• Hints to use if you must guess:– The statement must be completely true to be

marked true.– Your first guess is usually correct.– Don’t change your answer unless you are

sure it is incorrect.– The longer the statement, the more likely it is

true.

True/False Tests

• Statements that contain these words (weasel words) are more likely to be TRUE:– May more many– Might less most– Should generally– Usually often– Few some– Seldom frequently

True/False

• Statements that contain these words (absolutes) are more likely to be FALSE:– Always only– Never entirely– All never– None best– No

Practice True/False

• 1. Societies are always made up of human beings.

• 2. Man may be distinguished from other animals by his ability to walk.

• 3. All hard work leads to success.

• 4. All races are alike in that no race as a whole is the same.

• 5. Hard work might lead to success.

More

• 6. All minerals tend to be crystals.• 7. Some minerals tend to form crystals.• 8. The Statue of Liberty is in New York

City, the capital of New York.• 9. The Golden Gate Bridge is in San

Francisco, but the Empire State Building is not in New York.

• 10. Applying test taking strategies may improve your grades.

Multiple Choice Tests

• Underline all key words in the question. • Try to re-phrase and ask, “What is the question

asking?”• Read ALL choices, even if you think the answer

is “A”. (mulitple/multiple guess)• Use the process of elimination. What answers

are not right?• Use inference and other parts of the test.• If you must guess, guess the longest answer if

one is noticeably longer.

Practice MC

• An important Atlantic seaport is:– A. Chicago– B. Miami– C. Knoxville– D. San Diego

• The name of the 38th president of the US is:– A, Abe Lincoln– B, George W. Bush– C. Harry Truman– D. Gerald Ford

• The “E” in the scientific method process stands for:– A. Element– B. Eliminate– C. Energy– D. Experiment