College Test Taking College Test Taking Chapter 9Chapter 9

To assign a grade, professor needs to To assign a grade, professor needs to find out how much you know! find out how much you know! test test determines level of knowledge and determines level of knowledge and understandingunderstanding

Following information designed to aid Following information designed to aid you in doing your very best…you in doing your very best…

Source: http://www.clt.astate.edu/rgrippo/chapter%209%20%20%20Taking%20Tests.ppt

First & Foremost…First & Foremost…Put the test in perspective Put the test in perspective one test one test will not break or break your college will not break or break your college career.career.

Of course, you want to do your best, so Of course, you want to do your best, so remember:remember:

1.1. BE PREPARED. BE PREPARED.

2.2. Know that you can pass the test with flying Know that you can pass the test with flying colors if you achieve #1colors if you achieve #1

3.3. Relax, you will do better on the test if you are Relax, you will do better on the test if you are not tense (again, have to achieve #1).not tense (again, have to achieve #1).

Planning Your Approach to Taking A Planning Your Approach to Taking A TestTest

Prepare physically for the exam.Prepare physically for the exam.

Prepare mentally for the exam.Prepare mentally for the exam.

Find out about the test Find out about the test know know what is expected of you.what is expected of you.

Design an exam plan (manage Design an exam plan (manage your time during test).your time during test).

Join a study group (or form one Join a study group (or form one yourself).yourself).

Use tutoring and other campus Use tutoring and other campus support resources. support resources.

Tips for Taking TestsTips for Taking TestsGet a good night’s sleep, Get a good night’s sleep, eat a hearty breakfast.eat a hearty breakfast.Bring necessary supplies Bring necessary supplies to class (including a to class (including a watch!).watch!).Relax and control your Relax and control your breathing as test is breathing as test is handed out.handed out.Begin by previewing the Begin by previewing the entire test.entire test.Ask any questions Ask any questions regarding the regarding the instructions.instructions.

Don’t linger on hard Don’t linger on hard questions – move on.questions – move on.Don’t get distracted by Don’t get distracted by others finishing before others finishing before you (ignore them you (ignore them do do not look up!).not look up!).Use clues in one part of Use clues in one part of test to jog your test to jog your memory in another memory in another part.part.Check your answers Check your answers before handing test in.before handing test in.

Don’t let it get to you:Don’t let it get to you:Control Your Test AnxietyControl Your Test Anxiety

Manage your pre-test time wisely.Manage your pre-test time wisely.Re-program: Talk positively to Re-program: Talk positively to yourself.yourself.Eat well & get some exercise.Eat well & get some exercise.Don’t use drugs in an attempt to Don’t use drugs in an attempt to reduce anxiety. Better to do reduce anxiety. Better to do breathing exercises.breathing exercises.Find support: a friend, a tutor or an Find support: a friend, a tutor or an instructor.instructor.Keep the test in perspective.Keep the test in perspective.Know that you are ready!Know that you are ready!

It’s only a test.

Chill out!

Know What to Expect: Be Know What to Expect: Be Ready!Ready!

Will you be able to sit in your Will you be able to sit in your usual seat (need to arrive usual seat (need to arrive early)?early)?Will your instructor be present? Will your instructor be present? Ask instructor about the test: Ask instructor about the test: when? How long? How many when? How long? How many and type of questions?and type of questions?What do other students say What do other students say about instructors tests?about instructors tests?What will security be like?What will security be like?Are you penalized for guessing Are you penalized for guessing (usually not)?(usually not)?

Avoid Cramming for TestsAvoid Cramming for Tests

Keep up with the syllabus Keep up with the syllabus know exam dates.know exam dates.Make a study plan for each Make a study plan for each exam.exam.Keep up with assigned readingsKeep up with assigned readingsReview class notes regularly.Review class notes regularly.Reward yourself for preparing Reward yourself for preparing productively.productively.Plan to reserve the night before Plan to reserve the night before for concentrated study.for concentrated study.A little at a time is much better A little at a time is much better than all at once.than all at once.

But If You Have No ChoiceBut If You Have No Choice, , Cram Cram StrategicallyStrategically

Ideas for last-minute concentrated study:Ideas for last-minute concentrated study:

Clear the decks: no distractions.Clear the decks: no distractions.

Use textbook study aids (CD, websites, Use textbook study aids (CD, websites, etc).etc).

Skim for highlights & main ideas.Skim for highlights & main ideas.

Divide and conquer: one thing at a time.Divide and conquer: one thing at a time.

Bring required academic supplies.Bring required academic supplies.

Bring supplies for your spirit: candy, Bring supplies for your spirit: candy, gum, gum,

etc.etc.

Organize your resources. Organize your resources.

Get some decent sleep (no more than 2 Get some decent sleep (no more than 2 hours less than you usually sleep).hours less than you usually sleep).

Strategies for Taking Various Types of TestsStrategies for Taking Various Types of Tests

One strategy that works for One strategy that works for almost all tests:almost all tests:– If an answer comes quickly, go If an answer comes quickly, go

with it!with it!– If you’re really not sure, come If you’re really not sure, come

back to it later (mark 1back to it later (mark 1stst).).

Otherwise, different tests Otherwise, different tests have different strategies:have different strategies:– Objective testsObjective tests– Subjective testsSubjective tests

Should I or shouldn’t

I ?

Objective & Subjective TestsObjective & Subjective Tests

Objective tests Objective tests includeinclude – multiple choicemultiple choice– matchingmatching– true-falsetrue-false– fill in the blankfill in the blank

Subjective testsSubjective tests– Short answerShort answer– Essay questionsEssay questions

Good study strategies Good study strategies include:include:– using flash cardsusing flash cards– making a concept making a concept

vocabulary listvocabulary list– reviewing your text’s reviewing your text’s

study guidestudy guide– reviewing your notesreviewing your notes– work with a tutorwork with a tutor– join a study groupjoin a study group

Multiple Choice StrategiesMultiple Choice StrategiesRead the question carefully and Read the question carefully and try to try to answer it before you read the choices.answer it before you read the choices.

Cross out wrong answers.Cross out wrong answers.

Mark answers clearly and consistently.Mark answers clearly and consistently.

Change answers cautiously. Beware of Change answers cautiously. Beware of second-guessing yourself.second-guessing yourself.

Read Read allall the options before making a the options before making a choice.choice.

If you don’t know an answer, move on If you don’t know an answer, move on and come back later.and come back later.

If all else fails, make an educated guess!! If all else fails, make an educated guess!!

NEVER leave a question totally NEVER leave a question totally unanswered unanswered cannot possibly get any cannot possibly get any creditcredit

True-False StrategiesTrue-False StrategiesRead the question carefully.Read the question carefully.

Go with your hunch.Go with your hunch.

Watch for key words:Watch for key words:– Absolutes (never, always, Absolutes (never, always,

etc.) are probably falseetc.) are probably false– Relatives (some, etc.) are Relatives (some, etc.) are

probably trueprobably true– Double negatives – not Double negatives – not

untruthful, etc.untruthful, etc.

If a part of it is false, If a part of it is false, all of itall of it is false.is false.

Answer all questions unless Answer all questions unless

there is penalty forthere is penalty for guessing.guessing.

Do, or Do Not.

There is no Try!

Fill-in-the-Blank StrategiesFill-in-the-Blank Strategies

Read thoroughly to be sure of what is Read thoroughly to be sure of what is being asked.being asked.Be brief and specific.Be brief and specific.Give an answer for every blank.Give an answer for every blank.Short blanks may have long answers Short blanks may have long answers and vice versa. Don’t assume and vice versa. Don’t assume anything.anything.Remember an “a” before a blank Remember an “a” before a blank wants a consonant word and “an” a wants a consonant word and “an” a vowel word.vowel word.Watch (underline) key “trigger” words.Watch (underline) key “trigger” words.

And the magic word is _______ I knew it all the time!

Short Answer Short Answer StrategiesStrategies

These questions demonstrate These questions demonstrate how well you can briefly how well you can briefly explain concepts.explain concepts.Write clear, logical, and Write clear, logical, and briefbrief answers.answers.Writing more than asked for or Writing more than asked for or including information not including information not asked for suggests that you do asked for suggests that you do not understand the concepts not understand the concepts (points off! Dang!).(points off! Dang!).Items in other parts of test Items in other parts of test may provide clues to help you may provide clues to help you answer questions that stump answer questions that stump you.you.

Iknewthat!

Essay Question StrategiesEssay Question StrategiesRead the question Read the question carefully.carefully.What is the question What is the question asking for?asking for?Outline the key ideas.Outline the key ideas.Refer specifically to Refer specifically to the question in your the question in your opening sentence.opening sentence.Make a clear, coherent Make a clear, coherent thesis statement.thesis statement.Develop the main Develop the main body of the essay to body of the essay to support your thesis support your thesis statement.statement.

Conclude by Conclude by summarizing how your summarizing how your thesis is supported.thesis is supported.Watch grammar, Watch grammar, spelling and spelling and punctuation.punctuation.Use humor if it fits in.Use humor if it fits in.Be sure you have Be sure you have completely answered completely answered the question.the question.Write legibly.Write legibly.Proofread your work.Proofread your work.

Okay, you flunked it!Okay, you flunked it!Now recover your balance.Now recover your balance.

Don’t let yourself become undone Don’t let yourself become undone by one failure.by one failure.

Use the disappointment to Use the disappointment to critically think aboutcritically think about– the causes of the poor the causes of the poor

performanceperformance– crafting new strategies to crafting new strategies to

improve your situation.improve your situation.

Begin by reviewing your test Begin by reviewing your test results.results.

Talk to your instructor or a tutor.Talk to your instructor or a tutor.

Knowing When to Knowing When to ChallengeChallenge

Check to see that your grade has Check to see that your grade has been calculated correctly.been calculated correctly.Identify questions that were not Identify questions that were not clearly written.clearly written.Ask for a grade change ifAsk for a grade change if– you believe the instructor you believe the instructor

misunderstood youmisunderstood you– the instructor made a actual error in the instructor made a actual error in

calculating your score.calculating your score.

Remember, instructors are Remember, instructors are unlikely to change a grade without unlikely to change a grade without good reason.good reason.

Sure, I’ll look at it.

We all make mistakes.

Handle Handle Emergencies Emergencies HonestlyHonestly

Sometimes life happens and things get in the Sometimes life happens and things get in the way of test taking. Example: way of test taking. Example: severesevere illness, sick illness, sick children, and car accidents can cause you to children, and car accidents can cause you to miss an exam.miss an exam.

Call your instructor Call your instructor beforebefore the test to explain the test to explain your situation.your situation.

Ask if you can take a make-up exam in a Ask if you can take a make-up exam in a courteous and respectful manner.courteous and respectful manner.

Be prepared to document the cause of your Be prepared to document the cause of your absence.absence.

Know the make-up policy in advanceKnow the make-up policy in advance

Tempted to cheat? Tempted to cheat? Resist the ImpulseResist the Impulse

Cheating can have ugly consequences:Cheating can have ugly consequences:Cheaters struggle with a nagging conscience, Cheaters struggle with a nagging conscience, self-doubt, dissatisfaction, and guilt.self-doubt, dissatisfaction, and guilt.Humiliation results if you get caught.Humiliation results if you get caught.Repercussions at ASU range from a “0” on Repercussions at ASU range from a “0” on your exam to being expelled permanently.your exam to being expelled permanently.Professors who catch you cheating may seem Professors who catch you cheating may seem to do nothing but spread the word and all to do nothing but spread the word and all professors may refuse to write letters of professors may refuse to write letters of recommendation, ruining chances for graduate recommendation, ruining chances for graduate study or participation in special programs.study or participation in special programs.And remember the person you cheat the most And remember the person you cheat the most is yourself.is yourself.

Finally, one more time:Finally, one more time:The Big ThreeThe Big Three

Be prepared!Be prepared!

Relax!Relax!

Know you can Know you can do it!do it!