|
Test Taking Strategies
In this section we will cover some general test taking strategies, how to approach different kinds of tests, and how to learn from past mistakes.
General Strategies
- Bring all necessary materials.
- Try to sit in your normal seat.
- Listen carefully and read all directions carefully. If something is vague or hard to read, ask the instructor for clarification.
- Find out if you are penalized for wrong answers. If that is the case, avoid guessing.
- Ignore other test takers (before and during the test).
- At the beginning of the test, write down all the formulas or information that is still fresh on your mind on a piece of scratch paper or on test itself.
- Look over the test first and budget your time appropriately.
- Answer easy questions first, mark and postpone the harder questions. Only change your answer if you are absolutely sure that you know the correct one.
- Use extra time at the end to review your work.
Don’t know the answer?
There are bound to be problems that you just do not know the answer to. If this occurs, try to remember these simple steps to make a reasonable guess.
|
- Look for key words that might give you an idea. Options that have the words never, always, sometimes are usually NOT the correct answer.
- Rule out answers you know are wrong.
- Look through the test. Sometimes questions in the test are partially answered in another question.
- Guessing and then trying to check your guess on a math-related problem takes a lot of time. Save this strategy for toward the end of the test.
- Lengthy answers are that way for a reason. Try to choose the longest.
- If there are two similar options, disregard them.
- If there are two options that are the opposite of each other, choose one of them. The most general one is usually the right one.
|
