Preparing for Tests

From 가 to 하

(From A to Z)

successsuccess

Today’s Topics

• Look at different types of reviews

• Develop a test-taking routine

• Look at different test-taking strategies

• Reflect on your test performance

Grades are something many people worry about.

Tests often contribute significantly to your grades.

Appropriately

dealing with tests increases

your success

overall.

A test’s impact

doesn’t end when you submit the test

paper.

Tests fit into previous

SKAC topics:

PACE, Note taking, Active

Reading, Synthesis, to name a few.

Awareness CheckHow well do you prepare for tests?

Significance of your score:

• You have developed some strategies that help you prepare for tests.

• You may be prepared most of the time, but you could do better.

• You probably are not satisfied with your grades, and would benefit by being better prepared for tests.

In summary

• Tests are not merely a test of your knowledge; they are also a test of your planning and management skills

• Preparing for a test is not something you should save until immediately before the test date.

• We’re here to help!

When to study

• Daily - in just 5-10 minutes a day, review each course looking at notes and assignments

• Weekly - as time allows, spend ~1 hour each weekend to review each subject you’re studying

• Pre-exam - about 1 week before a test, do a major review; you’re covering several weeks’ worth of material!

What to study

Although it may seem obvious, knowing what to

study - and having those resources available - can

greatly impact the quality of your test answers.

It goes without saying that you should have taken

notes in class, as they form one part of the puzzle of

what you need to study.

Textbook chapters

Graded tests,

papers,

homework,

etc.

whatwhat totostudystudy

How to study

• One week before your test, set aside some study time.

• Don’t attempt to do it all in without any breaks!

• Organize your materials.

• Make flashcards if you have a lot of facts, dates, terms, etc. to review.

• Make graphic organizers or other study guides.

• Review these materials once a day until D-Day!

Develop a Test-Taking Routine

• Arrive on Time

• Jot down memory cues

• Survey the test

• Plan and use all of your time

• Read directions

Before the test

Develop a Test-Taking Routine

• Do easy questions first

• Skip and return to difficult questions

• Guess if there is no penalty

• Control your feelings & attention

• Maintain a positive attitude

During the test

Develop aTest-Taking Routine

• Check your work

• Learn from your mistakes

After the test

Turn to your handout and answer the

questions under the heading “Discover your own best way

to prepare.”

After you finish, make a few notes of what you think you should

do, based on your answers.

Photo credit: Swamibu (Flickr)

Your own best way

• May change over time

• Probably depends on a number of things: familiarity with different study methods & knowledge of your own preferences, among others

• Is something you should think about from time to time“Am I studying in the most effective way for me?”

Master Objective

Testsa few strategies to keep on

hand

Master Objective Tests

• Assume a statement is false if it contains absolute words.

• Assume a statement is false if any part of it is false.

True-False Quiz!

Use those strategies!

Master Objective Tests

• If you’re sure, answer mentally, and check each option to find the right one

• If unsure, eliminate all the bad options

• If you don’t know, guess

Master Objective Tests

• Decide what kind of answer is needed

• Look at the way the statement is written to find clues to the answer

• Scan the statement for keywords

Using guessing strategiesGet ready, get set...

Master Objective Tests

• Know how many sections there are, and whether you have to write essays

• Find out whether it is timed, and how long

• If there’s an essay, practice writing in a timed situation

Standardized

Tests

Master Objective Tests

• Get a good night’s sleep, eat a nourishing breakfast, arrive with a positive frame of mind

• During breaks between sections, stand up or stretch - makes you alert

• Plan your time, use extra time to proofread

Standardized

Tests

Master Open-Ended Tests

Strategies for tackling them

Open-Ended / Essay Tests

• What type of test is it? Short answer? Essay? Paragraph response?

• Recall Bloom’s Taxonomy of Thinking

• What kind of thinking does this test/question require?

• Look for clues in the question

• Jot notes on the back, or another paper, to generate key points, & an outline

Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognition

1. Knowledge. What are the health benefits of eating apples?

2. Comprehension. Compare the benefits of eating apples to eating oranges.

3. Application. What kinds of apples are best for baking a pie?

4. Analysis. Describe four ways of baking pies.

5. Synthesis. Convert an unhealthy apple pie recipe to a healthy one.

6. Evaluation. Do you feel that serving apple pie as a snack is healthy for children?

Answer Essay Questions with Confidence

• Read & be sure you understand the question

• Look for instruction words

• Concentrate on being brief & precise

• Stay on topic; avoid opinions unless asked

• Restate the question in your answer

Sample Essay Question

with answer!

Define memory and illustrate your definition with examples.

Memory is a mental process that occurs in three stages: record, retain, and recall. Information comes in through your fives senses. Most of this information you will forget unless you record it in your short-term memory through selective attention. Short-term memory is fleeting. It enables you to remember a phone number you have looked up long enough to call it or the name of someone you met at a party long enough to introduce them to someone else. To retain information longer, you must transfer it from short-term memory to long-term memory. You can do this by using or reviewing the information. Long-term memory can be permanent. For example, you never forget your birthday. In the recall stage you retrieve information you have stored, much as you would retrieve a file from your hard drive.

Instruction WordsHave a look

Finally, reflect

• After your test, reflect:

• Mentally review your answers & confidence level

• Write down areas you were worried about; review them

• After you receive your results:

• Look for patterns in any questions you got wrong

• Make a study plan for future tests

• Note any suggestions the marker gave you