College 101 – Blog 7 or 8: Test-taking Strategies

If you do not know the material, all the test-taking strategies in the world will not help.  But there are things you can do to be a wise test-taker:

General:

• Look at the whole test before you start so you have an idea of what to expect.
• Plan your time.   For example, if there are four essay questions, divide your time in quarters.  If it is half essay and half multiple choice (MC), divide your time accordingly.
• Use the test to help you answer.  If you have both the essay and MC at the same time, you can use some of the MC questions and answers to prompt your memory for the essay.  (It is possible you will not be able to have both of these parts at the same time to avoid this strategy.  Professors were once students too!)
• If you are anxious, take a deep breath before starting.
• If on scantron, frequently be sure you are on the correct number!

 Essay:

• Read the prompt twice.  Mark-up if allowed to highlight the main points you are to address.
• Take a minute to plan your answer – sometimes if you just jump in and start to write you end up in corner!   If possible, make a quick outline in corner of test page.
• Answer points from prompt in the order they appear.
• Use signal words to help your professor follow along.
• Remember that your job is to show how much you know.  Don’t leave out important information because the professor already knows it!
• If time, reread.

 Multiple Choice:

• If you don’t know the first question, skip and start with one you know.  Once you access your background knowledge you will begin to remember more.
• Use process of elimination – cross off wrong answers.
• Look for best answer – there may be more than one that fits.
• If unsure, use future questions and wrong answers to prompt you to know earlier answers.
• Be careful with prompts containing NOT or EXCEPT.   Often that means you are looking for the wrong answer in the group.
• MC may be very different on a computer.  You do not have the ability to physically cross off the wrong answers.  Programs vary in how they deal  with skipped questions.

True/False:

·       If any one word in wrong it is all false.

This was a long blog, the there is much to consider when taking an exam.  The last blog in this series will address how to stay motivated, even in a class you are not interested in!

*****
First Semester Success: 2nd Edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available in hard copy and as an eBook from amazon.com, and in hard copy from wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.