Test-taking Strategies

Nothing can take the place of studying, but there are some strategies you can use to be a better test taker:

 

#1 - Watch your time!   It is surprising how many people just start the test and don't plan or monitor their time!  It is obvious - if you have an hour and four essay questions, each should take about 15 minutes.   If some classrooms don't have a clock and you don't usually wear a watch, invest in an inexpensive one to wear just for exams.

 #2 - Look over the whole test before you start.  This will help with #1 and get you mind active.

 #3 - Don't worry if people are done before you.  My experience has been that those done early often do not do as well as those who use all of the time available.

 #4 - Splash-down.  If there is particular information you are having trouble remembering, jot it in the margin of the exam as soon as you get it.  Then you can quit thinking about it and focus on the questions.

 #5 - Do the ones you know first.  This will help you access that knowledge in your memory and start to bring it to the front.

 

Here are some ideas for specific types of exams:
Multiple Choice -

• Use process of elimination to reduce your number of choices.
• Read the question carefully.  Be sure you are answering the question asked. 
• If you are unsure of an answer, see if a later prompt or answers might give you a clue to the earlier question.
• If it is a paper and pencil scantron, be sure you are on the correct number.
• Watch out for words like NOT and EXCEPT.  Read those questions carefully.

 True/False -

• If you are not sure, most statements with ultimate words like "always" or "never" are false and middle-of-the-road words like "often" and "usually" are true.

 Essay -

• If there are multiple parts to the question, answer each in turn.  Do not try to write a global answer unless you are very proficient in the subject.
• Take a minute to sketch out a brief outline.  This will prevent you from writing yourself into a corner and not answering the question.
• Think of the reader (in this case your professor).   Write so they can clearly follow your thoughts.  Don't worry that he or she knows all of the information.  You job is to demonstrate how well you know it!

 

Most colleges and universities are approaching finals week.  The next post will address surviving the week with minimal stress.  (Of course the best plan is to study ahead!)
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com. Click on the upper right link.

How to Prepare for a Major Exam

Here is the "trick question" I always ask my classes: When should you start to study for an exam?   The answer is - as soon as you receive the information!  Your learning is a continuous process.  You need to review and learn the material you receive after each class, do not wait until a week or so before an exam to start to study.  Certainly do not wait until the night before an exam!  Besides this, here are some more strategies:

 

What you need to know:

• Find out the type of exam (essay, multiple choice, etc.)
• What information will be on the exam?  If it is a final exam, does it cover the entire semester or the last unit?
• Where and when will the exam be given if different from the regular class time?
• Do you have all of the material?  If you were sick, are you missing any class notes or handouts?

 

How to prepare:

• Look at the information as a whole.  Divide it into logical sections.
• Consider making a large review chart covering all of the main topics.
• About one week before the exam, on the first day study the first section again in depth.  The second day study the second section in depth and review the first.  The third day study the third section in depth and review the first and second.  (I am sure you get the idea here - continue on until you have completed all sections.)
• The day before do a general review of all material.
• Get a good night's sleep and eat breakfast!

 

Some other strategies:

• Predict exam questions and answers.
• If the professor has given you essay or short answer prompts, write out the answers!  Don't just "think about them!"
• Form a study group and either teach the information to each other or quiz each other.
• Review information you are struggling with right before you go to sleep the night before the exam.  (This helps consolidate the information in your long-term memory.)

 

Why do we have to have exams?
Besides testing how much you  have learned, the professor's other objective is to motivate you to review all of the material covered in the class before moving on to new material.  Your purpose is also to take some time to review and solidify what you have learned and then to demonstrate this mastery of the material.  Looking at an exam from this perspective (as opposed to just torture) changes how you think about studying.

 

The next post will be about strategies to use when taking the test.
*****
First Semester Strategies: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

 

 

Memory and Learning Strategies Part 2 of 2

Here are four more important factors for successful learning:

1. Distributed Practice - Successful learning requires varied repetition spaced out over time. Here are two ways to incorporate this into your studying:
1. Review difficult information 15 - 20 minutes a day almost every day of the week.  This is above and beyond your regular studying!
2. Plan to study for exams over an extended period leading up to the exam.  Start about one week in advance.  (See my next blog about specifics regarding studying for exams and when the learning actually starts!)
2. Organization - It is important to see how the information you are learning is organized.  You cannot learn a large jumble of unrelated information.  This is true for both lecture notes and textbook reading.  Be sure to keep the big picture in mind.
3. Association - Relate what you are learning to what you already know or to your future career.
4. Interest - It is easier to learn what you are interested in than information you do not care about.  Try to act as if you are interested and do what you would do in that situation.  My students report that sometimes they just make a decision to be more interested in their education as a whole and that makes a difference!

The next blog will address how to study for exams and the one after that test-taking strategies.  Stay strong and work hard!
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Memory and Learning Strategies: Part 1 of 2

The past two weeks in my Learning Strategies clasess we have been working on Memory and Learning Strategies.  Here is the first part of the list.  Check back next week for the rest.


Get enough sleep.  We now know that getting adequate sleep is extremely important to all stages of learning - paying attention in class, studying and test-taking.  The average young adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep a night.  If you are not getting enough, consider going to bed earlier and keeping a regular sleep schedule.


Review and learn the information soon after you receive it.  This is one mistake many of my students on academic probation made in the past.  They did nothing with the lecture notes from their classes - not even reading them over - until the night before the exam.  Learning requires repetition, so study your notes frequently as the semester moves along.


Recitation (restating in your own words from memory) - What you are really doing is practicing recalling the information as you will be asked to do on the exam.  After you read a section of notes or your textbook, look away and try to restate what you just learned.  Repeat until you can do it!


Chunking - Your working memory can only handle so much information at a time, so don't try to learn an entire chapter or 10 pages of notes at once.  Break it down into logical, manageable parts and learn each one, then review the whole.


These four learning strategies will make a major change in your learning and, following that, in your grades.  Try them this week and then we will add more next week.
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

The Second Half of the Semester

My students are just returning from spring break and will soon be receiving their mid-term grades.  We have exactly one half of the semester left plus finals.  Here are some things I want them to consider:

• What has been going well?  What habits have they developed that they need to continue?
• What learning strategies have been working?  Are they using these in all of there classes?
• What needs to be improved?  What SHOULD they be doing that they are not doing?
• Where are they with their grades?  Are there any classes where a little more effort and time can move them up a letter grade?  Are there any classes where they are too far behind and need to consider withdrawing?

It is probably too late for any major life-saving strategies to save a course from a failing grade.  If they are in danger of failing, I suggest meeting with the professor and getting the correct information. From there, with the help of their advisor, they can decide on the best course of action.

Next week: Memory strategies to improve your retention of the class material.
*****'
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon,com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Reviewing or Learning Lecture Notes

In my Learning Strategies class we are working on lecture note-taking skills.  One important part of the process is what you do with the notes after class, so we have been discussing the difference between reviewing your notes and learning your notes.  Here are the ideas we shared:

When reviewing lecture notes:	When learning lecture notes:
Read through notes Make corrections Add information to make clear Highlight the headings or topics Identify any questions or confusing information	Practice recitation (read notes, close notebook, restate in your own words from memory, check your accuracy) Put information into a study guide Take advantage of any on-line quizzes or help in the textbook Form a study group and either: Quiz each other Explain the information to each other Visit your professor or tutoring center to clear up any confusions or questions

As you can see, the learning process involves more in-depth thinking.  This is the step many students skip, and the results are evident in their exam scores.  The demands of college learning are at a much higher level than high school.   Learning your notes will make a major difference in your grades.
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies for Your First Semester (of Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Summer Classes and Transfer Credits

At my institution students are starting to register for summer and fall classes.  Many of them are thinking about taking some classes at schools nearer to their home over the summer.  Here are some things to consider:

• If you think you want to take classes elsewhere and transfer the credits, but sure to talk to your advisor so that you can plan ahead and "save" some classes that will transfer.
• Usually students who want to do this will take liberal studies or general education requirements elsewhere and their major classes at their home school.  Check to see if there are any regulations about this.
• Be sure you have approval BEFORE you register and pay.
• In most cases just the credits will transfer, not the grade, so this is not a good way to raise your grade point average. 
• Usually only classes where you earn a "C" or higher will transfer.
• If you failed a class, you probably have to retake it at your home school.
• Summer classes are a good way to stay on track if your major has a high math or other requirement and you have to take some lower level courses to catch up your skills.
• Keep in mind that these classes will more than likely be just as rigorous as the course at your own college, but you might have an easier time if you are only taking one course at a time.
• Sometimes there is a rule that you have to complete a certain number of your final credits at your home institution.  Check on this!

Many students enjoy summer classes where they get to meet other students from various institutions who are also home for the summer.  Just be sure to preplan so that you are taking the courses you need to meet your major requirements.


Next blog - what is the difference between "reviewing" and "learning" and what different strategies can you use?
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.