PREPARING FOR TESTS
The most
important test-taking strategy is to prepare ahead of time. Here's a
checklist to guide you:
- Decide what you need to study
- Make a study plan for major tests
- Find out as much as you can about the test
- Organize and assemble the materials you'll need
- Predict and practice answering test questions
- Participate in study groups or tutoring
- Use your study system and study aids
- Deal with sources of test anxiety before the test
TAKING TESTS
Here are some
general test-taking strategies:
- Arrive on time and take a few moments to relax and focus
- Jot down memory clues of things you might be likely to forget
- Survey the test
- Budget your time
- Read all directions carefully
- Decide on a starting point; you may not have to start at the
beginning
- You may want to do easy questions first and return to more
difficult ones
- Guess or jot down partial answers rather than leaving items
blank (if there is no penalty)
- Ignore other students
- Monitor and deal with your anxiety
- Check your work
- Learn from your mistakes
COMMON TYPES OF TEST-TAKING ERRORS IN
MATH
Math tests pose special problems for many students.
Here are some common errors to help you evaluate what you need to
work on:
- Misread directions - not reading directions carefully
- Careless errors - can catch by reviewing your answers
- Concept errors - don't understand the principles required for
the problem
- Application errors - know the concept, but can't apply it
- Test-taking errors - include missing items, spending too much
time on one problem, solving only part of the problem, miscopying
an answer, leaving too early without checking work
RESOURCES TO HELP WITH TEST-TAKING
SKILLS
Different kinds of tests call for different
approaches and strategies. Recognition tests include true-false,
matching, and multiple choice formats. Recall tests include
fill-in-the-blanks and essay questions.
- Check your college catalog for college success and/or study
strategies courses.
- Check out the library or bookstore for books on college study
skills and/or college success.
- Use the Web. Study Skills Web sites includes some resources to
get you started.
- If you need further help, talk to your instructor, advisor, or
counselor for recommendations.
