Test-Taking Strategies

Study skills Test-Taking Strategies The Goode-Pasfield Center for Learning & Teaching

There is no substitute for the Self Confidence that comes with being Well Prepared

Test-Taking Strategies • Five Day Test Preparation Plan • Multiple Choice Tests • True/False Tests • Matching Tests • Completion Tests • QUOTE Strategy for Taking Tests

Five Day Test Preparation Plan • Day 5 • Read textbook & class notes • Look at any handouts from your class • Highlight the information in your notes & handouts that you will need to know • Day 4 • Use mnemonic techniques and practice what you will need to know know

Five Day Test Preparation Plan • Day 3 • Rewrite the information in a brief form using the fewest words possible • Use the mnemonic strategies to review your rewritten notes at least twice per day • Day 2 • Think of questions your teacher might ask you on the test • Write each question and answer

Five Day Test Preparation Plan • Day 1 • The Day of the test! • Review rewritten notes from day 3 • Review questions & answers from day 2 • You can do these things while eating breakfast, riding to school, or eating lunch • Just before the test, go over any information you are having difficulty remembering

Multiple Choice Tests • Weeding out absolute words; • Recognizing “umbrella” (or “fusion” )questions;

Multiple Choice Tests • “Umbrella” Questions: Also known as “fusion” questions, seem to have four correct answers. • Which of the following is a part of a car? • Oil filter • Engine • Carbeurator • Air filter

Multiple Choice Tests The correct answer is “B”, engine. • You probably noticed that all of these choices look like “good” answers. This is a clue that you have an umbrella, or “fusion” question. The clue is that three of the answers fit within the category of the fourth. In this case, carbeurator, air filter and oil filter are all parts of the engine, so “engine” is the correct answer. You may also notice that “engine” is a more general term than the others. Let’s try another…

Which of the following is a part of the human leg? • The femur • The thigh • The quadriceps • The hamstrings Right away, you probably recognized that these are ALL part of a leg, so how do you decide . This is an example of another “umbrella” question.

The Answer Is… • “B”, the thigh, because the others are all part of the thigh, which again is also the most general of the terms.

…and another Which of the following is found in the U.S.? • Richmond • Roanoke • Lynchburg • Virginia

And the Answer IS… • You probably got that one right! It’s “D”, Virginia, because the others are located in Virginia.

Absolute Words Another obstacle to taking multiple choice tests is when absolute words appear in the choices. At the right is a list of some absolute words. These usually make a sentence false. • None • Never • All • Always • Every day • Only • Must

Here is an example: • The result of Barney’s study showed that: • All people suffer from SPAK • No people suffer from SPAK • SPAK never occurs in young people • SPAK may be found more in older people

The answer is “4” • Did you notice that choices 1, 2 and 3 contained the absolute words “all”, “no”, and “never”. In general, absolute words limit too many options to be good choices for an answer. • The correct choice, however, was more general – it contained the word “may”.

Here is another example: • People with chronic disease can be described as: • Inevitably in pain • Always grouchy • Never able to walk • Needing more assistance

The Answer is… • Can we really say that these people are ALWAYS grouchy or INEVITABLY in pain or NEVER able to walk? Of course not. The correct answer is “D”, “needing more assistance.”

What about unfamiliar words? • Some MP questions are phrased using words you have never heard. They may even be made-up words. Most students “freak out” when they see those words, and decide to guess at the answer. However, this is another test of your deductive reasoning. If you ignore the strange word, does the question still make sense? Can you answer it without knowing what the word means?….

Let’s take a look…. You are treating a patient with Kupe’s disease. When comparing cotylenol to bitylenol, which of the following would be the most appropriate intervention for this patient? • Cotylenol is more appropriate • Bitylenol is more appropriate • Bitylenol is not as appropriate • Both a and b

This requires more deductive reasoning…Look at the clues in the scenario given. • You don’t know what Kupe’s disease is; • You have never heard of “cotylenol” or “bitylenol”; • All of the above are made up words, but it doesn’t matter.

Here are the choices again.. • Cotylenol is more appropriateb. Bitylenol is more appropriatec. Bitylenol is not as appropriated. Both a and b • The answer can’t be “d” because you are asked to choose between either cotylenol or bitylenol. • The answer can’t be “a” or “c” because they say the same thing • That only leaves “b” as an answer, even though you have no idea what “Kupes” disease is. No need to freak out when you see unfamiliar terms!

The more complex question asks you to: • Prioritize the answers in some order (most important, best, last, first, initial, etc.); • Use deductive reasoning; • Also use your content knowledge; • Compare only the answers that are given

True/False Tests: • Choose TRUE unless you know the statement is FALSE; • For a statement to be TRUE, everything about the statement must be TRUE; • Be careful when a statement has a negative such as “not”, “do not”, or “in” (e.g. “infrequent”) and “un” (e.g., “unfriendly”) • A negative can completely change the meaning of the statement

True/False Tests: • If a statement has two negatives, cross out both negatives • This will make it easier for you to understand the statement It is never not a good idea to serve the people. • Absolute statements are usually FALSE • Absolute statements include words such as • All, every, never, no (Dogs are never bald.) • Qualified statements are usually TRUE • Qualified statements include terms such as • Some, most, sometimes, rarely (Some dogs are bald.)

Answer these T/F questions: • It is never not a bad idea to sleep late. • People in the middle ages were always short. • Some of the Shawnee Indians were astrologers. • All of the students have a GPA over 2.5. • None of the scientists believe in God.

Matching Tests: • Read all the items in both columns before making any matches • Start by making the matches about which you are sure • Cross out items in both columns as you make matches • Make your best guess for remaining items, unless there is a penalty for guessing

Completion Tests: • Read the item and think about what is missing • Write an answer that logically completes the item • Be sure your answer fits the item grammatically • Use the length of the line as a clue to the length of the answer • Unless the length of the blank is the same for all answers • After you write the answer, read the entire answer to make sure it makes sense.

Examples: • There were too many people coming into the colony, and there was not enough ________,which led to many issues. • Supplies will last far into the _________due to advances in exploration and production. • There were no identified problems that would alter ____________recommendations

QUOTE strategy for Essay tests • Q – Question • Look for direction (discuss, describe, explain) • U – Underline • Words that help focus on ideas to develop answers • O – Organize/Write • The facts & write your answer • T – Time • Decide how much time to spend on answering each item • E – Evaluate • The content & organization of what you wrote & your mechanics

QUOTE strategy for Essay Tests: • Writing a One-Paragraph Answer • Begin with an introductory sentence that contains your main point • Follow with sentences that support your point • End your answer with a sentence that states your conclusion • Writing a Multiple-Paragraph Answer • Begin with an introductory paragraph that contains your main point • Follow with additional paragraphs, each with a supporting point • End with a paragraph in which you state your conclusion

Plug it in, Plug it in! • Once you have chosen your answer, plug it in and make sure that it makes sense! (this works really well with vocabulary questions).

Check It Out! • When you have completed the test, go back and check your work!

Answer the following questions and email your answers to the instructor.

1-a) Define “absolute words” and give examples 1-b) Briefly explain your strategy to answer these type of questions. 2- a) How do you identify “umbrella questions” 2- b)What strategy would you use to answer these type of questions? 3- How do you answer questions containing “unfamiliar words”

Test-Taking Strategies