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Eventually, study time will give way to exam time. There are things you can do on the day of the test to help improve your test taking effectiveness. If you have studied and prepared well, you are more likely to approach the test with more confidence. Here are five steps to take as the test begins.
- Scan It (take a few seconds to quickly look over the test and collect info: types of questions, number of questions, value of questions, time available)
- Create a Plan (use the information you collected in scanning the test to decide how to best approach the test)
- Read and Follow All Directions (don’t lose points for the wrong reason – do exactly what is asked for each question)
- Answer Easy Questions First (if you run out of time without answering something you actually did know, that would be an avoidable tragedy)
- Never, Never, Ever, Leave Anything Blank (especially True/False, Matching, Fill In – wait until time is almost up and then guess if you have to – writing something is better than nothing)
Answering Various Types of Questions
Answering True/False Questions
These usually are not worth many points individually, so don’t spend an excessive amount of time on them if there are still questions with a higher value to answer. Usually the deciding factor is in the details. An important rule to remember is that if any part of the statement is false, then the answer will always be false. Answer true only if the entire statement, from beginning to end is completely true.
Answering Multiple Choice Questions
First read the question carefully and try to answer it in your head without looking at the choices. Then see if the answer you came up with in your head is listed among the choices. If it is, then it’s likely the correct answer. Multiple choice questions examine your ability to read carefully and thoughtfully, as much as they test your ability to recall and reason. You must answer the question that is being asked. Start with questions you feel most comfortable answering.
- Cover up the possible responses with a piece of paper or with your hand while you read the stem, or body of the question. Decide what you think the answer is.
- Then uncover the answers and pick the one that matches your answer. Check to be sure that none of the other responses is better.
- Read the stem with each option treating them as a true-false question, and choose the most true.
- If you are unable to make a choice and need to spend more time with the question, or you answered the question but are unsure that you made the correct choice, put a question mark beside that question, and move on to the next.
- Move on and finish all of those questions that you can answer and then to come back later to process the problematic questions.
- Sometimes the answer will occur to you simply because you are more relaxed after having answered other questions.
If you can’t decide on a correct answer:
- Absolute words, such as “always” or “never” are less likely to be correct than