EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Tutorial Services – Mission del Paso Campus
TEST TAKING SKILLS
Techniques for Taking Objective Exams and Specific Strategies To Use With Them:
There are four kinds of objective exams. They are multiple-choice, matching, fill-in the blank, and true and false.
Objective exams differ from Essay exams in that you must think of specific answers to each question, whereas, in an
essay exam you must put together or synthesize several ideas and all your information to answer the question. First
we will discuss general techniques which apply to taking all kinds of objective tests; then we will learn about specific
strategies for each and practice them.
Techniques for Taking Objective Exams:
1.
Read the directions carefully before you start and make sure you follow them.
2.
Skim the exam to see what types of questions are on the test.
3.
Notice the various weights assigned to specific questions and make a time schedule.
4.
Do all the easy questions first. That is, move rapidly down the page and answer all the questions
you are sure of. You can go back and figure out the difficult questions later on.
5.
Guessing – If there is no penalty for guessing, leave no question unanswered. If in a group of five choices you
can eliminate two choices as incorrect, then guess. If in a group of four choices you can eliminate one, then
guess. If you cannot eliminate any choices, skip the question and try it more later if you have time.
6.
Use what you have learned from the test itself to help you answer the tough questions you saved for the end.
Actively look for information that will help you answer the questions on which you are stuck.
7.
Go back to the unanswered questions. Read each of them carefully. With a pencil, circle the key words
that identify the information asked for. For example, words like only, all, always, never, and
sometimes, often have a big influence on the way you interpret the question.
8.
Proofread the entire test before you turn it in. You may have learned new information from the test itself
which makes it clear that some of your answers are wrong. If so, change them. The idea that your first
impulse-answer is always the right one has often proved to be a false idea. Do not change answers, unless you
have good reason to do so.
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CHECKLIST FOR REVIEWING
1. Recall what is discussed the most in class. Brush up on it, for it may appear on the test.
2. Try to recall the main headings in each chapter or try to remember the main sub-topics under any given
heading.
3. Determine if you can give supporting details which provide evidence for a main idea, conclusion or
generalization.
4. Make use of index cards to make sure you have mastered the technical vocabulary. Try using the
“Cornel Note-taking Method”. Write the technical term on one side and the definition on the on the
other side of the paper. This method makes reviewing your notes much easier.
5. Look at your material in many different ways. Read it fast. Read it slowly and carefully. Survey the
main headings. Take a look at the topics in reverse order. Make an outline of the important topics; say
Them; write them; rephrase them; underline them.
6. Make use of a red pencil in reviewing. The first time you review your notes, use a red pencil to
underline the main topics. This will help them stand out and help you shape up your outline.
7. Give special emphasis to the topics in your readings which are also found in your lecture notes.
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HINTS ABOUT PREPARING FOR TESTS
1.
Keep up with your reading assignments so that studying for a test will be reviewing of familiar
material. Frantic last-minute cramming of new material usually results in low scores.
2.
To avoid completely rereading textbook assignments later, prepare them for reviewing by underlining or
highlighting key words and phrases. Better yet, use a study-reading method like SQ4R.
3.
Do not be afraid to ask questions about material you do not understand. You cannot remember
something unless you first understand it!
4.
Review each course at least once a week during the semester. Reread class notes, workbook exercises,
outside reading notes, textbook underlining, etc… (refer to #1 above)
5.
In reviewing, spend the most time on the material that is least familiar, but review briefly the material that
is most familiar.
6.
In reviewing, prepare a list of likely test questions and make certain that you can give the correct answers
to each on your own words.
7.
Keep, correct, and review returned quizzes and exams. Check with your instructor if you are uncertain
about the correct answer to a question that you missed.
8.
Study your instructor’s “Test Technique” so that you will know what type of objective questions they
favor and what kind of essay answer they expect.
9.
Concentrate on remembering specific details (Who, When, & Where) when studying for an objective test;
concentrate on understanding broad concepts (What, Why, & How) when studying for an essay exam.
10.
Where possible, ask the instructor what material will be covered on an examination – textbook
assignments, class lecture, outside reading, movies and filmstrips, laboratory experiments, etc…
11.
Complete long-term projects well in advance of scheduled exams so that your time will be free for
intensive reviewing.
12.
To minimize test fatigue, break intensive study sessions with 5 to 10 minute rest periods every hour.
13.
Review likely test questions with order students in small study groups of two to four people, after each has
first studied independently.
14.
Do not endanger your health and test grade by using “No-Doz” or pep pills to stay up all night
“cramming” for an exam. You will be able to think more logically if you get a reasonable amount of sleep
on the night before a major test.
15.
Review for problem solving tests by memorizing formulas and equations, as needed, and working
examples of each type of problem likely to appear on the test.
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TAKING ESSAY EXAMS
There are five important tactics to use once you are in the classroom taking an essay test:
1. Divide the Time. Divide the time among the questions. Base this on the credit value of each question. Spend
more time on the ones that are worth more. If all of the questions are worth the same amount of points, devote
equal time to each one. Answers to some of the questions must necessarily be longer than others. The thing
to avoid is an exceptionally short response at the end of the test. This says, in effect, that you saved this
question until last because you did not have a good answer for it.
2. Outline all answers first. Before writing, outline your answers to all of the questions first. You will have
prepared many of these in advance and ought to be able to write them down rapidly. Confine the outlines to
heading and subheadings only.
3. Balance the outline. Next, look over your outlines. Some will be complete; others will be weak. Transfer
headings from the strong answers to the weak ones. This will give you confidence on the test because you
will know something about each question. The test deals with a single subject, so a little deliberation will
indicate how you can transfer headings and make them applicable.
4. Write the Answers. After you outlines are complete, start to write. Remember to write clearly,
and use concise sentences. A good practice is to create a single, well-constructed sentence for each heading
and subheading on your outline. Certain topics may require additional sentences. Write legibly. This is most
important. Your instructor has to read many exams. Anything you can do to make your answers more
readable will create a favorable impression. If you must write slowly to write well, do so, even if your answer
must be shorter. To your instructor, clear writing indicates clear thinking.
5. Review. Make a final check before handing in your paper. See, first of all, if you have answered all the
questions required of you. Check next to see if you have answered all of the questions explicitly and if you
have answered the question as they were asked. Finally, check spelling and punctuation. See if there are any
mechanical errors to be corrected before handing in your paper.
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TRUE – FALSE TESTS
I.
Remember that everything has to be true if a statement is to be marked true, but if the statement is
false, only one detail need be false. Read each question carefully, looking for qualifying words
that tend to make statements TRUE, such as the following:
SOME
SOMETIMES
II.
USUALLY
MOST
Read each question carefully, looking for words that tend to make statements FALSE.
The words listed below should alert you to think carefully.
ALL
ALWAYS
ONLY
NONE
NO
NEVER
III. Mark your answer sheet the way the directions tell you to mark it. Just because it is a true-false test
does not necessary mean you use the symbol “T” or “F”.
MATCHING TESTS
I.
Read all directions carefully. Look at the following examples and notice the difference in
directions.
A.
Match the items in column 1 with those in column 2. You may use the items in column 1
more than once.
B.
Match the items in column 1 with those in column 2. You may not use the items in column
1 more than once.
II.
As you match each item, mark off the ones that you use if you are not allowed to use them twice.
This will prevent you from getting mixed up and accidentally using the items more than one time.
III.
Match the ones you are sure of first. Then go through the process of eliminating the ones you think
might belong together.
IV.
Don’t waste time trying to figure out questions that you don’t know you have answered all the
questions you are certain you know.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS
1. Do all the questions you know first, circling the numbers of the ones you want to come back to later.
2. Read all the possible answers before selecting one.
3. Use the process of elimination, discounting the answers you know are wrong.
4. Watch out for questions that begin, “Which one is “not” an example of . . . “
5. Make certain you mark the answers according to the directions.
6. Read carefully, looking for words that qualify statements. Words, such as good, bad, much, little,
most, best, always, never.
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