Taking Tests
Center for Academic Advising and
Retention Services (CAARS)
Taking Tests
O No. 1 Tip
O Before the test
O During the test
O Types of tests
O True-False and beyond…
Most Important *
Practice*
Practice*
Practice*
Before the Test
O Study in advance -use good
time management skills
O Know what type of test will
be given
O Stay caught up on reading
assignments
Before the Test
O Study the most difficult
material first
O Get help from teacher
and a tutor
O Study your teacher
Before the Test
O Predict likely questions
O What have past tests
featured?
O Quiz Yourself
What NOT To Do
ODo not cram
ODo not stay up all night
The Day of the Test
O Be careful about what you
eat and drink
O Do not talk with other
students, about the test—this
can give you unwanted anxiety
The Day of the Test
OAnxiety?
O Arrive early for the
exam
O Write down your fears
ORemember this is just
one test
The Day of the Test
OSkim the test
OSkip a difficult
question but be sure
to come back to it
OIgnore other students
ODon’t Panic
Types of Tests
Matching Tests
ORead items in BOTH
columns first
OAnswer the items you know
first
ORecheck your answers
True False Tests
O Most tests have
more true answers
O Read the question
thoroughly and look for
words that may make
the answer false…
True False Tests
Look For:
OExtreme Modifiers
True False Tests
OExtreme modifiers:
“best,” “always,”
“none,” “all,” “never”,
“certainly,”
“everybody,”
“nothing”
These phrases are often
false.
True False Tests
Look For:
OQualifiers
True False Tests
O Qualifiers: “seldom,”
“often,” “may,” “unlikely”,
“many,” “probably,”
“a majority,” and
“sometimes”
These phrases are often
true.
True False Tests
ODouble negatives.
Example:
“not uncommon”
means “common”.
Multiple Choice Exam
OKnow how much time
you have
ORead the entire
question
OAnswer the easiest
questions first
s
Multiple Choice Example
Which of the following statements best
characterizes delivery reliability?
A company that…
a. delivers on the same day of the week
b. delivers at the promised time
c. delivers more frequently than its
competitors
d. delivers faster than its competitors
Multiple Choice Exam
ORead the questions –
answer without looking
at the choices
ODecide which choice
most closely matches
your initial response
s
Multiple Choice Exam
O Mark out answers you
KNOW are incorrect
O Always guess unless
you are penalized
Multiple Choice Exams
O Do not change your first
response unless you are sure
it is incorrect
O Look for answers which use
familiar language
Essay Exams
At the exam:
OFirst- read all the questions
OAnswer easiest question
first
OManage your time
OUse a pencil
Essay Exams
At the exam:
O Write down what you know
about the topic, including key
terms
O Organize what you write
O Your answers should inform &
persuade
Essay Exams
Think in Threes
O Include three main points
about the topic
O Support each point with
three specific details.
Essay Exams Cont.
Look for a “direction” word
O Analyze
O Diagram
O List
O Compare
O Evaluate
O Outline
O Contrast
O Explain
O Summarize
O Define
O Interpret
O Describe
O Justify
Short Answer Test
O Provide a definition or a short description
O Flash cards can be beneficial – Quizlet.com
O Do not leave an answer blank
O These tests will ask you to:
O Define
O Identify
O List
O Name
**Activity**
“The Story of Billy and Tom”
An Inference Check
References
O Downing, S. 2008. On course: Strategies for creating success
in college and in life. 5th edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Co.
O Walther, D. R. 1994. Toolkit for college success. Belmont:
International Thomson Publishing.
O Muskingum College. (2010). Learning Strategies Database.
Retrieved January 16, 2011, from Muskingum College:
www.muskingum.edu/~cal/database/general/index.html.
O Begley, S. (2011). Can you build a better brain. Retrieved
January 16, 2011, from Newsweek:
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/03/can-you-build-abetter-brain.html.
For More Information
Contact:
Heather Unger-Robertson
Learning Support Coordinator/Academic Advisor
University of North Alabama
Keller Hall 119
256-765-5949
hurobertson@una.edu