Test Taking
Ch. 8 Strategies for Success in School
Types of Test Questions
• How can you master different types
of test questions?
Types of Test Questions
• Objective Questions:
– “Short-answer questions that test your ability to
recall, compare and contrast information and to
choose the right answer from a limited number of
choices.”
Types of Test Questions
• Subjective questions
– “Essay questions that require you to express your
answer in terms of your own personal knowledge
and perspective.”
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Carefully read the directions
Components of a Multiple Choice
Question
• Item:
– The whole question & answers
• Stem:
– The question
• Options
– All of the possible answers
• Correct answer
– Correct answer
– Distracters:
– Wrong answers
Stem?
• What should the nurse do immediately before
performing any procedure?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Shut the door
Wash the hands
Close the curtain
Drape the client
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Read each questions thoroughly
• Slowly
• Re-read the stem (if needed)
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Underline keywords and phrases
• Sentence completion- The missing word - Looking for
clues.
• “Funny” responses are usually wrong.
• All of the above is often a correct response. If
you can verify that more than one of the other
responses is probably correct, then choose “all
of the above”
• “None of the above” is usually an incorrect
response, but this is less reliable than the “all
of the above” rule. Be very careful not to be
trapped by double negatives.
Be Slick and Predict!
• Predict what the
answer is BEFORE
you read the
choices.
“I think the
answer is …”
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Pay attention to words that could throw you off
The Stem with positive polarity
•
•
•
•
Concerned with the truth
Asks question with a positive statement
Answer is accurately related to the statement
To determine if you are able to understand,
apply or differentiate correct information
The stem with negative polarity
• Is concerned with what is false
• Asks the question with a negative statement
• Usually incorporated words such as
– Except
– Not
– Never
• Sometimes
– Least
– Avoid
The stem with negative polarity
• Negative word stems require you to detect
errors, or identify interventions that are
unacceptable or contraindicated
The stem with negative polarity
• Multiple Choice Questions
– Make them into true/false statements.
– RE-read stems containing negative words
• Answer with a T or F
Ask yourself whether the answer your are considering
completely addresses the question.
 If the answer is partly true, it is
probably not the right answer.
 If the answer is only true under
narrow conditions, it is probably not
the right answer.
 If you have to make a significant
assumption in order for the answer to
be true, don’t use that answer.
If you think an item is a trick question,
think again.
• Very few trick questions.
• If you suspect…, you may be reading
too much into the question.
The Process of Elimination
• If you can eliminate two wrong answers,
your chance of choosing the right answer
is greater.
Slash the Trash!
• Read ALL of the answer
choices! Eliminate any
choice(s) that you know
are not the correct
answer. That choice is
obviously “trash!”
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– If you don’t know the answer, eliminate answers
that you know or suspect are wrong
•
•
•
•
Is the choice accurate on its own terms?
Is the choice relevant?
Are there any qualifiers?
Do the choices give clues?
Watch out for absolutes!
Statements that begin with
always, never, none, except, all, no, are
probably NOT the answer.
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Make an educated guess by looking for patterns
• Consider the possibility that a choice that is longer
than the others is the right answer
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Make an educated guess by looking for patterns
• Look for a choice that has a middle value in a range
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Make an educated guess by looking for patterns
• Look for two choices that have similar meanings
– Look for verbal associations.
• A response that repeats key words that are in the stem
is likely to be correct.
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Make an educated guess by looking for patterns:
• Look for answers that agree grammatically with the
question.
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Make an educated guess by looking for patterns
Types of Test Questions
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– When questions are linked to a reading passage,
read the questions first
Multiple Choice Questions
• Do not change your answers unless you
are very uncertain about your first
answer choice.
• Try to answer every question. Make the
most intelligent guess you can.
The Process of Elimination
• After you have been through all of the
questions once, go back and find questions
you have some knowledge about and
eliminate choices that you know are
incorrect.
Identify the central person
• The client/patient is the central person in
most nursing questions
• Answers should be client focused
Types of Test Questions
• True / False Questions
– Read the statements very carefully. Remember
that all parts of a statement must be true for it to
be true.
Types of Test Questions
• Matching Questions
– Make sure you understand the directions
Types of Test Questions
• Matching Questions
– Work from the column with the longest entries
Types of Test Questions
• Matching Questions
– Start with the matches you know
Types of Test Questions
• Matching Questions
– Finally, tackle the matches you’re not sure of
Types of Test Questions
• Fill-in-the-Blank questions
– Be logical
• Plug it in, plug it in!
Types of Test Questions
• Fill-in-the-Blank questions
– Note the length and number of the blanks
Types of Test Questions
• Fill-in-the-Blank questions
– Pay attention to how the blanks are separated
Types of Test Questions
• Fill-in-the-Blank questions
– Think out of the box
Types of Test Questions
• Fill-in-the-Blank questions
– If you are uncertain of an answer, make an
educated guess
Types of Test Questions
• Essay Questions
– Start by being prepared
• Bring a pencil or erasable pen
• Blue book?
Types of Test Questions
• Essay Questions
– Start by reading the questions
Types of Test Questions
• Essay Questions
– 2. Watch for action verbs
– ***Figure 8.2 in your text book, pg 266
– Know these terms – matching on the next test!
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
• If the directions say
read…. READ! Pay
close attention to
signal words in the
directions, such as
explain, interpret, and
compare.
Types of Test Questions
• Essay Questions
– 3. Plan
• Think
• Outline
• Write
“UNPACK” the Question!
Underline key words
Number the parts of the ?
Plan how you will answer
Answer using specific details
Check off each part as you do it
Keep up the great work
Types of Test Questions
• Essay Questions
– 4. Draft
• Begin by rephrasing
• Next announce what you’ll be saying
• 1 paragraph for each main points
Types of Test Questions
• Essay Questions
– 5. Revise
Types of Test Questions
• Essay Questions
– 6. Edit
Types of Test Questions

Short answer

Write down something!
Be Smart With Charts & Zap the Maps!
• Charts and Maps
provide information that
you can use to answer
questions! Analyze ALL
information provided
before answering the
questions!
The Death Grip
• If your arm tires during testing it is
probably due to the grip that you have
on your pencil.
• Relax the grip and give those muscles a
break.
Check It Out!
• When you have
completed the
test, go back and
check your work!
Test Mistakes
• How can you learn from test mistakes?
Test Mistakes
• Try to identify patterns in your mistakes
– Careless errors
– Conceptual or factual errors
Test Mistakes
• Rework the questions you got wrong
Test Mistakes
• After reviewing your mistakes, fill in your
knowledge gaps
Test Mistakes
• Talk to your instructors
Test Mistakes
• If you fail a test, don’t throw it away
Finals Week
Preparation Guide
Like it or not, final exams are just around the
corner. It’s never to early to start studying! How
prepared will you be? Use these tips to help
ease the pain that finals week can bring.
• Start early.
• sleep
• Determine what type of
final you will be taking
• Focus on your notes.
• Hide.
• Don't chase an old test.
• Make sure you eat!
•
• Stop cramming five
minutes before the test
• Read all of the directions
carefully.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stay calm during the exam.
Ask questions if allowed
Stay for the entire session.
Stay for the entire session.
Remain calm after the exam
Focus on what you hate first.