Before the Test: Questions for your Teacher
When is the test?
Write the date in your assignment book or planner.
What will the test cover?
Ask which pages or chapters in your textbook will be included on the test. Ask if
information from any handouts, assignments, notes, or other sources will be
included on the test. Write the information in your assignment book.
What kind of a test will it be?
Ask your teacher if the test questions will be fill-in-the blank, multiple choice,
true/false, matching, or essay.
How many questions will be on the test?
You'll have a better idea how long the test will take and how much each question
will be worth.
Will there be a review day or study guide provided before the test?
Ask your teacher if he'll provide study help before the test so you can plan how
best to prepare.
Tips for Different Test Questions
Matching
On tests, matching sections are most commonly used for vocabulary, people and
events. The following 4 tips can help increase your chances for success on matching
test questions.
1. Read all directions.
2. Count the choices in each column. If one column has more choices, work the
column with fewer choices first so you won't waste your time trying to match an
answer that doesn't have a match.
3. If both columns have the same number, first work the column with the
explanations because they may contain clues.
4. Cross out the choices you use as you go each time you answer a question.
5. Reread the statement with your answer to see if it makes sense.
True-False
True-false questions are statements that are either complete true or not true.
Use the following hints to help you answer True-False test questions.
1. Read all directions.
2. Some key words make the statement always true, sometimes true, or never true.


Absolute words, such as "all" or "never" usually signal that the statement is
false. Become familiar with these words: All, Only, Always, None, Every,
Never. These words usually lead to an answer of false.
Some words are more often found in true statements. Become familiar with
these words: Some, Mainly, Usually, Often, Seldom, Except, Sometimes,
Rarely, Probably. These words usually lead to an answer of true.
3. In order to be true, the entire statement must be true. If any part of the
statement is not true, mark false.
4. Look carefully at the sequence of the statements. The facts in the statement
may be accurate, but the order may cause the statement to be false.

Example: The president following Richard Nixon was John F. Kennedy.
5. Sometimes a true statement will be reworded so that positive words replace
negative words and vice versa.

Example: If your notes read, "The republican party does not agree with
Barack Obama's decisions," but the test question reads, "The Republican
party agrees with Barack Obama's decisions," the statement is false.
Fill-in the Blank
Fill-in-the-blank test questions are generally complete statements with a key word
or phrase missing. It is the test takers job to fill in the blank space with the word
or phrase that makes the statement true. Sometimes a word bank with options is
provided and other times it is not.
1. Read all directions carefully.
2. Read the first statement. If you know the missing information that makes the
statement true, write the answer on the blank provided.
3. If you are unsure of the answer, skip the question and move on to the next.
Sometimes the answers you need can be found in other questions.
4. After you have completed all the blanks that you can, go back to the statements
that you did not know and look for key words. This may help to refresh your
memory.
5. Do not leave any blanks! Make an educated guess if necessary, sometimes partial
credit is awarded.
6. If a word bank is provided, cross out each answer as you use it.
7. Reread the statement with your answer to see if it makes sense.
Multiple Choice
In most multiple choice questions, one choice is included that is obviously incorrect.
Often, though, two choices seem possible, but must choose the “best” answer. This
is when the following strategies are most helpful.
1. Read all directions.
2. Read the first question and attempt to predict the answer before reading the
answer choices.
3. Read all answer choices and eliminate (by crossing them out with a line) all
impossible answers.
4. Choose the answer that makes the most sense to you. Make sure it answers the
question and relates to the topic and details that you have been studying.
5. Negative questions, worded such as “which one is NOT a reason” or “all of the
following are included EXCEPT…” seem difficult because it is easier to recall facts
that are included in what you have read. Read each answer choice and decide if
that fact was included. Eliminate those, and then you should be left with only one
answer.
6. Don’t spend a lot of time on a question that has you stumped. Circle any
questions that you don’t know and come back to them later. If you still do not know
the answer when you revisit the question later, guess unless you are penalized for
incorrect answers.
Essays
Students typically fear essay questions more than any other type of test question.
This is because you really need to know the material from your class to be able to
answer an essay question. Other types of test questions require you to know
specific pieces of information. Essay questions require you to understand main
ideas, or important points, of what you’ve been learning. So, when you are studying
for a test that will have essay questions, you should ask yourself, “What is the
main idea of this material?”
How well you answer essay questions depends on how well you prepare for the test.
The tips below will help you on the test.
1. Read all directions carefully. Make sure you understand what the question is
asking. If you don’t, make sure you ask your teacher for clarification. Essay
questions may have multiple parts to the directions. Make sure you read all parts of
the directions and underline each question you must answer or topic you must
discuss in your response.
2. Write a brief outline of the main points you want to include. Consider how much
detail you will include in each piece of your essay based upon your time limits. Be
aware of how much time you have to answer your essay question.
3. Reread the essay question and restate it. This will be your opening or topic
sentence. This sentence should lead the reader to the details.
4. Write the essay by following your lead sentence with the facts in your outline.
Conclude the essay with a restatement of your lead sentence.
5. After you have written your answer, check it. Make sure you have answered all
parts of the question. You may then reread the question to make sure you have
done this sufficiently in your response.
Studying for Midterms and Final Exams
Midterms and finals are given to test your ability to organize, understand, and
recall information that has been taught for a period of weeks or months. Since
these tests are usually given for more than one subject and at around the same
time, it is easy to feel overloaded with studying. To help, you need a method of
preparation that will allow you to accomplish as much as possible without wasting
valuable time.
Get a head start 2 weeks before the exam.
A. Find out all you can about the exam.
1. Listen for teacher’s clues and signals regarding what will be on the test.
2. What type of formal will the test be?
a. If objective only, review and memorize important details.
b. If subjective also, learn overall concepts, but memorize enough
facts to back them up in an essay.
3. Can you use your notes on the exam? If so, in what format?
4. Will any chapters or material will not be included on the test? (Unless the
teacher tells you exactly what won’t be included, study every chapter and all
material).
B. Start the Preparation
1. Get out your old notes, homework, and tests and organize them.
2. Make sure you are not missing anything and you can understand what you
need to study.
3. Make a study schedule to follow for the next two weeks. Use a study plan!
C. Organize your study session
1. Follow the study schedule and pace yourself so that you can study a little
each day.
a. Divide the number of chapters or pages to cover by the number of
days you have set aside to study.
b. Study each subject for one-half hour before breaking and beginning
the next.
2. As you review the textbook, also review the lecture notes and clues from
the teacher.
3. Review old tests since the same questions (possibly worded differently)
may show up again.
4. For each chapter, concentrate on highlighted material and recall
questions. Also, read and answer end of chapter study questions.
D. Remember to use your strongest learning style and preferences.
1. Auditory learners may want to read the highlight information aloud, or
tape record recall questions that you can then listen to and answer later.
2. Visual learners may want to picture the look of a page or association.
3. Kinesthetic learners may want to rewrite information (e.g. brief summary
outlines, or charts).
4. Study during the times and in the environments that will help you focus
best.
Cramming
1. You should NEVER have to cram if you plan ahead and keep yourself organized. If
you find yourself having to cram for a test, you need to examine your
organizational skills. See the organization and planning section of this website for
helpful tools.
2. What is cramming and how can you use it?
a. Cramming is really stuffing as much information into your head as possible
just before you’ll need to use it, such as the night before or morning of a
test.
b. Unfortunately, cramming only works for very brief periods and for very
small amounts of information, so I tis not an efficient study strategy.
c. If you find that you absolutely must cram, don’t try to read and remember
every bit of information from the chapters and notes. Rely upon your
highlighted information, vocabulary and previous test/quiz questions. This
will be the most important information, and you can cram it into your memory
in the shortest amount of time.
Final Words about Exams
Successful test takers relax before exams. They go to sleep early, wake up early
to eat breakfast, and have positive attitudes. They say positive things to
themselves such as “I’m ready for this test!”
Information on the page was gathered from the following sources:
Study Strategies Made Easy: A practical plan for school success (1996) Specialty Press, Inc.