TAKING TESTS STRATEGY
1. Put your name on your test.
2. Read the directions slowly and carefully.
Then reread them. When the directions are
confusing, ask about them.
3. In the margins, jot down memory aids,
formulas, equations, facts, or other material
you know you’ll need and might forget.
4. Flip through the pages to see how many
different questions are being used:
true/false, multiple-choice, fill in the blank,
matching, essay. Budget your time to get an
idea of how much time you should spend on
each question. Allot more time for those
worth more points. Also leave yourself time
to go over your test and correct mistakes.
5. Answer the easiest, shortest questions first.
This gives you the experience of success. It
also stimulates associations and prepares you
for more difficult questions.
6. Next answer multiple choice questions.
a. Check the directions to see if the questions
call for more than one answer.
b. Answer each question in your head before
you look at the possible answers.
c. Then try to find it among the choices. Be
sure to read all the answers before
selecting one.
d. If you have no clue as to what the answer
is, use the following guidelines to guess:
1.) Use the process of elimination by
combining the question to each choice
and treat each statement as a
true/false question. Eliminate the
false choices.
2.) If two answers are similar, except
for one or two words, choose one of
these answers.
3.) If two answers have similar sounding
or looking words (intermediateintermittent), choose one of these
answers.
4.) If two quantities are almost the same,
choose one.
5.) If answers cover a wide range (4.5,
66.7, 88.7, 90.1, 5000.11), choose
one in the middle.
6.) Unless you are penalize for wrong
answers, choose your letter of the day
(b or c) when you have no clue of
correct answer.
7. Next answer true/false questions.
a. Answer true/false questions quickly.
Often these questions are not worth many
points individually.
b. Read carefully. If a statement is not
completely false, it is still false.
c. Look for qualifiers like all, most, some,
no, always, usually, sometimes, never, or
rarely. Remember that sweeping
generalizations containing words like always
and never are almost always false.
8. Next answer matching questions.
a. Check first if each column has the same
number of items. If it does use the process
of elimination.
b. Scan both columns quickly.
c. Begin with item number 1 in the left
column and look through all the options in
the right column to find a match.
d. At first, match only those items you’re
sure of; cross off or make a check mark by
the matching item in the right column.
e. Continue this process of elimination.
Guessing is dangerous because one wrong
answer at the beginning can trigger a long
chain of wrong answers.
9. Then answer fill-in-the-blank and short
answers questions next.
a. Concentrate on key words and facts.
b. Be brief. Say just enough to show you
know the material.
10. Then proceed to answer essay questions.
a. Figure out what the question is asking—
precisely. If a question asks that you
compare two things and you simply
explain them, you will receive no credit.
b. Learn the standard essay question words
(see p.167).
c. Before you write, make a quick outline.
d. When you start to write, get to the point.
One way to get to the point is to include
part of the question in your answer.
e. Start out with the most solid points.
f. Write legibly.
g. Be brief.
h. Use a pen.
i. Review your answers for grammar and
spelling errors, clarity, and legibility.