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Student Success Center
Seminar Series
Speaker: Chris Coughlin
Test Taking Strategies
…How to get that “A”
you always wanted
What will be covered..

Techniques for improving your test taking
abilities including:
– Physical, emotional, and mental preparation
– Study strategies
– Overcoming test anxiety
– Test taking tips for the many types of tests
– Avoiding academic dishonesty
Self assessment
1. __
2. __
3. __
4. __
5. __
I always begin studying for an exam at least a
week in advance
I usually find that my class notes are very helpful
when I’m preparing for an exam
I usually study for an exam with at least one
other person
I usually know what to expect on a test before I
go into the exam
I study for tests by predicting possible questions
and seeing if I am prepared to answer them
Self Assesment
6. __
I predict essay questions and develop outlines of
the answers
7. __ I am careful to maintain good eating, sleeping,
and exercise habits before exams
8. __ If I finish an exam early or on time, I recheck my
paper
9. __ I usually know that I have done well on an exam
when I finish.
10. __ I seldom feel overly nervous when studying for or
taking exams
Exam Preparation

Starts at the beginning of the semester
– Talk to the instructor
 Structure of tests
 Time allowed
– Time management
 Make a schedule
Physical Preparation

Get plenty of sleep
– Staying up late to cram the night before will impair
your mental abilities

Get exercise
– Aerobic activities reduce stress
– Keeps you relaxed, positive, and provides study
breaks

Eat right
– Eat breakfast before an exam to give you the energy
you need
Emotional Preparation

Know the material
– Confidence is important or doing well

Practice relaxation techniques
– Go for a run
– Sit in a quite area and take a few deep breaths
– Do some stretches

Positive self-talk
– Remind yourself that you are prepared, and will do
great!
– Self Fulfilling Prophecy
Planning for Success

Find out about the test
– Leave no unanswered questions

Schedule out study time
– Leave plenty of time to prepare

Study Groups
– Get a group of people together to review for
tests
– Quiz each other, teach each other
Planning for Success

Get a tutor
– At the SSC we have tutors for most core
classes
– Get help early on
– Go to: www.valdosta.edu/ssc
Or call: 333-7570
to schedule appointments
We are always here to help!
Studying for Tests

Make Review Sheets
– Condense notes into units for easy
management
– Make a list of key terms for quick reference
and study

Flash Cards
– Great for making use of dead time (waiting
for the bus, waiting for a class to start etc.)
Studying for Tests

Write summaries of class topics
– A good way to judge your know how is to
explain what you have learned to someone
else
Test Anxiety

Sources of Test Anxiety
– Pressure to Succeed
– Expectations of loved ones
– Lack of preparation
Test Anxiety

Specific or generalized
– One test will not make or break you
– Anxious about a specific type of test? Specific
subject?
 practice, practice, practice
Test Anxiety

Symptoms - can manifest at different times for
different people:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
“butterflies” in the stomach
Feeling queasy or nauseous
Headaches
Fast heartbeat
Hyperventilating
Shaking
Sweating
Muscle cramps
Test Anxiety

During the test
– Experience the sensation of “going blank”
– Undermines all test preparation

Severe Test Anxiety
– If you become physically ill please seek help
from a physician, campus health services, or a
counselor
Test Anxiety

Combating Test Anxiety
– Study hard, eat right, and get lots of sleep
– Long deep breathes, and a slow exhale
– Stretch routines
– Stay positive
Types of Tests

Problem-Solving Tests
– In the sciences, math, statistics, etc.
– Show all work to avoid careless mistakes
– Read all directions carefully
– Double check work when done
Types of Tests

Machine-Scored Tests
– Fill out all personal information required on
answer sheet
– Fill in each answer fully
– Make sure the number on answer sheet
corresponds to the number on the question
– Erase stray marks
Types of Tests

Computerized Tests
– Make sure you are comfortable with the
format
– Ask professor to clarify anything you don’t
understand
– If available, take practice tests
Types of Tests

Laboratory Tests
– Always attend Lab!
 This is where you practice for the exams

Review notes
– Also, practice drawing any diagrams you
might be required to recreate
Types of Tests

Open-Book/Open-Note Tests
– Usually HARDER than closed-book/closednote tests
 Professor expects more from your answers
– Study and organize your notes
– Make sure you know where everything is in
your book
– Do not make the mistake of not studying, just
because your book is there
 Looking things up in your notes or book takes
time!
Types of Tests

Take-Home Tests
– Usually HARDER than in-class tests
– Allow plenty of time to complete the take
home test
– Your professor usually expects more from
your answers
– Check with professor to find out to what
extent collaboration is allowed
Tips for Test Taking

Essay Questions
– Budget the time
– Read the question carefully
– Make an outline first
– Make answers clear, concise, and organized
– Know the key task words
 Examples: Compare, Analyze, Contrast, Criticize,
Define, Describe, Discuss, Evaluate, Etc.
Tips for Test Taking

Multiple-Choice Questions
– Read the question, and generate your own
answer
– Pick the answer that best matches your own
– If you don’t know the answer to a question
right away, narrow down your options
– Skip questions you don’t know and comeback
later. A later question might give a clue to its
answer!
Tips for Test Taking

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
– If you don’t know it right away, generate a few
possible answers
– Pick the one you feel best fits the question

True/False Questions
– For a question to be true, every detail must be true
– Definite terms such as always, never, only are usually
false
– Don’t second guess yourself when a sequence of
questions is all true or all false
Tips for Test Taking

Matching Questions
– Review all terms and descriptions before
answering
– Match the ones you are most sure of
– Use process of elimination to help finish
Before the Test

Get to class a little early
– Make sure you have all the materials you
need
– Go to the bathroom, get a drink of water
– Take a few deep breaths to calm yourself
When You Get Your Test

Skim over the whole test to get the big picture,
schedule time accordingly

“Mind Dump” – On some tests it is helpful to
write a few notes down of important concepts
you don’t want to forget

When you finish don’t leave!
– Use spare time to go back over the test to
catch mistakes
After the Test

If your professor reviews the exam, GO
TO CLASS!
– It is helpful to hear what he was looking for
and why

Review your test to see the mistakes you
made
– Reviewing mistakes and learning from them
helps you to prepare for future tests
Academic Honesty

Types of Misconduct
– Cheating – intentionally using unauthorized
materials such as notes, study aids, the guy
sitting to your left
– Plagiarism – taking another person’s ideas
and claiming them as your own.
 When in doubt, cite it

Reducing likelihood of problems
– Know the rules, Set clear boundaries with
peers, seek help when needed
Seek Help!

Student Success Center

Your Professor

Academic Advisor

Counselor

Tutor
References

Gardner, J. N., Jewler, A. J., Barefoot, B. O. (2007) Your
college experience: Strategies for success. Boston:
Thomson/Wadsworth.

http://www.d.umn.edu/kmc/student/loon/acad/strat/test_take.html

http://www.bucks.edu/~specpop/tests.htm

http://www.studygs.net/
Thanks for Coming!

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