Taking Tests
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© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
You’re About to
Discover…
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Joe Cloud
p. 236-237
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Testing 1, 2, 3…
Focus TV:
Test Taking
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Before the Test:
Prepare Carefully
Turn to page 239 put a + by items you do regularly and a
R by items you could start doing.
1. Begin preparing for an exam on the first day of class.
2. Put all the exams for all your courses on your calendar.
3. Find out exactly what the test will cover.
4. Understand that you should prepare differently
for different types of tests.
5. Make a study schedule.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Before the Test:
Prepare Carefully
6. Begin serious reviewing several days before the test.
7. Maximize your memory.
8. Get everything ready the night before.
9. Manage your energy, focus, and work quickly.
10. Don’t give in to a nonproductive, negative attitude.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Before the Test:
Prepare Carefully
11. Study with other students.
12. Remind yourself of your long-term goals.
13. Arrive at the classroom early, but not too early.
14. Don’t pop pills to stay awake.
15. Don’t let open-book or take-home tests
lull you into a false sense of security.
16. Don’t mess with success.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Cramming:
Does “All or Nothing” Really Work?
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Do YOU Have Test Anxiety?
The four aspects of test anxiety:
Cognitive Aspects
Emotional Aspects
Physiological Aspects
Behavioral Aspects
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Exercise 10.1:
Anxiety Survey
Reduce Math Anxiety
Increase Test Scores
1. Get to know your calculator (like it’s your best friend).
2. Concentrate on comprehension, not memorization.
3. Maximize opportunities to practice.
4. Make flashcards.
5. Hit the “redo” button.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
During the Test:
Focus and Work Hard
Turn to page 248 put a + by items you do regularly
and a R by items you could start doing
1. Jot down what you don’t want to forget right away.
2. Preview the exam.
3. Start with what you know.
4. Weigh your answers.
5. Read directions thoroughly.
6. Read questions carefully.
7. If the test has a mixed format, complete the multiplechoice questions first.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
During the Test:
Focus and Work Hard
8. Explain your answer to a confusing question in the margin
of your test.
9. Change your answers if you’re convinced you’re wrong.
10. Ask your instructor for clarification.
11. Pay attention to “aha” moments.
12. Don’t give in to peer pressure.
13. Save time for review.
14. Be strategic about taking online tests.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Types of Tests
True-False: Truly a 50–50 Chance of Getting It Right?
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Watch for parts that make the whole statement false.
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Assume statements are true until you can prove them false.
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Watch for absolutes; they often make a statement false.
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Look for qualifiers; they often make a statement true.
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Remember: negatives can be confusing.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Types of Tests
Multiple Choice or Multiple Guess?
Taking the Guesswork Out.
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Think of answers on your own before reading your choices.
Line up your test and answer sheet.
Determine the TPI (time per item).
Don’t decide answers based on the law of averages.
Use a process of elimination and guess if there’s no penalty.
Look for highly similar pairs.
Look for contradictory answers.
Watch out for tricks intended to trip-up the unprepared!
Consider each answer as an individual true-false question.
Be wary of “all of the above” or “none of the above” options.
Watch for terms that have been emphasized.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Exercise 10.2:
Multiple Choice
Types of Tests
Short-Answer, Fill in the Blank, and Matching Tests
 Think of short-answer
questions like mini-essays.
 Think it through.
 Try different combinations of
words.
 Match items you’re certain
about and cross them out.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Types of Tests
Taking Subjective Essay Tests
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Save enough time for essays.
Make brief notes.
Read all the questions first.
State your thesis up front.
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Provide support for your thesis.
Zero in on the verb.
Use terms from the course.
Rifle your answer, don’t shotgun.
Generalize if you’re unsure of details.
Watch your grammar.
Write an answer that reflects what the
question is worth.
•
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Put down what you do know.
Proofread and make sure your
handwriting can be read.
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If you run out of time, jot down
anything else you can remember.
•
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Summarize at the end.
Don’t Cheat Yourself
1. Remember that cheating snowballs.
2. Instead of saving time, cheating can take time.
3. If you cheat now, you’ll pay later.
4. If you do get caught, cheating may do you in.
5. Cheating is just plain wrong.
“ ”
For nothing can seem foul to
those that win.
William Shakespeare
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
After the Test: Continue to Learn
Turn to page 261 put a + by items you do
regularly and a R by items you could start doing
1. Analyze your results.
2. Read your instructor’s comments
and take them to heart.
3. Explain your grade to yourself.
4. Be honest.
5. Make a specific plan for the
next test.
6. Approach your instructor
politely if you believe your
exam was mismarked.
7. Reward yourself for good
(study) behavior.
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
“ ”
Non scholae sed vitae discrimus.
(We do not learn for school, but for life.)
Lucius Annaeus Seneca,
Roman philosopher and statesman
VARK Activity
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
p. 263
Chapter 10: Exercises and Activities
Chapter Exercise
p. 243
Test Anxiety Survey
Chapter Exercise
p. 254
Multiple-Choice Test
Audio
Chapter Summary
Focus TV:
Test Taking
Audio Summary of Chapter 10
Focus TV: Test Taking
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© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Test Anxiety Survey
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Exercise 10.1, p. 243
Multiple-Choice Test
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Exercise 10.2, p. 254
Chapter 10 Audio Summary
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
FOCUS TV
Test Taking
Focus TV
Discussion ?s
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FOCUS TV Discussion Questions
1. FOCUS correspondent, Matt McClain, says that “testing isn’t only part
of college; it’s part of life.” What do you think he means?
2. Both Matt and testing expert, Rob Franek, say that students can change
their attitude about taking tests. How?
3. Rob says that for many students, dealing with the emotional component
of testing is more of a challenge than mastering the material to be
learned. Are you a victim of test anxiety? Look back at the FOCUS testtaking chapter to see if you have any symptoms and identify those you
may recognize in yourself.
4. Testing yourself before the actual test is identified in this episode as a
good strategy. In which of your courses this term would this practice be
particularly helpful? How, exactly, would you go about it? Would you
work with a study partner and swap your self-made tests? Would you
practice writing out essay questions and then try to critique them
objectively to improve your answers? What would work best?
5. The word “confidence” as it relates to test-taking comes up several
times in this episode of FOCUS TV. What must students do to build
confidence for taking tests?
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
FOCUS on Community
College Success
F CUSPoints
An Interactive Teaching Tool
FOCUS on COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUCCESS
Second Edition
Chapter 10
Constance Staley and Aren Moore
© 2012 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning