| If
you have any doubts about the fairness of tests, or
of the ability of tests to measure your performance,
please see your academic counseling service. |
When
you take a test,
you are demonstrating your ability
to understand course material, or perform certain
tasks.
The
test forms the basis of evaluation or judgement
for your course of study.
There
are many environmental conditions,
including your own attitudes and conditions,
which influence how you perform during tests.
These
suggestions may help:
- Come prepared;
arrive early for tests
Bring all the materials you will need such as pencils
and pens, a calculator, a dictionary, and a watch.
This will help you focus on the task at hand
- Stay relaxed and
confident
Remind yourself that you are well-prepared and are going
to do well.
Don't let yourself become anxious; if
you feel anxious before or during a test, take several
slow, deep breaths to relax
Don't talk to other students before a test;
anxiety is contagious
- Be comfortable
but alert
Choose a good spot to take the test.
Make sure you have enough room to work.
Maintain an upright posture in your seat
- Preview the test (if
it is not timed)
Spend 10% of your test time reading through the test
carefully, marking key terms and deciding how to budget
your time.
Plan to do the easy questions first and the most
difficult questions last.
As you read the questions, jot down brief notes
indicating ideas you can use later in your answers
- Answer the test
questions in a strategic order
Begin by answering the easy questions you know, then
those with the highest point value.
The last questions you answer should
- be the most
difficult,
- take the greatest
amount of writing, or
- have the least point
value
- When taking a
multiple choice test, know when to guess
First eliminate answers you know are wrong.
Always guess when there is no penalty for
guessing or you can eliminate options.
Don't guess if you have no basis for your choice
and if you are penalized for guessing.
Since your first choice is usually correct, don't
change your answers unless you are sure of the
correction
- When taking essay
tests, think before you write
Create a brief outline for your essay by jotting down a
few words to indicate ideas you want to discuss. Then
number the items in your list to indicate the order in
which you will discuss them
- When taking an
essay test, get right to the point
State your main point in the first sentence.
Use your first paragraph to provide an overview
of your essay.
Use the rest of your essay to discuss these
points in more detail.
Back up your points with specific information,
examples, or quotations from your readings and notes
- Reserve 10% of
your test time for review
Review your test;
resist the urge to leave as soon as you have completed
all the items.
Make sure you have answered all the questions.
Proofread your writing for spelling, grammar, and
punctuation.
Check your math answers for careless mistakes (e.g.
misplaced decimals). Match your actual answers for math
problems against quick estimates
- Analyze your test
results
Each test can further prepare you for the next test.
Decide which strategies worked best for you.
Identify those that didn't work well and replace
them.
Use your tests to review when studying for final
exams.
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