test+taking+tips


 * Preparing for Tests **

Set a realistic study schedule and begin studying early
Short study sessions spread out over time are more efficient and effective than a single period of condensed study. Also, begin your study sessions with a quick review of the material you've previously studied, so that this previous material stays fresh even though you studied it in detail weeks before the test. If you learn a little each day and allow plenty of time for repeated reviews, you will enhance your long-term memory. Avoid the temptation to cram for tests; your short-term memory hasn't enough space for all that you need to know.

Identify what concepts are most important
Set priorities and study the most important concepts first.

Try to identify the content of the questions you will be asked
Anticipate test questions. Ask yourself: "If I were making up this test, I would probably ask...", and then answer these questions.

Do not simply memorize facts
You will have to go beyond straight memorization. Concentrate on understanding the material taught; compare it, contrast it, and interpret its meaning. Focus on understanding the ideas and concepts in the course which knit the facts and details together. You must be more than familiar with the material; you must be able to write it down, talk about it, analyse it, and apply it. If there are graphs, tables, or figures on the test you will be asked to interpret data.

Actively summarize
For each major concept, integrate information from your lecture notes, the lecture presentations, text in the printed guide, and required readings onto a summary sheet by diagramming, charting, outlining, categorizing in tables, or writing paragraph summaries of the information. Your studying should also focus on defining, explaining, and applying terms.

Study with other well-prepared students
These study sessions will give you the opportunity to ask questions and further your understanding of the course material.

Review past tests
to experience the style of questions that have been asked in the past, as an indication of what you might expect, and to determine the level of thinking required (recognition, synthesis, analysis, application) and the degree of difference between incorrect and correct responses. But don't spend too much time on this. Your time is better spent mastering the present material = = =** Controlling Test Anxiety **=

** Be prepared emotionally and physically, as well as intellectually **
Be prepared to do your best. Prepare your brain for optimum performance by keeping your physical resources well maintained. Get a good night's rest before the test. Eat well balanced meals; avoid fasting and do not take stimulants you are not accustomed to (e.g., coffee, soft drinks, chocolate). And keep up with your regular exercise.

Stay away from others right before the test
Anxiety is highly contagious. It is best to focus on what you know rather than on what you don't know. Reinforce your strengths and confine your weaknesses. For this reason it is also best not to study new material the night before a test.

Arrive at the test room early
Give yourself enough time to select a seat and calm down before the test papers are distributed. Select a seat where the lighting is best (frequently near the front of the room) and where your view of other students will be minimized. Remember to bring your student card and more than one HB pencil. Dress warmly and comfortably (and in layers, so you can put on your sweater if you're cold).

Don't expect to know everything
It is highly unlikely that any student will answer all questions correctly. Remember that a grade of 75% on a test, which is evidence of a good grasp of the subject matter, means that 25% of the questions were answered incorrectly. So, don't panic if you see a question you did not anticipate or prepare for. Use everything you know about the content of the course and your own reasoning ability to analyse the question and identify a logical answer.

=** Strategies During the Test **=

** Preview the test **
Preview the whole test before beginning to answer any questions. Make sure your copy has no missing or duplicate pages. Read the directions carefully.

Start with questions you can readily answer
to build your confidence and to save time for the harder ones. When you identify a correct response carefully mark this on the question paper. If you are unable to make a choice and need to spend more time with the question, or you answered the question but are not at all sure that you made the correct choice, put a big question mark beside that question, and move on to the next. Avoid getting bogged down on one question part of the way through the exam. It is much better to move on and finish all of those questions that you can answer and then to come back later to process the problematic questions. Sometimes the answer will occur to you simply because you are more relaxed after having answered other questions.

Plan your time and pace yourself
Allocate your time. For example, for a 90-minute test with 50 questions plan to spend about 1 to 2 minutes per question (as all test questions in BIO150Y are equally weighted). If you cannot answer a question within this time, skip it and come back to it later. Set progress points at the beginning of the test and use them to monitor your progress, such as, know what question you should be answering at the 30-minute mark.

Allocate time to review your answers
and to transfer your answers to the computer sheet. It is best to transfer all responses to the answer sheet at the same time once you have answered all questions on your question paper (thus reducing the probability of making a mistake). Note however that you will not be given additional time at the end of the test to transfer your answers.

Read each question carefully
Multiple-choice tests also examine your ability to read carefully and thoughtfully, as much as they test your ability to recall and reason. Circle or underline key words, such as "all," "always," "never," "none," "not," "few," "many," some," and "sometimes." Identifying what lecture, reading, or laboratory exercise the question is from might help you narrow the choice of possible responses. (On many tests the questions are scrambled and do not follow the order that topics were presented in lectures or labs.)  Answer each question as the professor intended, that is, within the context of the course material that was taught.  Some students find it helpful to read the question and try to recall the answer from memory before looking at each of the five responses.  Identify if the question is looking for a true or false statement. Then label each of the five responses as "true" or "false" and eliminate those that do not correctly complete the question.  and don't just stop when you come upon the one that seems likely.
 * Identify key words **
 * Identify subject area **
 * Identify what is being asked **
 * The "cover up" strategy **
 * The "true/false" strategy **
 * Read each of the five responses**...

... Change answers only if you have a good reason for doing so. (Changing your answer from response "b" because you selected "b" to the previous two questions is not a good reason.) The origin of the myth that students most often change correct answers to wrong answers is probably that it is the wrong answers that students remember most when reviewing the test (for you are less likely to remember the answers you changed from "wrong" to "right"). If two responses appear to be equally correct... === eliminate the response that appears to be least related to the question being asked. Remember, you are looking for the best answer, not only a correct one. Some responses may be correct but are not directly related to the question. === as there is no penalty for wrong answers. Eliminate the responses you know are incorrect. Narrow down your selection to two responses and then compare them and identify how they differ. Finally, make an informed guess.
 * Don't select a response just because you remember learning the information in the course; it may be a "true" statement in its own right, but not the correct answer to the question.
 * Don't dismiss a response because it seems too obvious and simple an answer; if you are well prepared for the test, some of the questions may appear very straight forward.
 * Don't be persuaded by fancy terms in the question; don't say to yourself, "That sounds impressive, so it must be the right answer."
 * As you read through the possible responses, mark off the ones you know are wrong. This will save time if you have to come back to the question later.
 * Should I change an answer?**
 * If you are not certain of an answer, guess**...

=** After the Test **= **Learn from returned tests** to better prepare for future tests. When a graded test has been returned, rework your errors trying to reason out why the correct answers were correct. Identify why you might have missed a question. Did you fail to read it correctly? Did you fail to prepare for it? Was the test at a more difficult level than you prepared for? Did you run out of time? Did you have any problems with anxiety before or during the test? If you did not do as well as you expected on a test, examine the way you prepared and adjusted your style of learning and studying to equip yourself to do better on future tests.