Tips for Exam Taking

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:

Most importantly - come prepared; arrive EARLY for tests.

Make sure you have 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.

Try to stay relaxed and confident. Remind yourself that you are well-prepared and are going to do well.

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.

Make sure you have enough room to work so that you are comfortable

READ
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

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.

Since your first choice is usually correct, don't change your answers unless you are sure of the correction

ESSAY
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. 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.

NEARLY FINISHED
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

AFTER THE EXAM

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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