Test Taking Tips: 9/22/2022
If you missed our Test Taking Tips with the Tutor Lunch and Learn...here are a few tips from Sue!

TEST TAKING TIPS FROM THE TUTOR

Day to Day:

• Take good notes in class...not word for word, use outline form, use voice recorders, etc. Date the notes.

• Be involved in class….you are there to learn, not be a sponge. Speak up, ask questions, ask your instructor to repeat something if you didn’t hear or understand.

• Review your notes daily and add information when you are reading.

• Prioritize new vocabulary. Learn the language of your class, this is essential to understanding especially in sciences and nursing.

• Keep up on your reading. 

Using your textbook:

• Skim the chapters assigned to get an overview before reading by looking at bold/italicized words, charts, graphs and pictures. Be sure to also look at chapter introductions and review questions.

• Use the learning tools provided in the book. Headings and subtitles introduce main ideas; bold and italic print highlight key terms; pictures and graphics help you visualize information; vocab lists introduce new terms; chapter summaries give you an overview and review questions test your comprehension of what you have read.

• Read purposefully. Turn headings into questions and when you have finished reading that information, see if you can answer your questions. This will help you to keep focused as you read.

• Review. Once you finish reading an assignment, take a few minutes to review your notes or the headings. What do you remember? Do the chapter review questions at this time and look up the answers.

Assignments:

• Know when assignments are due. Do not leave assignments until the night before or day they are due.

• Take pride in your work, make it neat and type it if possible.

• BE AN ACTIVE LEARNER. Do not wait until the last minute to read, study, or expect the instructor to give you all of the answers ahead of time. 

Test Taking:

• When taking an exam, if you get stuck on a question, skip it, make a note of it and return to it later. 

• Multiple choice: think of answers before you look at choices. Then look at all choices before choosing, crossing out ones you are sure are wrong. If you still have more than one possible answer, return to it later.

• True/False: look for anything that would make the statement false. Words that are red flags are absolute words such as always , never, all, none– usually these are false. Words like usually, sometimes signify a true answer.

• Open book tests: Use sticky notes to mark important pages and information. Highlight notes. 

• Essay tests: Read all of the questions first, then start with the one you think is the easiest. Before you begin to write, jot down notes and ideas you want to cover. Use complete sentences and write neatly. Be sure there is a beginning, middle and end to your answer. Also , if you are short on time, choose to do the ones that will give you the most points.

• Math tests: Show all your work, write numbers neatly. If you have difficulties with a problem, draw a picture or diagram. Remember to monitor how much time you are spending on a problem. If you can’t get it, move on and come back to it when you are done with the rest of the test. This is to prevent you running out of time with only a few problems completed.

• Whatever you do, don’t second guess your answers. You will usually change a correct answer to an incorrect one if you do this.

• To help with test anxiety:

• Get a good night’s sleep, have breakfast and get to class early.

• Caffeine and energy drinks increase anxiety.

• Take some deep breaths, take a walk, stretch or meditate before test. Any of these can help decrease your anxiety.

• Visualize yourself taking the test and answering the questions calmly and correctly.

• Get rid of negative thoughts like, “I am not going to pass”. Instead, think, “I have studied for this, and I will do fine”.