Improving Your Performance on Exams and Tests

Chapter 9

Before the Test Preparation Study in the testing room Prepare Mentally – RELAX Have your supplies organized Arrive on time

General Strategies Dump information Read the directions Scan the test Develop a plan Read the questions carefully Make educated guesses Watch out for careless errors

Types of Tests

Essay Tests Multiple-Choice

Pre-test preparation Read directions

carefully Budget your time Read all questions first Directional words Pick a title & outline Write methodically Check your work Surprise questions?

Work quickly Consider the

instructor Guess before

choosing Process of

elimination Clue words &

numbers Multiple answers Educated guesses Change answers

Types of Tests

True/False Matching

Read questions carefully

Clue words Don’t overthink Guess Don’t change

answers

Read directions carefully

Read the most complex column first

Do easy questions first

Do difficult questions next

Write explanations

Types of Tests

Fill-in & Short Answer Vocabulary

Read questions carefully

Look for clues Don’t overanalyze Watch the blanks Think of the info

requested Educated guesses Over answer

Watch for word traps Not quite sure? Educated guesses

Types of Tests

Number ProblemsTake-Home& Open-Book

Work systematically Organize your work Use all given

information Study visual aids

carefully Don’t quit Multiple choice Check your answers

Synthesize Avoid plagiarism Proofread Do your own work Keep copies Have enough time Work quickly