McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Peak Performance: Success In College And Beyond Chapter 8 Excel At Taking Tests McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

McGraw-Hill Learning Outcomes Prepare for tests Describe strategies for taking tests Use test results Take different types of tests Use special tips for math and science tests Overcome test anxiety

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Success Principle 8 Focus on UNDERSTANDING, not testing.

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Test-Taking Strategies Before the Test –Start on day one –Know expectations –Ask questions in class –Keep up –Review immediately –Review weekly

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Test-Taking Strategies –Do a final review –Use memory techniques –Create sample tests –Summarize –Use your study team –Use all available resources –Assemble what you will need

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Test-Taking Strategies During the test –Read and listen to all instructions –Write down key information –Scan the entire test

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Test-Taking Strategies –Answer objective questions –Answer essay questions –Answer remaining questions –Review

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Test-Taking Strategies After the test –Reward yourself –Analyze and assess Confirm your grade Determine common types of mistakes Learn what to do differently next time

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Test-Taking Strategies  Did I read the test before I started?  What were my strengths? What did I do right?  What questions did I miss?  Did I miss clues in the test? “We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.” Lloyd Alexander Author

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Test-Taking Strategies  Did I ask the instructor for clarification?  How well did I know the content on which I was being tested?  What should I have studied more?  Did I anticipate the style and format of the questions?  What didn’t I expect?

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Test-Taking Strategies  Did I have trouble with certain types of questions?  Did I test myself with the right questions?  Did I handle test anxiety well?  Would it have helped if I had studied with others?  What changes will I make in studying for the next test?

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Test-Taking Strategies –Review with your instructor –Review the test with your study team

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Taking Different Types of Tests True/False Tests –Read the entire question before answering –Pay attention to details –Watch for qualifiers –Watch for faulty cause and effect –Always answer every question –Trust your instincts

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Taking Different Types of Tests Multiple-Choice Tests –Read the question carefully –Rephrase the question –Cover the potential answers –Eliminate choices –Go from easy to difficult

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Taking Different Types of Tests –Watch for combinations –Look at sentence structure –Use critical thinking

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Taking Different Types of Tests Matching Tests –Read carefully –Eliminate –Look for clues

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Taking Different Types of Tests Fill-In-The-Blank Tests –Watch for grammatical clues –Count the number of blanks –Watch for the length of the blank

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Taking Different Types of Tests Open-Book Tests Typically goes beyond basic recall Requires preparation Mark important areas in book Requires critical thinking Use your own words

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Taking Different Types of Tests Essay Tests –Budget your writing time –Read the question carefully –Create an outline –Focus on main points –Write concisely and correctly –Use key terms and phrases

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Taking Different Types of Tests –Answer completely –Write neatly –Use all the available time

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Special Strategies for Math and Science Tests Use note cards Write key information Write the problem in longhand Make an estimate

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Special Strategies for Math and Science Tests Illustrate the problem Ask yourself questions Show your work Do a similar problem “’Obvious’ is the most dangerous word in mathematics.” Eric Temple Bell Mathematician, author

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Special Strategies for Math and Science Tests State answers in the simplest terms Pay attention to the sign Check your work Review

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Last-Minute Study Tips Focus on a few points Intend to be positive Review your note cards Review your notes Affirm your memory

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Overcome Obstacles Test Anxiety –Dispute negative thoughts and conversations –Rehearse –Get regular exercise –Eat breakfast –Visualize success “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” Vince Lombardi Professional football coach

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Overcoming Obstacles –Stay calm –Get to class early –Focus –Keep a sense of perspective –Get help

Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Overcoming Obstacles Cheating Violates your integrity Erodes confidence Creates academic problems Increases stress Brings high risks

McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Peak Performance: Success In College And Beyond Chapter 8 Excel At Taking Tests