Disarming Tests

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 2 Disarm Tests Grades are what we use to give power to tests Let go of your misconceptions about grades Don’t put too much pressure on yourself Keep the risk in perspective

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 3 Remember… Grades are not measures of: –Intelligence –Creativity –Self-worth Test scores do not measure accomplishment in a course— they measure performance on a test

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 4 “F” Is for Feedback, not Failure Getting an “F” means only that you failed a test—not your life An “F” is feedback that you didn’t understand the material Feedback helps you change to promote future success

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 5 What to Do Before the Test Manage your review time –Daily reviews: short, several times per day –Weekly reviews: about an hour per subject, cover reading and lecture notes –Major reviews: 2–5 hours at a stretch, week before major exams

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 6 What to Do Before the Test Schedule reviews Create review tools –Study checklists –Mind map summary sheets –Flash cards Monitor your reviews

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 7 What to Do Before the Test Plan a strategy –Take a practice test –Ask instructor what to expect –Get copies of old exams

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 8 Ways to Predict Test Questions Ask your instructor to describe the test Ask yourself: “What kind of questions would I put on the exam?” Have a separate section in your notebook labeled “test questions”

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 9 Ways to Predict Test Questions Watch for clues from instructor during class –Repeating certain points –Writing information on board –Gestures –Questions posed to students –Extensively covered material from readings

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 10 Ways to Predict Test Questions Save all quizzes, papers, lab sheets, and graded material Let your predictions guide your review

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 11 Ways to Predict Test Questions Look out for: This material will be on the test!

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 12 Cooperative Learning: Working in Teams Set an agenda Assign roles Teach each other Test each other Compare notes Work in groups of two at a computer Create wall-sized mind maps Give “book reports” in pairs Monitor each other Ask for personal support

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 13 What to Do During the Test As you begin –Arrive early –Do a relaxation exercise –If you can use scratch paper, jot down memory aids and other information –Pay attention to verbal directions

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 14 What to Do During the Test As you begin –Scan the whole test –Evaluate the importance of each section –Read the directions slowly, twice –Allow “panic time,” then let go of your anxiety

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 15 What to Do During the Test Answer easiest, shortest questions first Pace yourself Watch the time Follow your plan Look for answers in other test questions

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 16 Multiple-Choice Questions Answer questions in your head before looking at answer choices Read all answers to each question before selecting one Test each possible answer Eliminate incorrect answers

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 17 True/False Questions Read the entire question Look for qualifiers –All –Most –Sometimes –Never –Rarely

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 18 True/False Questions Look at the details: numbers, dates, and facts Watch for negatives

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 19 Computer-Graded Tests Make sure the answers you mark correspond to the right questions Check the test booklet against the answer sheet Do not make stray marks on the answer sheet Erase wrong answers completely

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 20 Open-Book Tests Organize your materials Write formulas you need on separate sheet Place Post-It ® notes or paper clips on important pages Number your class notes and create a short table of contents for them Predict the material that will be covered

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 21 Short Answer/ Fill-in-the-Blank Questions Concentrate on key words and facts Be brief Overlearn the material

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 22 Matching Tests Read through each column Make note of differences between similarly worded items Match words that are similarly grammatically Look for the word that logically completes a phrase Cross out items as you finish them

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 23 Essay Questions Find out precisely what the question is asking Make a quick outline Get right to the point Write legibly Use only one side of the paper If you have time: review for grammar and clarity

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 24 Words to Watch for in Essay Questions Analyze Compare Contrast Criticize Define Describe Discuss Explain Prove Relate State Summarize Trace

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 25 The Costs of Cheating Penalty may be failure or expulsion We learn less We lose time and money Fear of getting caught promotes stress Violating our values promotes stress Cheating once makes it easier to compromise our integrity Cheating lowers our self-concept