1. Taking Tests
Transitions Silver

2. It’s the morning of a big test….
Can you relate to any of these students?
Peggy has her textbook open and is hurriedly flipping pages, muttering, “There just isn’t enough time.”
Alan is wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans, whispering, “I know I can’t do this.”
David shrugs and says, “I always study the wrong things.”
Susan gasps, “An essay test! But I studied for multiple-choice!”
Carl just shakes his head. “I always make stupid mistakes, even when I know the answers.”

3. Benefits of Test Taking Skills
Using the right techniques will allow you to:
Show your teachers what you know
Increase the likelihood of doing your best on tests
Eliminate loss of credit caused by careless mistakes, misunderstanding of directions, etc.
Reduce test anxiety

4. Check your current skills- True or False?
If I get stuck on a test question, I skip it and come back to it later if there is time.
When I have finished a test, I usually turn in my paper without checking for errors.
Before starting to answer an essay question, I frequently make a brief outline of my answer.
I usually read through all the options in a multiple-choice item before choosing my answer.
I have difficulty organizing my answers to essay questions.

5. Check your current skills- True or False?
I often spend too much time on the first half of a test and have to rush through the last half.
I begin a test by carefully reading the directions.
I often run out of time when taking an essay test.
I often miss questions because of careless mistakes – even though I know the correct answers.
When taking an essay test, I usually glance through all the questions before answering any of them.

6. General Test Taking Tips
Get organized
What should the day before, the night before, the morning before, the hour before, etc. look like?
Follow directions
Where do directions on a test come from?
Plan your time
How should you decide to spend your time on a test?
Read thoroughly
What if you are still confused?

7. General Test Taking Tips
Don’t rush
What if everyone else is finishing before you?
Have a panic strategy
How do you deal with panic or stress?
Check your work
What should you be looking for?

8. Strategies for Specific Kinds of Tests
Objective Tests:
Do all questions
Read all answer choices
Time yourself
Watch wording
Watch for qualifiers
Watch for modifiers
Watch for multiple concepts
Check your work

9. Strategies for Specific Kinds of Tests
Problem Tests (like math or science)
Make notes
Work problems one step at a time
Do all that you can
Be organized
Check your work

10. Strategies for Specific Kinds of Tests
Essay Tests:
Read all questions before beginning
Answer the easiest questions first
Concentrate on one question at a time
Understand the questions
Make an outline
Get to the point
Include facts
Be neat
Allow room to expand
Check your work

11. Progress Check
If a doctor gave you three pills and told you to take one every half hour, how long would they last?
How many months have twenty-eight days?
American independence from England is celebrated on the 4th of July. Do they also have a 4th of July in England?
If you had only one match and entered a dark room where there was an oil lamp, oil heater, and some kindling wood, which would you light first?
A farmer had 17 sheep and all but nine drowned in a flood. How many did he have left?

12. Progress Check
Did you get all the answers correct? If not, you probably also make careless errors on more “serious” tests. Remember to read questions carefully and think before answering.

13. Next Steps Learn from your mistakes
Review tests that are returned to you
Reflect on the challenges that you had