1. Test Taking
Lecture 2
“Test Preparation”

2. Some Test
Taking Humor

3. The Importance of Preparing for Tests
Tests in college are reality—grades are earned,
not given!
Tests are 1 method of assessing your level of
understanding & are checkpoints of your
progress.
The key element to reducing test anxiety is
TO BE PREPARED!!

4. Preparing for Tests Make a 5-Day Time Manage- ment Plan to prepare for
major tests (see top of p. 6
of Packet).
Combats procrastination &
need for last-minute cramming
Promotes distributed practice & review
of material for test
Allows for specific & realistic studying.

5. How to Set Up Your 5-Day Study Plan
REVIEW
Final review of
summary notes
from Days 1-4
Set a time-line.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Days 1-4 for review of the groupings of
information (usually grouped by textbook chapters)
Day 5 for a final review of special summary notes
compiled on Days 1-4
Work with your weekly time schedule when
setting up this 5-Day Plan—this time MUST be set
aside for test prep. & should not be used for
other ongoing assignments.

6. The Steps Involved in Doing Your 5-
Day Study Plan
Make summary notes/
paragraphs or summary
flashcards on Days 1-4
& then use Day 5 to
review them—Also, review
them JUST before the test.
After such hard work…plan a
reward for yourself, and be sure
to follow through on it.
You’ll deserve it!!

7. Other Ways to Prepare Yourself for an Important Test…
Find out about the test.
Some instructors will provide you with details
about types of questions & number of
questions.
Previous students are also a source of info.,
but instructors have been known to change test
formats.

8. Predict Test Questions
Are they T/F, Multiple-Choice,
Matching, Fill-in-the-Blank,
Short Answer, or Essay?
First step is understanding kinds of test questions
(see middle part of p. 6 of Packet).
If you know test format in advance, you can use
specific study strategies suggested at the bottom
of p. 6 to better prepare yourself.
Essay questions are harder to predict.
Cover larger topics
We’ll focus exclusively on essays in Lecture 5!

9. When Should You Start Preparing for Tests?
Set up a test study schedule at THE START
OF A SEMESTER.
Do daily reviews of class material.
Early & frequent review gives facts time to
take root in your memory.
Each day you have class…do a short (10-15
minutes) pre- and post-class review of
lecture notes.
Do brief daily reviews when you read.
Short reviews should be listed on your daily
To-Do List!!

10. Continuing with Test Reviewing:
Do weekly reviews.
1 hour per subject
Longer & more structured than
daily reviews
Review both assigned readings &
lecture notes
Practice answering possible test questions.
Create and/or look over mind maps,
summaries, or flashcards.
Tools & Study Aids for Review:
Summaries—main ideas, related ideas,
supporting details
Mind maps, cluster diagrams, flashcards,
time lines, creating test questions, etc.