Test Taking Tips

Like it or not, most of your success in college will be based on test performance, so developing a practical test taking strategy is vitally important. Bear in mind that there is no universal strategy that will work for every student. You must explore various test taking techniques and refine your own strategy.

PREPARING FOR THE TEST

USE YOUR SYLLABUS: Determine how many tests you will have, and how much each test counts toward your overall grade. Also, does the instructor drop the lowest test grade? Knowing the answer to these questions helps put you in control of the tests, and not the tests in control of you.

ASK ABOUT THE TEST FORMAT: Be assertive! Come right out and ask your instructor about the type of tests he/she gives. Is it multiple choice, fill in the blank, true-false? The more you know about the test, the less threatening it becomes.

TALK TO OTHER STUDENTS: Try to find other students who have completed the course and ask them about the testing format and the types of questions to expect. Although the instructor will not usually give the same test, format and general question type will probably be similar.

STUDY IN GROUPS: Pool your knowledge with other students in your class. I may not understand a particular topic, but you do and are able to explain it to me. In turn, I may be able to explain another topic to you. This is a great way to cover a large amount of information in a short period of time.

TAKE A PRACTICE TEST: Check with the ACTT Center to see if the instructor has any old tests or practice tests on file. If so, take a look at the test and combine this with the knowledge you already have. Again, the more you know about the test, the less anxious you will feel.
 

TAKING THE TEST

Begin your test feeling confident. You have prepared for this test, you know what to expect, and you have studied the material. Maintain that level of confidence throughout the test. Use the following test checklist:

• Glance through the entire test. Estimate the amount of time you will have for each answer.
• Underline the key words in the questions.
• Eliminate the answers you know are wrong (e.g. sentences containing words such as “all,” “always,”, or “never” are often incorrect.)
• Watch for choices like “all of the above” or “a and b only.” There may be more than one correct answer listed among the choices.
• Answer questions you are sure of first. Put a ? next to those you are not sure of. Put an * next to those you do not know at all. Answer the ? questions next, then the * questions.
• Do not change your answers. Your first answers are most likely to be correct.
• Use information from the answers you are most sure of as clues to answer questions you are less sure of.
• On math tests, check your work by estimating answers.
• Check over your test after you have finished it.
• When you are given a separate machine scored answer sheet, make sure the numbers you mark match those in the test booklet.

TEST TYPE HINTS

Multiple Choice

• Select “best” answers; they may  not be perfect
• Don’t waste time on one question
• Eliminate wrong answers
• Watch for qualifying terms; all, never, always
• Does the answer make grammatical sense
• Is there a penalty for guessing
• If guessing, the longest answer is usually correct
• If guessing, the first answer is least likely to be correct

• For true, every part of the sentence must be true
• Watch for qualifying terms
• Longer answers tend to be correct

• Does the answer make grammatical sense
• Watch for qualifying terms

• Use a pencil; you may have to change your answers
• Use lines to connect the answers

• Use an outline; organize your thoughts
• Make sure you understand the directions

1. Maintain a true sense of self-confidence
2. Do well on the test
3. Not experience test anxiety 

YOU CAN DO IT!