STUDY TIPS FOR STUDENTS:  TEST PREPARATION

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1. Test Preparation

  1. Listen to what the teacher reviews, and ask what you should study
  2. Review your class notes
  3. Look over your homework assignments
  4. Look at the textbook again and check out summaries and important points
  5. Use your study area
  6. Organize you notes and materials
  7. Review, visualize, and recite your material
  8. Test yourself to see what you know
  9. Make and use flash cards
  10. Study with a friend and test each other

2. Test taking pointers

  1. Read directions very carefully
  2. Skim entire test
  3. Read the test, answer questions that you know the answers to right away
  4. Go through the test again, answer questions you left blank
  5. DO NOT  change any answers you marked unless you are absolutely sure they are wrong.  Your first impulse is usually correct
  6. Use remaining time to review your answers

3. True/False Tests

  1. Mark “true” only if  a statement is COMPLETELY true
  2. Mark “false” if any part of a statement is false
  3. Words such as “all, always, never, none, only best and worst” usually make a statement false.
  4. Words such as “often, probably, sometimes, and usually” often make a statement true.
  5. Do not change your first answer unless you’re positive it was wrong

4. Matching tests

           i.      Match the ones you know first and cross them out

          ii.      Go through the others. Eliminate any that are obviously wrong

          iii.      See if the last step left you with only one answer

        iv.      When you have eliminated all of your options, guess

         v.      Use each item only once unless the directions tell you otherwise

5. Multiple choice

  1. After reading the question, first try to answer the question in the questions in your head without reading any of the listed choices. Then check to see if one of the listed choices matches your answer; if so, mark it.
  2. If you don’t know the answer, eliminate any that you know are wrong. Eliminate any silly answers.
  3. Pick the best answer from the remaining ones

6. Essay tests

  1. Read all of the questions and mark the ones that you know the answers to –if you have a choice. 
  2. Make an outline or amp of the main idea and supporting details
  3. Check the clock to make sure you have enough time.
  4. Cover only the points asked for in the question
  5. Start with a good topic sentence
  6. End with a good summary sentence

Useful Links:

www.act.org

www.collegeboard.com

www.march2success.com