Transcript Test Taking Strategies The “PASS” System

Test Taking Strategies
“Study is nothing else
but a possession of the
mind.”
Thomas Hobbes, 1651
Obtained from Facebook post 4/16/13
Study Modalities
• Memory builders
– Organization of information
• Writing lists, charts, and tables from notes
and texts
– Classification and grouping of items is highly
effective in forming connections and boosting
memory (“chunking” of information)
– Mnemonics
– Knowledge of optimal study environment/time of
day
– The Pomodoro technique
• 3 cycles of 20-25 minute studying followed by 5-minute breaks X
2; after 3rd cycle, break for ½ hour
Study modalities
• Index cards
• Study groups
– Can you explain a concept to someone else?
• Practice MC QUESTIONS!!!
– Increases knowledge
– Increases skill in taking exams
– Post item analysis is extremely important
MCE Post item analysis
• Why did I answer that way???
– DNK! (did not know!)
• Go back and review concept
– Misread the stem
• Easy to miss words, read as something else
– RUSHED the answer
• Rushing is theorized to be responsible for
most NCE failures
Preparation
•Begin early
Do not cram – studies have shown that retention of
information is increased over the long term!
Dietary Habits
• Food
– Fresh fruits and vegetables are recommended to
reduce stress
• Stress-inducing foods
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Processed or preserved foods
Chocolate
Eggs
Fried foods
Junk foods, chips, similar snack foods
Artificial sweeteners
Pork, red meat
White flour products
Carbonated soft drinks
Spicy foods
Dietary Habits
– Dietary habits/supplements
–Folic acid, Vitamin E
–Gingko biloba (efficacy in question)
–Epicatechin, a flavonol found in tea,
grapes, blueberries, and cocoa,
enhances memory in mice; the effect
increases further when coupled with
exercise (Journal of Neuroscience
5/30/07)
Optimism!!
• Attitude
– Approach exams with a positive, upbeat
attitude—”I am well prepared; I’m going to ace
this exam!” and other self-fulfilling prophecytype statements
– Do you have test taker’s anxiety?
• Practice relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques
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Deep breathing
Visualization
Mantras
Repeating S-T-O-P over and
over
• VISUALIZE yourself sitting at the
computer, taking the NCE, and knowing
the answers
Stamina
– Good sleep is crucial in the days leading up to
the exam
• Do not cram until the wee hours
• Minimize ETOH and other “mind manipulators” in
the days leading up to the exam
– “You are what you eat”
• Don’t go to the exam on an empty stomach
• Don’t “carb load”; balance carbs with protein so
that you don’t “crash” mid-exam
Multiple Choice Exams
• MCEs tend to focus on details which are
not typically well retained in short-term
memory
– Repetition and learning small amounts each
day allow for a more reliable long-term
memory
• Because MCEs contain many questions,
the student needs to be familiar with a
much broader range of materials
MCE Questions
– Usually include a phrase or stem
followed by three to five options
• “Distractors” options which mimic the correct
answer and attract attention
• “Foils” options which contrast with all others
making it seem as though it is the correct answer
• Be sure to take the time to read the
stem carefully!
Multiple Choice Exams
• Improve your odds of answering by
thinking critically
1) Cover the options, read the stem, and
attempt to answer; choose the option that
most closely matches your original answer
2) Read the stem with each option, treating it
as a true-false question; choose the “most
true”
Strategies to Answer Questions
• Immediately eliminate any option(s) that
you know to be incorrect
• Question any option that doesn’t
grammatically fit with the stem
– Look for grammatical clues (i.e. “an” at the
end of the stem—correct response begins
with a vowel)
Strategies to Answer Questions
• Question options that are totally
unfamiliar to you
• Question options that contain
negative or absolute words
Key Distractor Words
• “Absolute” determiners
– Always
– Never
– All
– None
– Must
– Only
• Responses containing these words are less
likely to be correct than those containing
conditional or “gray” terms
Key Distractor Words
• Conditional or “gray” terms
– Sometimes, somewhat
– Some, few
– Frequently
– Often, usually
– Generally
– Many, majority
– On the average
– Probably
Key Distractor Words
• Always read the stem slowly and carefully!
– It is easy to miss the terms:
• Not
• Except
– May see these on the NCE exam but efforts are
being made by item writers to gradually
eliminate these questions
– May sometimes be italicized, but not always
Strategies to Answer
Questions
• Trust your knowledge if an answer seems
too easy
– Don’t read into questions
– Don’t think that the question is a “trick”
– Do check to make sure that none of the other
answers seems better than your initial
response
Strategies to Answer Difficult
Questions
• “All of the above”
– If you know that at least 2 of the options seem
correct, all of the above is a strong possibility
• Don’t fall into the “all of the above” trap, however
– Beware of the “none of the above” option
• Frequently the wrong answer
Strategies to Answer Difficult
Questions
• Number answers
– If you have absolutely NO idea
what the answer is, toss out the
high and low and consider the
middle numbers
Strategies to Answer Difficult
Questions
• “Look alike options”
– One may be correct; if so, choose
the one that makes the most
sense
• Eliminate choices that mean basically
the same thing, and thus cancel each
other out
Strategies to Answer Difficult
Questions
• If two alternatives seem
correct, compare them for
differences, then refer to the
stem to find your best answer
Strategies to Answer Difficult
Questions
• Echo options
– If two options are opposite each
other, chances are that one of
them is the correct answer
Strategies to Answer Difficult
Questions
• Favor options that contain
qualifiers and adjectives
– The result is longer, more
inclusive items that better fill the
role of the answer
• The longest response is often the
correct one
Strategies to Answer Difficult
Questions
• Look for verbal associations
– A response that repeats key
words that are in the stem is likely
to be correct
If All Else Fails…
• Choose response b or c
– Many item writers subconsciously
feel that the correct answer is
“hidden” better if it is surrounded
by distractors
– Response “a” is usually least likely
to be the correct one
– Don’t look for patterns – it is a
computer adaptive exam!
• Don’t panic if the last 6 answers were
all “b”…
Guessing
• Always guess when there is no penalty
(you will have to guess to move on!)
– Do NOT waste > 2 minutes on a question that you do
not know the answer to! Answer! Move on!!
• Use common sense or logic when
attempting to select the best possible
answer
• Use hints from previous known questions
to answer questions that you don’t know
???Should you change an answer before
hitting enter???
Changing Answers
• Used to be taboo—i.e. “Go with
your first instinct!”
• Newer thought is to change the
answer only if, after further
reflection, you have a strong
feeling/doubts about your initial
response
– Recent studies show that students
who change dubious answers usually
improve their test scores
Multiple Choice Exams
• Remember:
– The correct answer is guaranteed to be
among the possible responses
– Your first answer is generally correct (unless
you are absolutely sure that it is incorrect)
– You can score points with lucky guesses
– No amount of skill in test taking will
compensate for lack of
studying/preparedness!
Exam Day Strategies
• Arrive early and take a moment to relax
and reduce your anxiety
• Wear comfortable clothing
• Think positively
– It has been demonstrated that when you
become emotional—i.e. ”I’ve got to pass this
or I can’t work!”, performance ultimately
suffers
• Don’t psych yourself out
Exam Day Strategies
• Anxiety is good (to a point…)
– Mild anxiety heightens awareness of the task at hand
and of the external environment; sharpens
senses/concentration
– Moderate to high anxiety causes the opposite effect;
narrowing of the senses, auditory effects (2º
hyperventilation)
The Yerkes-Dodson law
http://ceirepsych.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/assignment-6-eyewitness-testimony/
Exam Day Strategies
• Take short breaks during the exam (every 20-25
questions)
– Budget time wisely
• Focus and deep breathe
– Relax
• These will all help to boost confidence
• Use of beta blockers?
– Generally not a good idea unless you know that you
are able to tolerate them and they work well for you
Exam Day Strategies
• If you find yourself getting
emotional (angry, upset, weepy,
etc.)
– STOP for a short period of time
– Regain composure/concentration
– Exercise relaxation techniques
Exam Day Strategies
• Listen for any last minute instructions given by
the instructor/test center attendant
• Read directions carefully
• Change positions to help you relax
• Pay attention to passing time
– Keep a steady pace
• Do not panic if:
– you find the test difficult (because you probably will!)
– question #101 loads! (no, you are NOT failing!!)
National Certification Examination
(NCE)
• Variable length
• Computer-Adaptive
– Based on “item response theory”
• Multiple choice
– A stem followed by 4 options
– No “K-type” questions
– Minimal to no negative or “except” questions
– Newer questions such as multiple correct
response phased in as of 2009
The NCE cont’d
• Minimum-100 questions
– 70 questions from content outline
– 30 pretest questions
• Do not count towards score
• Maximum-170 questions
• Time limit is still 3 hours
• Must register for the exam within
3 months of graduation
– Once application is made,
eligibility period is 90 days
Eligibility policy change 10/07
“Candidates who do not take and pass
the NCE within two calendar years of
completion of the nurse anesthesia
educational program will not be
eligible to apply to take the
Certification Exam unless they enter
and complete another unabridged
accredited nurse anesthesia
program.” (limit 4 attempts/year)
Update for the NCE
• New questions released in 2009:
– Multiple correct response (MCR)
• The stem is followed by 4-8 responses;
test-taker must choose all applicable
answers for credit
• The stem will indicate how many responses
are correct
Multiple Correct Response (MCR)
Which of the following hormones are
secreted by the neurohypophysis?
(choose two):
A) HGH
B) oxytocin
C) prolactin
D) TSH
E) vasopressin
F) FSH
Update for the NCE
• New questions released in 2009:
– Computation questions
• Test-taker will be asked to compute an
answer (i.e. calculating SVR based on pt’s
vital signs)
• Rather than having the choice of four
answers, the examinee will be asked to
enter the computed answer in the space
provided
Computation Questions
• Response must be entered in the form
of a number (i.e. 1200, not “twelve
hundred”
• Directions will be given as to
rounding, decimal places, etc
• A calculator will be supplied for those
questions that may be computationally
complex; there will be no use of
personal calculators
Update for the NCE
• New questions released in 2009:
– “Drag-&-Drop” questions
• A clinical scenario will be given and
interventions will be listed
• Tests an examinee’s ability to prioritize
• May also be utilized in a matching format
• The examinee will be asked to drag the
interventions to the appropriate spot and
drop them so that they are in order of
requested priority
Update for the NCE
• New questions released in 2009:
– “Hot-Spot” questions
• The examinee will be asked to identify a feature
of a graphic
• As the mouse is rolled over the graphic, various
areas will highlight with an “X”
• The examinee will choose the correct answer by
clicking on the “X” that depicts the requested
feature
• The examinee may change the answer before
moving to the next question by clicking on
another region (X) in the image
Update for the NCE
• New questions released in 2009:
– Graphics and video
• Any questions may be visually augmented
with the use of graphics and/or video clips
as stimuli for the question
– **Newer format questions intended to
test the examinee on clinical
acumen/application of knowledge
Content outline
Basic sciences
25%
Equipment,
Instrumentation, and
Technology
Basic Principles
15%
Advanced Principles
30%
Professional Issues
0%
30%
Adapted from the 2013 Candidate Handbookhttp://nbcrna.com/certification/SiteAssets/Pages/ProgramAdministration/20131118%20NCE%20Candidate%20Handbook.pdf:
Taking the NCE
• Computer skills not needed
• May have pencil/paper
– No calculators allowed
• Space bar, ENTER key, TAB key
• No tutorial or practice questions
• Must answer question before proceeding to the
next
• Cannot return to/review previous questions
Taking the NCE
• Test centers:
– Other examinees may be present
– Attempts by staff to keep noise at a minimum
– May bring ear plugs
– May not test privately unless documented
disability requires accommodation
– May take 2-4 weeks to get an appointment at
a specific testing center
Pass-Fail Decision Occurs When:
• Candidate clearly demonstrates either
competency or incompetence at any point
between 100-170 questions
• 170 questions have been administered
• Maximum amount of time has been
reached
– Very few candidates time out
NCE PASS RATES 2005-13
Time Frame Following Program
Completion Until Exam:
Time frame
until exam
< 4 weeks
% of total
examinees
26.3%
1 month
32.8%
2 months
21.7%
3 months
7%
 4 months
11.9%
Further analysis of
test taker
performance on the
NCE in relationship
to the completion
date revealed that
the longer the
examinee had
been out of
his/her program,
the lower their
score on the NCE.
Pass or Fail?
• Beginning in August 2009, the candidate
receives pass/fail status at the end of the
examination by the testing center
• This is only a preliminary result!
– All test results must still be validated by the
Council on Certification (CCNA)
• May not sign as a CRNA until verification
letter is received from the NBCRNA
Why Is It Only a Preliminary
Result?
• Need to assure:
– Test center security
• Verifies that the test session occurred under
controlled conditions
– All exams videotaped
– Irregularities reported; investigation ensues;
student’s score is held
– Verification of validity of results by CCNA
– Verification of candidate records
VISIT NBCRNA WEBSITE!!
www.nbcrna.com
• Under “certification” tab, you will find:
– Candidate handbook
– FAQs
– Alternative question formats/tutorials/samples
– Updated reports
• Annual report of NCE and SEE
performance
– Pass rates
– Demographic/satisfaction surveys
– Monthly certificant lists
Please contact us at:
[email protected]
If we can further help you in
preparing for the NCE!