Transcript Preparing for Tests - keimyungadams [licensed for non

Preparing for
Tests
Today’s Topics
•
Look at different types of reviews
•
Develop a test-taking routine
•
Look at different test-taking strategies
•
Reflect on your test performance
Tests fit into
previous
SKAC topics:
PACE, Note
taking, Active
Reading,
Synthesis, to
name a few.
Awareness Check
How well do you prepare for tests?
Significance of your score:
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You have developed some strategies that
help you prepare for tests.
•
You may be prepared most of the time, but
you could do better.
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You probably are not satisfied with your
grades, and would benefit by being better
prepared for tests.
In summary
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Tests are not merely a test of your knowledge;
they are also a test of your planning and management
skills
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Preparing for a test is not something you should save
until immediately before the test date.
•
We’re here to help!
When to study
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Daily - in just 5-10 minutes a day, review each course
looking at notes and assignments
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Weekly - as time allows, spend ~1 hour each weekend
to review each subject you’re studying
•
Pre-exam - about 1 week before a test, do a major
review; you’re covering several weeks’ worth of
material!
What to study
Although it may seem obvious, knowing what to
study - and having those resources available - can greatly
impact the quality of your test answers.
It goes without saying that you should have taken
notes in class, as they form one part of the puzzle of
what you need to study.
study
Textbook
chapters
How to study
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One week before your test, set aside some study time.
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Don’t attempt to do it all in without any breaks!
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Organize your materials.
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Make flashcards if you have a lot of facts, dates,
terms, etc. to review.
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Make graphic organizers or other study guides.
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Review these materials once a day until D-Day!
Develop a
Test-Taking Routine
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Arrive on Time
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Jot down memory cues
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Survey the test
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Plan and use all of your time
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Read directions
Develop a
Test-Taking Routine
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Do easy questions first
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Skip and return to difficult
questions
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Guess if there is no penalty
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Control your feelings & attention
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Maintain a positive attitude
Develop a
Test-Taking Routine
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Check your work
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Learn from your mistakes
Turn to your handout
and answer the
questions under the
heading “Discover
your own best way
to prepare.”
After you finish, make
a few notes of what
you think you should
do, based on
your answers.
Photo credit: Swamibu (Flickr)
Your own best way
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May change over time
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Probably depends on a number of things:
familiarity with different study methods & knowledge
of your own preferences, among others
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Is something you should think about from time to
time
“Am I studying in the most effective way for me?”
Master
Objective Tests
a few strategies to keep on
hand
Master Objective Tests
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Assume a statement is false if
it contains absolute words.
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Assume a statement is false if
any part of it is false.
True-False
Quiz!
Use those strategies!
Master Objective Tests
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If you’re sure, answer
mentally, and check each
option to find the right one
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If unsure, eliminate all the
bad options
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If you don’t know, guess
Master Objective Tests
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Decide what kind of
answer is needed
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Look at the way the
statement is written to find
clues to the answer
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Scan the statement for
keywords
Using guessing
strategies
Get ready, get set...
Master Objective Tests
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Know how many sections
there are, and whether
you have to write essays
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Find out whether it is
timed, and how long
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If there’s an essay,
practice writing in a timed
situation
Master Objective Tests
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Get a good night’s sleep,
eat a nourishing
breakfast, arrive with a
positive frame of mind
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During breaks between
sections, stand up or
stretch - makes you alert
•
Plan your time, use extra
time to proofread
Master OpenEnded Tests
Strategies for tackling them
Open-Ended / Essay Tests
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What type of test is it?
Short answer? Essay? Paragraph response?
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Recall Bloom’s Taxonomy of Thinking
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•
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What kind of thinking does this test/question require?
Look for clues in the question
Jot notes on the back, or another paper, to generate
key points, & an outline
Bloom’s Taxonomy of
Cognition
1.
Knowledge. What are the health benefits of eating apples?
2.
Comprehension. Compare the benefits of eating apples to
eating oranges.
3.
Application. What kinds of apples are best for baking a pie?
4.
Analysis. Describe four ways of baking pies.
5.
Synthesis. Convert an unhealthy apple pie recipe to a
healthy one.
6.
Evaluation. Do you feel that serving apple pie as a snack is
healthy for children?
Answer Essay Questions
with Confidence
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Read & be sure you understand the question
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Look for instruction words
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Concentrate on being brief & precise
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Stay on topic; avoid opinions unless asked
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Restate the question in your answer
Sample Essay
Question
with answer!
Define memory and illustrate
your definition with examples.
Memory is a mental process that occurs in three stages:
record, retain, and recall. Information comes in through your
fives senses. Most of this information you will forget unless you
record it in your short-term memory through selective attention.
Short-term memory is fleeting. It enables you to remember a
phone number you have looked up long enough to call it or the
name of someone you met at a party long enough to introduce
them to someone else. To retain information longer, you must
transfer it from short-term memory to long-term memory. You
can do this by using or reviewing the information. Long-term
memory can be permanent. For example, you never forget your
birthday. In the recall stage you retrieve information you have
stored, much as you would retrieve a file from your hard drive.
Instruction
Words
Have a look
Finally, reflect
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After your test, reflect:
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Mentally review your answers & confidence level
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Write down areas you were worried about; review them
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After you receive your results:
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Look for patterns in any questions you got wrong
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Make a study plan for future tests
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Note any suggestions the marker gave you