Transcript Slide 1

TIPS
FOR
ACADEMIC
SUCCESS
Dr. Michelle Nicopolis, PC, NCC
Cuyahoga Community College
Phone: 216-987-5200
[email protected]
AGENDA
• How to Prepare for Tests
• Test-taking Tips
– Multiple choice
– True/False
– Essay
– Matching
– Science/Math
• Boosting Test Confidence
• RACING
HOW TO PREPARE FOR TESTS
1. Familiarize yourself with the test.
2. Ask instructor how long/type of ?’s
3. When reading notes/books, guess
what questions will be asked.
4. If your mind starts to wander or worry about
other things, relax a few minutes & rethink what
you’re doing.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR TESTS
5. Practice doing what you’ll be doing on the test.
6. Learn how to deal with anxiety (study in test
room, plan ahead, etc.)
7. Prepare physically.
8. Teach material to someone (or imagine you’re
asking the question when taking the test)
You have thirty seconds to complete the following test.
Read all the instructions before doing anything else.
Instructions :
1. Write your initials in the top right corner of the paper.
2. Write the total of 3 + 16 + 30 in the bottom right corner.
3. Circle your answer to Question #2.
4. Draw three circles in the top left corner.
5. Put a dot in each of the circles mentioned in Question #4.
6. Sign your signature at the bottom center of the page.
7. On the top center of this page, write the number “3”.
8. When you get to this point in the test, stretch your arms.
9. Draw a circle in the center of the page.
10. Now that you have finished reading all the instructions,
obey only Questions #1 and #2.
www.businessballs.com - (ack.Graeme Hall)
HOW TO TAKE TESTS
• Arrive early to test room
• Be well-rested, fed and hydrated
• Read the question as is
• Don’t panic if you see a surprise question
• Avoid overanalyzing or oversimplifying
• Imagine you’re the expert and you’re telling
someone the answer ~ be confident!
MULTIPLE CHOICE TIPS
1. First, determine what the question asks.
2. Think of answer before looking at answers.
3. The longest answer is often correct.
4. The most inclusive answer is often correct.
5. If 2 answers are similar, choose 1 of the 2.
6. Choose “all of the above” when >1 is correct.
7. Circle key words that signal the ?s focus
MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST TIPS
8. If answers have numbers which cover a wide
range, choose the one in the middle.
9. If you don’t know an answer,
try to rule out some choices.
Write why answers are wrong.
10. Qualifying Words –
• “Usually” & “Sometimes” tend to be correct
• “Always” & “Never” tend to be incorrect
choices
TRUE/FALSE TEST TIPS
* Basic Strategy – Assume the questions are true.
The following tend to be FALSE:
(99% of the time in non-scientific subjects)
•
Statements/answers containing extreme
modifiers such as: “always”, “all”, “only”,
“never”, “completely”, “totally”
•
Statements/answers including: “because”,
“since”, and “due to”
e.g., Women earn less money than men because
they have less education than men.
TRUE/FALSE TEST TIPS
The following tend to be TRUE:
1. Answers with qualifiers –e.g., generally, some,
probably, most often, sometimes, & usually
2. Don’t assume that answers are in certain
order or pattern.
3. A partly false statement should be marked
false – don’t look for wild exceptions.
ESSAY TEST TIPS
1. Answer all parts of the question.
2. Do what the direction words instruct.
3. Write well-organized answer.
*Plan major point ~ make outline.
*Write introduction summarizing answer.
*Make major points stand out ~ headings.
4. Write complete answers.
*Include everything relevant to answer.
*Write to uninformed reader.
MATCHING TEST TIPS
•
Read the directions to determine if answers
can be repeated
•
Read both columns first.
•
Use the process of elimination.
•
Define key words; be sure that you understand
everything.
•
Try to distinguish similarities & differences in the
column choices.
MATCHING TEST TIPS
•
See if your definitions of the items are similar
to the choices given.
•
Use prefixes and roots to help you to
understand word meanings.
•
Do the easiest matches first.
•
Cross an answer out after matching it - unless it can
be repeated.
•
Use logical deduction - eliminate most of the choices,
then read the few that are left to see what fits best. Only
guess when you have reduced the number of choices
to as few as possible.
“RACING TIP” to approach a test
R = Read questions over
A = Approach with a plan
C = Clarify question
I = Instincts – usually right
N = Notice your time
G = Go for the easy ones first
BUILDING CONFIDENCE
 As you anticipate the exam, think positively, e.g.,
"I will do well on this exam. I've studied and I know
my stuff."
 Engage in "thought stopping" if you find you worry a lot,
compare self to peers, or think about what others may say
about your performance.
 The night before the exam, organize what you will need for
the exam (pen, pencil, eraser, calculator). Check the
time/location of the exam.
 Set the alarm clock and then get a good night's sleep
before the exam.
• Get to the exam on time - not too late or too early.
• Be cautious about talking to other students about the exam
material just before going into the exam, especially if it makes
you more anxious.
• Sit in a location in the exam room where
you will be distracted as little as possible.
• As the papers are distributed, calm
yourself by taking some slow deep breaths.
• Make sure to carefully read instructions on the exam.
• As you work on the exam, focus only on the exam, not on what
other students are doing
• Focus on the present, not past exams or future goals.
• If you feel anxious during the exam, take a few
minutes to calm yourself. Stretch, breathe, have
positive internal self-talk; direct your focus on the
test; associate questions to the lecture/text
• If the exam is more difficult than you anticipated, try
to focus and do your best. It might be enough to get
you through with a reasonable grade!
• When the exam is over, treat yourself.
A break may be the "pick up" you need.
RESOURCES/SUGGESTIONS
1. Testtakingtips.com
2. http://www.ogtprep.com/
3. http://www.ogtprep.com/highschool_ogt.htm
4. http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pag
es/ODE/ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRela
tionID=216