Test%20Taking

Test TakingTest TakingStrategiesStrategiesDr. Marsha UrbanDr. Marsha Urban

Nanci Fowler MorganNanci Fowler MorganJosh RoalsonJosh Roalson

Academic Skills CenterAcademic Skills Center

Test QuestionsTest Questions EssayEssay

• Before you writeBefore you write• WritingWriting

True/FalseTrue/False Multiple Choice Multiple Choice Matching Matching Short Answer/Fill-in-the-BlankShort Answer/Fill-in-the-Blank


Essay QuestionsEssay Questions Before you writeBefore you write WritingWriting


Before you writeBefore you write When you get the test, read the essay When you get the test, read the essay

question(s) first, then do the rest of the question(s) first, then do the rest of the test. You may find answers or supporting test. You may find answers or supporting points for your essay in the other part of points for your essay in the other part of the test.the test.

Reread the essay questions and underline Reread the essay questions and underline key words and make sure you understand key words and make sure you understand what you are being asked to do.what you are being asked to do.


Before you writeBefore you write(cont.)(cont.)

What is the question asking?What is the question asking? Compare/Contrast.Compare/Contrast. Agree/Disagree with statement?Agree/Disagree with statement? Does it ask for a certain number of Does it ask for a certain number of

things?things? Are there specific authors, ideas, or time Are there specific authors, ideas, or time

periods requested?periods requested? Jot down all the ideas and examples in the Jot down all the ideas and examples in the

margin or on a scratch sheet of paper.margin or on a scratch sheet of paper. Budget your time according to point valueBudget your time according to point value..


WritingWriting Begin with the question that seems easiest Begin with the question that seems easiest

to you.to you. Turn the question or statement into a Turn the question or statement into a

thesis sentence adding your opinion to the thesis sentence adding your opinion to the statement.statement.

Make your handwriting as clear as Make your handwriting as clear as possible. If the instructor can not read it, possible. If the instructor can not read it, you will lose points.you will lose points.


WritingWriting(cont.)(cont.)

Write at least three supporting Write at least three supporting statements.statements.

Back your statements up with the facts, Back your statements up with the facts, quotations or references to reading quotations or references to reading material, and statistics you have studied.material, and statistics you have studied.

If you have the time, read over your If you have the time, read over your answer to see if you have included all the answer to see if you have included all the necessary points.necessary points.


True/FalseTrue/False Read the directions before you begin.Read the directions before you begin. Determine the number of questions and Determine the number of questions and

budget your time.budget your time. Read each question carefully.Read each question carefully. Look of qualifiers: Never, all, none, only and Look of qualifiers: Never, all, none, only and

always generally indicate a statement is always generally indicate a statement is false. Sometimes, generally, often, false. Sometimes, generally, often, frequently, and mostly indicate a statement frequently, and mostly indicate a statement is true.is true.

Answer all questions you know first.Answer all questions you know first.Academic Skills CenterAcademic Skills Center

True/FalseTrue/False(cont.)(cont.)

When guessing, do not change answers. When guessing, do not change answers. Research indicates your first answer is Research indicates your first answer is usually best. Note: usually best. Note: Often true/false tests contain more true answers than false answers.

Answer all questions.Answer all questions. ““Reason” statements tend to be false. Reason” statements tend to be false.

When something is given as the When something is given as the reason/cause/because of something else reason/cause/because of something else the statement will tend to be false.the statement will tend to be false.


Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice Read the directions carefully.Read the directions carefully. Attempt to answer the question without Attempt to answer the question without

looking at the options. looking at the options. Preview the test. Read through quickly Preview the test. Read through quickly

and answer the easiest questions first.and answer the easiest questions first. Answer the questions you know first. Mark Answer the questions you know first. Mark

the ones you don’t know. Often answers to the ones you don’t know. Often answers to questions you don’t know are supplied in questions you don’t know are supplied in other questions, so pay attention.other questions, so pay attention.


Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice(cont.)(cont.)

Eliminate the distracters. Analyze the Eliminate the distracters. Analyze the options as true/false questions. In a options as true/false questions. In a negatively worded question negatively worded question (as in “which of (as in “which of the following are NOT. . .”),the following are NOT. . .”), put a T or F beside put a T or F beside each option, then simply select the false each option, then simply select the false statement.statement.

Never be afraid to use common sense in Never be afraid to use common sense in determining your answer. Sometimes determining your answer. Sometimes reasoning through the questions is better reasoning through the questions is better than trying to recall the than trying to recall the “right”“right” answer. answer.



When guessing, do not change answers. When guessing, do not change answers. Research indicates your first answer is Research indicates your first answer is usually best, but don’t be afraid to change usually best, but don’t be afraid to change it if you have a good reason.it if you have a good reason.

When guessing, choose answers that are When guessing, choose answers that are not the first or last option. Research not the first or last option. Research indicates that the option in the middle with indicates that the option in the middle with the most words is frequently the correct the most words is frequently the correct response.response.

Answer all questions.Answer all questions.Academic Skills CenterAcademic Skills Center


If the first option is a correct one, look at If the first option is a correct one, look at the last option to make sure it is not an “all the last option to make sure it is not an “all of the above” option. The same is true for of the above” option. The same is true for “none of the above” question.“none of the above” question.

If options appear similar, chances are one If options appear similar, chances are one of them is the correct response.of them is the correct response.

Read through the test a second time and Read through the test a second time and answer the difficult questions.answer the difficult questions.

Allow time at the end to check for Allow time at the end to check for carelessness.carelessness.


Multiple ChoiceMultiple ChoiceDifficult QuestionsDifficult Questions

Eliminate options you know to be incorrect.Eliminate options you know to be incorrect. Give each option of a question the T/F test.Give each option of a question the T/F test. Question options that grammatically don’t Question options that grammatically don’t

fit with the stem statement.fit with the stem statement. Question options that are totally unfamiliar Question options that are totally unfamiliar

to you.to you. Question options that contain negative or Question options that contain negative or

absolute words. absolute words. If you know 2 or 3 options seem correct, If you know 2 or 3 options seem correct,

“all of the above” is a strong possibility.“all of the above” is a strong possibility.Academic Skills CenterAcademic Skills Center

Multiple ChoiceMultiple ChoiceDifficult Questions (cont.)Difficult Questions (cont.)

Number answer: toss out the high and low Number answer: toss out the high and low and consider the middle range numbers.and consider the middle range numbers.

If options look alike, one is correct; choose If options look alike, one is correct; choose the best but eliminate choices that mean the best but eliminate choices that mean basically the same thing, canceling each basically the same thing, canceling each other out.other out.

Change double negatives into a positive Change double negatives into a positive statement and consider.statement and consider.

If two options are opposite each other, If two options are opposite each other, chances are one of them is correct.chances are one of them is correct.


Multiple ChoiceMultiple ChoiceDifficult Questions (cont.)Difficult Questions (cont.)

Favor options that contain qualifiers. The Favor options that contain qualifiers. The result is longer, more inclusive items that result is longer, more inclusive items that better fill the role of the answer.better fill the role of the answer.

If two alternatives seem correct, compare If two alternatives seem correct, compare them for differences, then refer to the them for differences, then refer to the stem statement to find your best answer.stem statement to find your best answer.

Use hints from questions you know to Use hints from questions you know to answer questions you do not.answer questions you do not.


MatchingMatching Read the directions carefully.Read the directions carefully. Determine the pattern of the matching Determine the pattern of the matching

questions. What is being matched—people questions. What is being matched—people with quotations, words with definitions, with quotations, words with definitions, events with descriptions?events with descriptions?

Answer the ones you know first.Answer the ones you know first. Choose the longest column to read first.Choose the longest column to read first. With each answer cross out the items used With each answer cross out the items used

from both columns.from both columns.Academic Skills CenterAcademic Skills Center

Short Answer TestsShort Answer Tests Read the directions before you begin.Read the directions before you begin. It is best to over study for this type of test. It is best to over study for this type of test.

You know it or you don’t.You know it or you don’t. Answer the questions you know first. Often Answer the questions you know first. Often

answers are supplied in other questions. Go answers are supplied in other questions. Go back to answer the difficult questions later.back to answer the difficult questions later.

When you prepare for the exam, focus on When you prepare for the exam, focus on facts and key words. Try to predict questions facts and key words. Try to predict questions appropriate for this type of exam.appropriate for this type of exam.


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