Standardized Standardized Test-taking Test-taking

TipsTips

Pre-Test DayPre-Test Day

• Know Know wherewhere your test is being given your test is being given

• NO REVIEW the night beforeNO REVIEW the night before

• De-stress exercisesDe-stress exercises

Test DayTest Day

• Eat a good Eat a good BreakfastBreakfast - you need the - you need the glucose to feed your brainglucose to feed your brain

–MINIMUM - eat a piece of fruitMINIMUM - eat a piece of fruit

• No further study! You are as prepared No further study! You are as prepared as you’ll ever be - as you’ll ever be - RELAX!!!!!RELAX!!!!!

Scrap PaperScrap Paper

• Request official scrap paper for use during the exam to write notes or do calculations.–What you write on this scrap

paper won't affect your score.

• Answering about Answering about 1/21/2 the questions correctly the questions correctly will get an average scorewill get an average score

• Questions go Questions go from easy to hard, from easy to hard, with with questions on graphics, charts & data tables questions on graphics, charts & data tables at at the endthe end

• Skip questions you don’t Skip questions you don’t understandunderstand and come back and come back to if there is timeto if there is time

Multiple Choice TipsMultiple Choice Tips

• Read test directions Read test directions carefullycarefully beforebefore you begin to mark any answers. you begin to mark any answers.

Multiple Choice TipsMultiple Choice Tips

– If directions are not clear, If directions are not clear, ask for clarificationask for clarification

before you beginbefore you begin

• Keep track of the Keep track of the timetime

–BudgetBudget your time accordingly. your time accordingly.

• All questions are All questions are worth 1 pointworth 1 point, , regardless of difficultyregardless of difficulty

• If you can If you can eliminateeliminate one or twoone or two wrong wrong answers to a questions, answers to a questions, it is it is best to guessbest to guess at the answer at the answer

Multiple Choice TipsMultiple Choice Tips

Pace YourselfPace Yourself

• Make sure that you're not working too Make sure that you're not working too slowly. slowly.

• You should have answered at least You should have answered at least halfhalf the questions in a section the questions in a section when half the time for when half the time for that section has passed. that section has passed.

Reading TipsReading Tips

• Read the entire question including all the answer choices before answering a question. –Don't think that because the first or second

answer choice looks good to you, it isn't necessary to read the remaining options.

Key WordsKey Words• all• always• but• except• every • generally• however

• only

• perhaps

• rarely

• seldom

• sometimes

• usually

• may

• must

• necessary

• never

• none

• not• often

Reading TipsReading Tips

• When a question or answer option contains When a question or answer option contains words such as "always," "every," "only," "never," words such as "always," "every," "only," "never," and "none," there can be and "none," there can be no exceptionsno exceptions to the to the answer you choose. answer you choose.

• Use of words such as "often," "rarely," Use of words such as "often," "rarely," "sometimes," and "generally" indicates that there "sometimes," and "generally" indicates that there may be some exceptionsmay be some exceptions to the answer. to the answer.

““Conceptual" QuestionsConceptual" Questions

• Begin by:–Covering the alternatives with a ruler or piece of paper. –Carefully read and understand the stem of the

question before looking at the alternatives.–Circle or underline key words in the stem, paying

special attention to qualifying words such as "always," "major," "increase," etc.

““Conceptual" QuestionsConceptual" Questions

• Predict an answer, if possible.• Uncover all of the alternatives and check the format

of the question. – Is only one of the alternatives

correct, or can several or all of the

alternatives be correct?

““Conceptual" QuestionsConceptual" Questions

• Narrow your choices, by eliminating any alternative that you know is incorrect. • If two options still look equally appealing, compare each

to the stem of the question, making sure that the one you eventually choose answers what is asked. • If necessary, when looking over the questions again,

change an answer ONLY if you can logically justify change an answer ONLY if you can logically justify the change.the change.

CalculationsCalculations• Think about the procedure. • Make a rough estimate of the scale.• Solve the problem. Write legibly.• Compare your answer to the options given. • If the answer that you have calculated, is not one of the given

options, check your procedure again, and recalculate.• If your calculation is STILL wrong, put a big question mark by

that question, and go on to the next. Go back to it at the end.

Don'tsDon'ts• Don't select an alternative just because you remember

learning the information in the course• Don't pick an answer just because it seems to make

sense.– You are answering from your content knowledge, not

just from your general logic. • Don't dismiss an alternative because it seems too

obvious and simple an answer.

Don'tsDon'ts

• Don't be wowed by fancy terms: don't say to yourself, "That sounds impressive, so it must be the right answer!"

• Don't pick "c" every time you are unsure of the answer. You could end up picking "c" far too many times.

• Don't pick your answer based on a pattern of responses, i.e., don't say to yourself, "This can't be another "b" answer as we have just had three in a row."

Caution !!!Caution !!!

• MAKE SURE TO ERASE ALL STRAY MARKS ON THE SIDE OF A SCAN-TRON BEFORE YOU TURN IN THE TEST!!!! –(the machine will count a

stray mark as an “answer” and mark the question incorrect.)

Congratulate Congratulate yourself on a job yourself on a job

well done!!!well done!!!

Developed byDeveloped by

Anne F. MabenAnne F. MabenScience CoachScience Coach

UCLA Science ProjectUCLA Science Project

© 2005 UCLA© 2005 UCLAAll rights reservedAll rights reserved