Test Taking

Test TakingCh. 8 Strategies for Success in SchoolPreparation!How can preparation improve Test Performance?Ninety percent of life is just showing up.Woody AllenBy failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.~ Benjamin Franklin4PreparationAttend classPay attentionTake good notesJoin a study group1:3 Communicate with your instructorClass to study ratio5PreparationTest dateStudy dailyDont procrastinateFind all your stuffMake it make sense

As soon as a test is announced, write it in your agenda book.Plan time in your daily schedule to study for the test.Dont leave all my studying right before the test.Find all your notes, homework assignments, and papers on that class.Notes make sense to you.

6PreparationWhat will be covered Ask for helpA study placeTake responsibilityBe confident

As soon as a test is announced, write it in your agenda book.Plan time in your daily schedule to study for the test.Dont leave all my studying right before the test.Find all your notes, homework assignments, and papers on that class.Notes make sense to you.

7PreparationIdentify test type and material coveredTopics that will be coveredTypes of questionsMaterial you will be tested onPreparationUse SQ3R to identify Whats ImportantWrite your own testPreparationREADWRITEREVIEWRECITEPreparationTalk to people who already took the courseExamine Old tests, IF the instructor makes them availableCreate a study plan and schedule

PreparationPrepare through careful reviewUse SQ3RReview your notesTime your reviews carefullyMark upOrganizeSummarizePreparationTake a pretest24 hours before the testEatExerciseSleep

Twas the Night Before TestingGo to bed on time. Pack your bag

PencilsEraserCalculatorScan troniClickerBlue bookWatch SweaterSnack!Put a few number 2 pencils in your backpack15Twas the Night Before TestingGo to bed on time. Pack your bagSolve problemsTalk test concerns out

Put a few number 2 pencils in your backpack16Preparation: Good morning!Start your day as you always do.Eat a good breakfast.Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school.Think Positive!

PreparationMake the most of last-minute studyingReview flash cardsFocus on crucial conceptsCreate a last-minute study sheetArrive early

10 minutes before lift offGo to the bathroomArriveChoose your seatBreathPep-talk

19Test AnxietyHow can you work through Test Anxiety?

Test Anxiety: A bad case of nerves that can make it hard to think or to remember.There is not substitute for the SELF CONFIDENCE that comes with being Well PreparedRecognizing Stress & Anxiety: SymptomsPounding HeartShakingDizzinessSweating PalmsShortness of BreathHeadacheIrritabilityMental Blankness22Explaining Anxiety: Fight or FlightThe Bodys Natural Response to a Threat to its Physical Wellbeing Intellectual Wellbeing Social Wellbeing is to Release Adrenalin and Cortisol to Fight the Threat or to Flee from the Threat23Test AnxietyAttitudeSee the test as an opportunity to learn

Test AnxietyAttitudeUnderstand that tests measure performance, not personal value

Test AnxietyAttitudeAppreciate your instructors purpose

Test AnxietyAttitudeSeek study partners who challenge youTest AnxietyAttitudeSet yourself up for success

Test AnxietyAttitudePractice relaxation

Test AnxietyAttitudePractice positive self-talk

What is self-talk?

A message we say about ourselves, either out loud to a friend or internally to ourselves.

We tend to believe our self-talk messages.

Negative Self-TalkAbout Test Taking

Im scared to death. I dont know this stuff. I know Im going to bomb.

Learn to stop these negative messages.

Dont say them!!

Dont think them!!

Positive Self-Talk About Test Taking

I did okay on my practice tests. I know this stuff. I got it right yesterday; I can get it right today.

Positive self-talk doesnt mean you are a genius, but that you have studied, you know the content, and you feel you can do well on the test.

Self-TalkIs

TRUE!!

When it is time for testing, you may try to fool others, but you cant fool yourself. Either you are ready, or you are not. No amount of self-talk will help if you are unprepared.

Test AnxietyDAY OF THE EXAMReview your study guide. Dont cramStudy DeeplyEngage in a relaxed activity the last hour or two before the examBe prepared with necessary toolsAvoid peers that are anxiety generators

Breathing deeply allows you to take in more oxygen.

More oxygen renews all your systems, including your brain!

Deep breathing directly counters anxiety and tight muscles.

Deep breathing lowers tension and reminds you to relax.

Control the cortisol by fooling your Limbic BrainHumorTime ManagementPosture MessageBreathingGoing to Your Fantasy Place Healthy LifestyleNourish your BrainExercise your BrainRest your brain

42Happily Ever LaughterLaughing releases the feel good hormone endorphin- also a natural pain killer.

Laughing lowers your blood pressure and heart rate.

Laughing raises T-lymphocytes in your body.

Increases your immune system .

There is a 45 minutes residual chemical effect in your body after hearty laughter.

Posture Message: Tells your limbic system everything is fine.Sit confidently

Hold your head up

Smile or Chuckle to yourself

Breathing: Dont Forget!Best exchange of Oxygen occurs in the bottom one third of your lungs.

SlowlyBreath in through the nose to count of 4Breath Out through the mouth to count of 4

Test Taking StrategiesWhat General Strategies can help you succeed on tests?Test Taking StrategiesWrite down key factsMind DumpDo a quick "mind dump" of information you don't want to forget. Write it down on scrap paper or in the margin.

47Test Taking StrategiesBegin with an overviewLOOK OVER THE TEST AND PACE YOURSELF

When you first get the test, dont just plunge into answering test items.

Thumb through Get the lay of the land.How many questions?How many sections?Are some questions worth more points than others?Thumb through the pages and get the lay of the land.How many questions are there?How many different sections?Are some questions worth more points than others?

50Pace yourself to finish with 10 minutes left over.

for careless mistakes skipped questions misread items

Once you have looked over the entire test, try to estimate what pace you should maintain in order to finish approximately 10 minutes before the testing period is over.

This will allow you some time at the end to check for careless mistakes like skipped questions and misread items.

51Test Taking StrategiesRead test directionsIf you do not understand the directions, ask for help.

Test Taking StrategiesMark up the questionsExpress difficult questions in your own words.Rephrasing can make it clear to you, but be sure you don't change the meaning of the question53Jail the Detail!Highlight, underline, or circle the details in the questions. This helps you focus on exactly what the question is asking you to do.

Mr. DetailTraps and tricks you need to know.Dont get lured into a charming answer it is important to read the entire question because test makers like to trick you with (A) as a likely answer when there may be one that is more appropriate to the question.55What is the amount of an American coin that is greater in value than a nickel ($.05) ?$.06$.07$.08 $.09 $.10The answer is (E), but it is easy to get tricked by (A) if you do not read the entire piece and pay close attention to what the question is asking.Test Taking StrategiesTake special care on machine-scored testsBe a Whizwith the Grid!Beware! If the answer is not bubbled in exactly right YIKES! It will be wrong!

Test Taking StrategiesWork from easy to hardKeep On Keeping On!If you get to a couple of questions that you just dont know, dont give up! Keep trying your best!

Dont Skip AroundThere is a difference in skipping around and going on to the next item on a test when you are unsure of the answer for the current item.

Test Taking StrategiesWatch the clockDo NOT spend more then a minute with each question the first time around.Even though you are told not to write on the testing booklet it is ok to put a question mark on questions you need to come back to.Go through each section of a test with a first pass and go back to questions that you are not sure on.When you go back for a second run use a process of elimination to wipe out answers that you know are not correct.Do NOT second guess yourself if your instincts say one thing it ismost likely the right choice.Be careful not to bubble in answers to questions that you will return to this can throw your whole answer sheet off.It may help you to circle all your answers on the test booklet and fill in the answer sheet last- just make sure you give yourself enough time to do this at the end.

62Pace YourselfDont spend too much time on any one question. Answers the easiest questions firstUse all of the time allotted for the test. Dont spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and then move on.Answers the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped.Use all of the time allotted for the test. If you have extra time, cover up your answers and actually rework the question.Do NOT spend more then a minute with each question the first time around.Even though you are told not to write on the testing booklet it is ok to put a question mark on questions you need to come back to.Go through each section of a test with a first pass and go back to questions that you are not sure on.When you go back for a second run use a process of elimination to wipe out answers that you know are not correct.Do NOT second guess yourself if your instincts say one thing it ismost likely the right choice.Be careful not to bubble in answers to questions that you will return to this can throw your whole answer sheet off.It may help you to circle all your answers on the test booklet and fill in the answer sheet last- just make sure you give yourself enough time to do this at the end.

63Take Short Breaks Stop for a moment

Shut your eyes

Take some deep breaths

Periodically clearing your head in this way can help you stay fresh during the testing session.

64Test Taking StrategiesMaster the Art of intelligent guessingRemember You receive NO POINTS for being the FIRST ONE to complete the test!!Ask a questionsAsk for clarification during a testDo not hesitate to ask for clarification during a test in the classroom if you feel that a question could be interpreted in more than one way. You should not expect an guidance that would help you discriminate among responses, but the teacher should be willing to help you is the intent of the question is not clear.

67Skip, Return, CheckIf you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.

A Matter of TimeAs you go back through, do not change all answers. Remember: Your first guess is usually right. If you SNOOZE, You will LOSE!Dont leave a question unanswered. You will not have ANY chance of getting it right.

Test Taking StrategiesMaintain academic integrity