Test-Taking Strategies

General Strategies

Rule 1: Arrive early instead of barely on time, so as to be organized and ready instead of in a panic. Try to go into the test alert and calm instead of tense and anxious.

Rule 2: Regard a lapse of memory as perfectly normal; do not let it throw you into a panic. If you block on answering a question, leave it for awhile and return to it later.

Rule 3: Make certain that you fully understand the test directions before attempting to solve any problems or answer any questions.

Rule 4: Plan how you will use your time during the exam. Quickly look over the entire test and divide up your available time as appropriate to the number and type of questions you find. Then be careful not to mismanage your time or you may find yourself with insufficient time to answer all the questions.

Rule 5: Read each question carefully and completely before marking or writing your answer. Re-read if you are at all confused.

Rule 6: Ask your instructor for help in interpreting a test question that is unclear or ambiguous to you. The instructor will probably want to clear up the misunderstanding for everybody if the question really is misleading or confusing.

Rule 7: Be careful not to give any impression of cheating.

Rule 8: Do not be disturbed about other students finishing before you do. Take your time, dont panic, and you will do much better on the test.

Rule 9: If you have any time left over edit, check and proofread your answers. Use all the time available to eliminate careless errors and to improve your answers as much as possible.

Essay Exams

Read all the questions through rapidly, jotting down beside each question any pertinent facts or ideas which occur to you. The best way to ensure your answers do not overlap each other is to survey the entire test before answering any of the questions.

Estimate the time that you will have for each question according to the relative difficulty and importance of all questions. Then keep track of your time so you do not spend too much time on any one question.

Answer the easiest questions first and concentrate on answering one question at a time. Working on something you can handle is the surest way to reduce your test anxiety.

Decide what kind of answer the question requires before you begin writing. Action verbs such as illustrate, list, define, compare, trace, explain, and identify require different approaches to answering.

Before you start writing, make a brief, logical outline for your answer to ensure good organization and prevent careless omissions. Its not how much you say but what you say and how well you say it that counts.

Get down to business in your first paragraph and avoid long-winded introductions. Your aim in answering most essay questions is to get down the maximum amount of point-earning information in the shortest possible time.

Where appropriate, include factual details to support your answer. These impress your instructor by giving evidence that you really know what you are talking about.

Write legible, complete sentences and paragraphs.

Leave space after each question for additional information which may occur to you later.

Re-read you answersdo they say what you intended? Correct all grammar and spelling errors.

If you run out of time, outline the remaining information.

Center for Student Success