Ten Tips for Exam Taking

1. Know what needs to studied
2. Revise
3. Be prepared
4. Feel confident
5. Be strategic
6. Different types of tests
7. Dealing with test anxiety
8. Memory blocks
9. Don't leave early
10. Finally...

Know what needs to be studied

Find out about the test

• How long will it be?
• How many questions will be on the test?
• How will the marks be allocated?
• Is there a choice of topics?
• Will any questions be compulsory?
• What format will the test take?

Find out what needs to be studied

• Review the list of topics using the subject outline.
• What do I need to know about each topic?
• How many topics do I need to know in detail?
• Anticipate the test content.

Fill the gaps

• Make sure you have all the lecture notes, tutorial notes, examples and handouts for each of your topics.
• Fill any gaps you may have in your material.

Make decisions about what to study

• Prioritise your topics
• Break your workload into manageable chunks

Revise

Draw up a study timetable

• Begin early.
• Schedule blocks of time for each subject.
• Allow extra time for difficult subjects.
• Take regular breaks
• Study when you are most alert. Vary what you study
• Stay with your routine.
• Explain to those around you how important the exams are and persuade them to help wherever possible.

Review actively

• Integrate notes, text and other information onto summary sheets by: diagramming, charting, outlining, categorising in tables or writing summaries.
• Use all your senses including your sense of humour when writing your summaries.
• Study with other students in order to pool ideas, discuss difficult areas of the course, and pose possible questions for each other.

Memory

• Use 'hooks' to help you recall information.
• Avoid cramming.
• Useful websites:
  • www.sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/memorization.html

Study systems

Be prepared

Prepare by practicing

• Essay style exams

  • Test yourself by answering questions in writing (Work to time limits)
  • Write plans for possible essay questions
  
  

• Multiple choice

  • Become familiar with the way questions are worded
  • Write your own multiple choice questions
  • Practise identifying the key words in the question stem
  • Practise strategies and timing
  
  

• Problem solving

  • Practise as many variations of the basic problem as possible
  • Proceed from easier to more difficult
  • Use past tests and marked assignments
  • Ask for help if you have any difficulties
  
  

• Add balance to your life

  • Allow time for adequate sleep, exercise and proper meals to maintain your energy.

Feel confident

Strategies

• Don't talk to other students before a test; anxiety is highly contagious.
• Feel calm and alert. If you are feeling anxious, take several slow deep breaths to settle your nerves.
• Visualise yourself achieving the results that you want.
• Focus on what you know and feel confident because you are well prepared!
• Useful website:
  • Tests: Panic Tips - Study Skills Library

Be strategic

Use your preview time wisely

• Read through the whole test carefully.
• Make sure your copy has no missing or duplicate pages. Note:
  • Any compulsory questions
  • The number of questions
  • The marks allocated to each question
  • Types of answers required
• Budget your time. Set progress points at the beginning so that you can monitor your progress.
• Plan the order in which you will complete tasks. Start with easy questions to build confidence and gain time for more difficult questions.
• Do not panic if you see a question you did not anticipate. Use everything you know to analyse the question and create a logical answer.

It's time to start

• Mark the topic, task and limiting words.
• Read the question as it is
• Avoid overanalysing or oversimplifying
• Think before you write.
• Start a new question on a new page so that there is space to add additional information later if required.

Different types of tests

Essay style exams: Think before you write

• Look for task words like compare, discuss, explain or outline.
• Create a brief outline by jotting down a few words to indicate ideas you want to discuss
• Number these in the order you will discuss them
• When writing the essay, only a short introduction is needed
• State your main idea in the first sentence of the paragraph, if possible.
• Remember to include a short conclusion

Multiple choice exams: Know when to guess

• Try to recall the answer on your own before you read the alternatives.
• Use a process of elimination to work out the correct response
• Pay attention to qualifying words: most, all, every, never, none, some
• Do not look for patterns in the answers
• Look for grammar or tense clues
• Read questions posed in the negative carefully, these are often the most difficult

Short answer exams: Know when to stop

• Pay attention to grammar
• Answer within the context of the course
• Use terms the lecturer/tutor used
• If you have any problems answer by giving an example
• Useful website:
  • www.academictips.org

Dealing with test anxiety

Stress is normal

• Expect a certain amount of stress during the exam period
• A little anxiety helps to heighten your awareness and can enhance your performance.
• Unmanaged stress, however, raises anxiety and decreases ability to meet difficulties as they present themselves.
• Remember, the better prepared you are and the more you know the less likely you are to experience anxiety.

Stress-busting tips

• Believe in yourself
• Don't try to be perfect
• Take steps to overcome any problems you may have
• Focus on positive self-talk
• Take time to relax through rest, exercise and deep muscle relaxation
• Plan rewards when the tests are over

Useful web sites:

• studygs.net/stress.htm
• www.academictips.org

Memory blocks

Don't panic!

• Do not become flustered
• Jot down concepts associated with the blocked item and look for connecting links
• Use other exam questions as springboards or levers to prompt your thinking
• Try to understand the question from an alternative point of view

Use mental associations

• Think back to lectures and your notes and try to recall facts and concepts associated with the blocked item
• Think back to where you studied this subject
• Think back to the summary sheets you generated in preparation for this test
• Other possible reference points include: mnemonics, mindmaps or index cards you may have generated in preparation for this test
• If all else fails ... Proceed to another question. It is likely that the information will return to you

Don't leave early

Reserve time for reviewing your answers

• Make sure you have answered all questions
• Make additions and adjustments where necessary
• Proofread your writing for spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Check your math answers for careless mistakes. (Forexample a misplaced decimal.)
• Match your actual answers for math problems against quick estimates
• Allocate about 10% of your test time to this task

Finally ...

Once the test is over

• Reward yourself
• Let go and move on

Review your test taking process

• Think about what worked and didn't work for you
• Rework your errors to find out why the correct answer was correct
• Identify the reason you missed questions:
  • Did you fail to read it correctly?
  • Did you fail to prepare for it?
  • Was the test at a more difficult level than you prepared for?
  • Did you run out of time?
  • Did you have any problems with anxiety or blocking during the test?

Future strategies

• Decide on and adopt the study strategies that worked best for you

• Student Centre Contacts