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Test Taking Tips and Guidelines
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Test Taking Strategies
 Different kinds of tests require different kinds of test-taking strategies. This study guide will provide you with some helpful approaches for taking a variety of diferent tests.
GENERAL TEST TAKING GUIDELINES
1. Be prepared.
- Concentrated hours of effective study to force facts into your memory is the best way to prepare for any test.
- However, teachers often try to test your memory of the material by slightly altering it. In this case, practice and some test-taking skill will help.
2. Always arrive early and take a moment to relax.
- This brief time period will boost your confidence
- Use this time to focus your mind and think positive thoughts.
3. Listen attentively to last minute instructions given by the instructor.
- Teachers often make last minute changes.
- Missing instruction causes extreme anxiety.
4. Read the test directions very carefully and watch for details.
- You may find that more than one answer may be possible on multiple choice.
- A key detail may require only three out of the five essay questions.
5. Plan how you will use the allotted time.
- Estimate how many minutes you will need to finish each test section.
- Determine a pace which will ensure completing the whole test on time.
- Start with the easiest section to build your confidence.
6. Maintain a positive attitude.
- Don't let more difficult questions raise your anxiety and steal your valuable time. Move on and find success with other questions.
- If you are not penalized for wrong answers, guess and move on.
- Avoid watching for patterns. Noticing that the last four answers are "c" is not a good reason to stop, go back, and break concentration.
7. Rely on your first impressions.
- The answer which comes to mind first is often correct.
- Nervously reviewing questions and changing answers can do more harm than good.
8. Plan to finish early and have time for review.
- Return to difficult questions you marked for review.
- Proofread your essays and pay attention to grammar and spelling.
- Make sure you answered all questions. More than one student has failed to notice questions on the back side of the paper.
9. Consider every test a practice session - analyze your performance.
- Test taking is an art which needs refinement. One can not refine the art without practice and serious evaluation.
- Go through each test thoroughly and see if your plan worked.
- Look at each section to identify your fault patterns. Do you need to work on true/false, multiple choice, or essay?
- Talk to teachers regarding low scores, especially on essays.
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