14. TAKING EXAMS
Taking examinations is a skill that must be developed.
Each type of exam, essay, multiple choice, short answer, matching, or lab
practical, requires a different approach to achieve the maximum score.
General exam guidelines:
1. Eat well and get plenty of exercise and sleep before exams.
2. Remain calm during the test by slow, deep breathing.
3. Arrive at the exam on time or early.
4. Read any instructions your instructor may have given on the exam.
5. Read each question carefully and be sure you understand its full meaning before answering it.
6. Skip questions you cannot answer right away, and come back to them later if you have the time.
7. For essay questions and definitions, organize your thoughts first on the back of the exam before you start writing.
Preparing for exams:
1. Don't fall behind on your reading assignments, and review lecture notes as often as possible.
2. If you have the time you may want to outline your notes and assigned readings. Then do the outline again a second time with your textbook and notes closed.
3. Space your study to avoid cramming. One week before your exam, go over all your notes so far. Study for two nights, then take a day off that subject. Study again for a couple of days. Then make one final push before the exam, being sure to study not only the facts and concepts, but also how the facts are related. Unlike cramming, which puts a lot of information into your brain for a short time, spacing will help you retain information for the test and for the rest of your life.
4. Be sure you can define all key terms. You may find it useful to write flash cards to review the terms. Go back to page 11 if you need to read the discussion about reviewing again.
5. After you have studied the notes and learned the material, look at the big picture - see how the various parts you have learned fit together.
6. You may want to form a study group to discuss what you are learning and to test one another. We will discuss study groups again later (page 17).
7. Be active in class and ask your instructor questions as they arise.
8. Attend all lectures.
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If you are stuck on a concept, it may be that you have missed an important point in earlier material. Look back over your notes. If you missed a certain lecture, read the related pages in the textbook. Also, ask other students in the class if they can help you with the missing information.
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Multiple choice questions exam guidelines:
1. Read the question very carefully before choosing one of the possible answers. Make sure you know what the questions is asking.
Does it ask for a process, structure, name of an organism or a complex
concept? Know precisely what the question is asking for, not just
some vague idea of its intent. Skip the question if you cannot answer right away, and come back to it later.
2. Be especially careful making your choice, especially when 'e' says "all of the above", "one of the above", "a
and c" or any other such possible variations. For those questions,
read them several times before making a choice.
3. Don't be distracted by those who leave early. Tell yourself that they may have given up, rather than that they knew it all. Remember that each person works at a different speed, and it has nothing to do with who is smarter.
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Pride yourself in being one of the LAST to finish, and
consider that it is not "cool" to be one of the first
to finish.
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4. When finished with the last question, go over the entire
exam againand make sure the answers you have chosen are those which you have given considerable thought. Usually, however, do not change your answers unless you know the first answer you gave was wrong. "
If you know the material very well (as you should), then careful and thoughtful
consideration of the choices will give the best results.
Next page discusses visualizing. To continue please click "NEXT".
Page created 10.V.2000, last modified 28.V.2000. Web page layout and design © and intellectual property Jan A. Nilsson, 1999, and 2000. Please send comments and suggestions, including reporting grammar, spelling and /or factual errors, to Jan A. Nilsson desertbruchid@hotmail.com
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