disarming tests. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights reserved.disarming tests - 2...

Disarming Disarming TestsTests

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Disarming Tests - 2

Disarm Tests

• Grades are what we use to give power to tests

• Let go of your misconceptions about grades

• Don’t exaggerate the pressure on yourself

• Keep the risk in perspective


Remember…

• Grades are not measures of:

– Intelligence

– Creativity

– Self-worth

• Test scores do not measure accomplishment in a course—they measure performance on a test


What to Do Before the Test

•Do daily reviews: short, several times per day

•Do weekly reviews: about an hour per subject, cover reading and lecture notes

•Do major reviews: 2–5 hours at a stretch, week before major exams

• Schedule reviews at least five days before a major exam



• Create study checklists

• Mind map summary sheets

• Flash cards



• Monitor your reviews

• Take a practice test

• Get copies of old exams


How to Cram: Even though you shouldn’t

• Make choices

• Make a plan

• Recite and recite again

• Don’t “should” yourself


Ways to Predict Test Questions

• Ask about the nature of the test

• Put yourself in your instructor’s shoes

• Look for possible test questions in your notes and readings



• Watch for clues from instructor during class

– Repeating certain points

– Writing information on board

– Gestures

– Questions posed to students

– Extensively covering some material from readings



• Save all quizzes, papers, lab sheets, and graded material

• Practice working problems using different variables

• Brainstorm test questions with other students



Remember the obvious:

This material will be on the

test!


Working in Groups

• Form a study group• Choose a focus for the

group• Get dedicated students• Look for diversity in

learning styles• Hold a planning session• Assign roles

• Teach each other• Test each other• Compare notes• Create wall-sized mind

maps• Give “book reports” in

pairs• Monitor effectiveness• Ask for personal

support


What to Do During the Test

• As you begin

– Arrive early

– Do a relaxation exercise

– Pay attention to verbal directions



• As you begin

– Scan the whole test

– Evaluate the importance of each section

– Read the directions slowly, twice

– In margins, jot down memory aids, formulas, equations, facts

– Let go of test anxiety



• Answer easiest, shortest questions first • Then answer multiple choice, true/false,

fill-in-the-blank• Use memory techniques• Pace yourself• Look for answers in other

test questions


Multiple-Choice Questions

• Answer questions in your head before looking at answer choices

• Read all answers to each question before selecting one

• Test each possible answer

• Eliminate incorrect answers


True/False Questions

• Read the entire question

• Look for qualifiers like: all, most, sometimes, never, rarely

• Double check numbers, facts, and dates

• Watch for negatives


Computer-Graded Tests

• Make sure the answers you mark correspond to the right questions

• Check the test booklet against the answer sheet

• Do not make stray marks on the answer sheet

• Erase wrong answers completely


Open-Book Tests

• Write formulas you need on separate sheet

• Place Post-It® notes or paper clips on important pages

• Number your class notes and write a short table of contents

• Predict and highlight which material will be covered on the test


Short Answer/Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

• These often ask for definitions or short descriptions

• Concentrate on key words and facts

• Be brief

• Overlearn material


Matching Tests

• Read through each column• Make note of differences between similarly

worded items• Match words that are similarly grammatically• Look for the word that logically completes a

phrase• Cross out items when you have used them


Essay Questions

• Find out precisely what the question is asking

• Make a quick outline

• Get right to the point

• Put the most solid supporting points first


Essay Style

• Write legibly

• Use a pen

• Be brief

• Use one side of the paper only


Words to Watch for in Essay Questions

• Analyze• Compare• Contrast• Criticize• Define• Describe• Discuss

• Explain• Prove• Relate• State• Summarize• Trace


“F” Is for Feedback, not Failure

• Getting an “F” means only that you failed a test—not your life

• An “F” is feedback that you didn’t understand the material

• Feedback helps you change to promote future success


After the Test

• Reflect on what you discovered about the test

• What do you intend to do to prepare differently for the next test?


When the Test is Returned

• Double check for accuracy

• What material did the instructor base the questions?

• Types of questions

• What types of questions did you miss?


The Costs of Cheating

• We learn less• We lose money• Fear of getting

caught promotes stress

• Violating our values promotes stress

• Cheating once makes it easier to compromise our integrity

• Cheating lowers our self-concept

disarming tests. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights reserved.disarming tests - 2...

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