THE TECHNIQUE
1. Write your own test. This is most effective if done soon after each lecture/reading, while the material
and instructor's emphases are still fresh on your mind and while there is time
to clarify anything you don't understand.
Write your questions
on one (or more) sheet(s).
Convert all material
you will be held responsible for knowing into numbered test questions.
Ask "small" questions
(e.g., "Where are genes located?"), not "big" questions (e.g., "Explain genetics").
Ask recall, synthesis,
and application questions. Try to include questions you think the instructor
will ask.
Write complete, accurate,
and concise answers on separate sheet(s). Make sure you understand the
answers you write, and clarify anything you don't understand.
2. Take your test.
Take your answer sheet(s)
and put it in another room (this is important).
Take out a blank piece
of paper, and answer all your questions as completely, accurately, and concisely
as you can.
3. Grade your test
- Retrieve your answer
sheet(s), pretend you are the instructor, and grade your answers. Record
grade at top.
- Indicate on the Question
sheet, which answers you missed.
- It is important to
note here that you likely will fail your test the first time, and that is
okay, because you are going to learn more and miss less each time you take
your test.
4. Retake the Test, emphasizing
those questions you missed.
5. Repeat this process
until you are satisfied with your score. Acing your own test the morning
of your actual test is a great confidence-builder (and reduces test anxiety
too!).
THE RATIONALE
1. Effective: because it is always best to practice what you actually are going to
have to do.
Your instructor is
going to ask you to write complete, accurate, concise answers to questions,
so practice doing this and continuously evaluate your success at it.
Many students study
for tests by rewriting and reading their notes (multiple times), but your
instructor is not going to evaluate you on your ability to rewrite and read
your notes.
2. Efficient: because
your studying is always focused.
You are always "mind-on."
You are writing the whole time you are studying so it is harder for your mind
to wander.
You are interruptible.
By constantly writing, you always know where you've been and where you're
going.
You are focused.
Because you always know exactly what you do know and don't know, you focus
your studying on what you don't know.
DETAILS
1. You put the answers on separate sheets of paper and put your answers in a different
room to keep yourself from looking at the answers (cheating) as you take your
test.
2. You actually assign a grade to each question and your overall test
so that you can learn to look at your answers through the eyes of your instructor.
This will improve the quality of your answers, and it will give you a clearer
idea about what you know and don't know.
3. This method takes time, but only exactly as much time it takes to do
well on the test.
FAIL-SAFE TEST-TAKING TECHNIQUE
Come with confidence! You should be thinking, "I dare the instructor
to put a question on the test for which I don't know the answer." This can make
all the difference!
Read directions carefully; look through test to help you with timing.
Multiple Choice Questions:
- Cover the choices before reading the question to prevent confusion or being
swayed.
- Read the question carefully
- Write the answer in the margin
- Find the choice that best matches your answer
Essay Questions
- Read the question carefully
- Jot down notes to yourself in the margin
- Answer the question asked
- Answer the question directly
- Answer the question concisely. Review your answers, imagining you are the
instructor reading another student's answers (here is where grading your own
study tests helps).
Ask the instructor for clarification when necessary.
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