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Study Guides index of guidesTips for
Better Test Taking

A child should be
approached with reverence
Bronson Alcott, American
...as well as the child in each of us

When you take a test,
you are demonstrating your ability to understand course material or perform certain tasks.  Successful test taking avoids carelessness.

Examples of objective tests are true-false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank.

Examples of subjective texts are short answer, essay, or oral exams

NB:  If you have any doubts about the fairness of tests, 
or of the ability of tests to measure your performance, 
please see your academic counseling service.

These suggestions may help you avoid careless errors!

Prepare:

  • Analyze your past test results
    Each test can further prepare you for the next test.
    Use your tests to review when studying for final exams
  • Arrive early for tests
    Bring all the materials you will need such as pencils and pens, a calculator, a dictionary, and a watch. 
    This helps you focus on the task at hand
  • Be comfortable but alert
    Choose a good spot and make sure you have enough room to work, maintain comfortable posture but don't "slouch"
  • Stay relaxed and confident
    Remind yourself that you are well-prepared and are going to do well.  If you find yourself anxious, take several slow, deep breaths to relax
    Don't talk about the test to other students just before it; anxiety is contagious

Test Taking:

  • Read the directions carefully
    This may be obvious, but it will help you avoid careless errors
    If there is time, quickly look through the test for an overview
    Note key terms, jot down brief notes
  • Answer questions in a strategic order:
    1. First easy questions
      to build confidence, score points, and mentally orient yourself to vocabulary, concepts, and your studies (it may help you make associations with more difficult questions)
    2. Then difficult questions or those with the most point value
      With objective tests, first eliminate those answers you know to be wrong, or are likely to be wrong, don't seem to fit, or where two options are so similar as to be both incorrect
      With essay/subjective questions, broadly outline your answer and sequence the order of your points

    •  

  • Review:
    Resist the urge to leave as soon as you have completed all the items
    Review your test to make sure that you have answered all questions, not mis-marked the answer sheet, or made some other simple mistake
    Proofread your writing for spelling, grammar, punctuation, decimal points, etc.

    Change answers to questions if you originally misread them
    or if you have encountered information elsewhere in the test that indicates that your first choice is incorrect

Decide on and adopt study strategies that worked best for you
Identify those that didn't work well and replace them.

Website overview: Since 1996 the Study Guides and Strategies web site has been researched, authored, maintained and supported by Joe Landsberger as an international, learner-centric, educational public service. Permission is granted to freely copy, adapt, and distribute individual Study Guides in print format in non-commercial educational settings that benefit learners. Please be aware that the Guides welcome, and are under, continuous review and revision. For that reason, reproduction of all content on the Internet can only be with permission through a licensed agreement. No request to link to the Web site is necessary.

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