Chapter 8 Developing Test-Taking Skills
Date 26.10.2016 Size 21.23 Kb. #485
Chapter 8 Developing Test-Taking Skills It’s not only about a good grade , it’s still about learning; and learning will help you get the good grade. Tests don’t measure how smart you are . . . they’re simply tools that evaluate the progress you’ve made in your studies. Reflect on this. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Good Preparation & Learning . . . are the most important factors in test-taking success and in overcoming test anxiety. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Purpose of This Chapter To help you learn tips and strategies for test preparation and test-taking so you can take tests with confidence in college and for future job entrance, certification, or license exams. The keys are understanding the test mechanics & being soundly prepared. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Learning Outcomes Start early with test preparation & make it an ongoing effort. Use study groups to enhance your learning. Use strategies from previous chapters to prepare for tests. Understand, analyze, & respond to true/false, multiple choice, essay, & other test formats. Use preparation , self-talk, visualization, & relaxation to overcome test anxiety. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Class Think Recall as many tips & strategies from the previous chapters that would help you: Prepare for tests Overcome test anxiety Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Tips & Strategies for Test Preparation (from previous chapters) Use PRQRT or SQ3R to: Help you learn while you read. Create self-tests for later study. Use column or outline notetaking formats to create study-ready notes. Listen for instructor hints for test items. Use self-talk to direct your preparation efforts. Manage & schedule your study time. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Tips & Strategies for Overcoming Test Anxiety (from previous chapters) Use positive self-talk: To direct you preparation. To encourage yourself “I can. . . .” Use self-discipline to: Start & sustain your learning. Manage your study time. Use visualization to ____________. Avoid procrastination. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Math & Science Test Preparation Tips Math is a building process; in order to understand the next steps you need to comprehend present & previous steps. Begin preparing early. Do assigned lab & homework problems. (Mathematicians usually say they practiced more problems than were assigned.) Simulate tests conditions—practice timed problems. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Class Share What are some of your :Good study habits? Effective study tools? Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Class Share What are some of your :Bad habits that keep you from studying? How would you advise your classmates to avoid them? Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Prepare for Tests on the First Day You Start Each Chapter Reading Assignment If you’ve been regularly testing yourself with your study-ready materials from your text, class notes, & flash cards, you’ve already begun the process of storing what you need to know in your long-term memory. Keep up the self-testing so the material will be increasingly solidified in your brain by exam day. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Use Self-Talk to Prepare for Tests Early What self-talk will you use to begin test preparation early & sustain your learning efforts? Quick Activity write down your new self-talk. Examples: “I will begin test preparation early by ________ .” “I will sustain my preparation by ____________ .” Use your power of self-talk to direct your test preparation. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Rewards for Starting Early & Sustaining Your Test Preparation Mental clarity & less anxiety You retain information—it’s learned! Better control Greater test confidence Better grades & jobs Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Ever Procrastinate? What allows you to procrastinate? Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. It is bad for your health. It can cause stress/anxiety. It doesn’t sustain learning. It’s not smart. It makes you go into a crisis mode. cramming! See next slides to help you in an emergency exam prep! Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Emergency Test Prep (Adapted from Miller, George A., The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information ,1956, Harvard) A structured approach to cramming :Preview material to be covered. Be selective & skim chapters for main points. Concentrate on the main points. Warning: This learning will be short-lived. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Emergency Test Prep (Begin with 5 sheets of paper) Identify 5 key concepts or topics that will be covered on the test. List 1 concept at the top of each page using key words. In your own words, write a brief explanation, definition, answer, etc., for each of the key concepts. Compare your response with text & class notes. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Emergency Test Prep (continued) Edit or rewrite your understanding of each topic considering the text & class notes. Sequence & number each page of your topics 1–5 in order of importance; 1 = most important Follow same process for 2 additional concepts if you have time. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Emergency Test Prep (continued) Place them in a 1–7 page sequence. Follow the above process for 1–2 more concepts for a total of 9. Follow your comfort level—add topics only as necessary. Try not to exceed 9 concepts focus on the most important. Review the day of test ; try to relax just before. Warning Again: This learning will be short-lived. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Class Think How can you predict test questions? Tip: Ask your instructors (early) about what type of questions will generally be on their tests so you will be better able to focus your studies by using the test-taking strategies recommended for specific test styles. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. About Study Groups Have you ever been in a study group? What were the pros? . . .the cons? What would have made your study group work better for you? The next slides will give you the positives & guidelines for study groups. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Study Groups = Serious Learning Two heads are better than one when you explain something you’ve learned to others, you understand it better. Research shows students who study in groups do better than students who study alone. The commitment students make to a group helps them stay on task. Studying with a good group is more enjoyable than alone. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Study Groups: Making it Work! Search/locate guidelines on “How to Set Up a Study Group.” Choose dependable students. Attendance is crucial for effectiveness of the group. Assess the effectiveness of the group. What’s working? What should we improve? Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Guidelines to Help You Make the Most of Your Study Group Establish a purpose & a set of common goals. Pick a time & place that works for everyone. Set up a schedule & stick to it. Socialize after the session. Optimal group size is between 3–6 students. Designate a chairperson who will be responsible for reserving the space & leading the agenda for each session. (You may want to rotate this position.) Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Guidelines to Help You Make the Most of Your Study Group continued Divide portions of the study material among group members. Each member will be responsible for leading a discussion on assigned portion. Always come prepared: Read the material. Do the homework. Bring all notes & books related to the topic of the session. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. What’s your favorite test format? Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. The key to preparing & performing well on different test formats is: Understanding the test mechanics. Rehearsing what you’ve learned in a manner that simulates the test format. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. True–False Test Mechanics & Strategies (T–F—is the basis for Multiple Choice Test Strategies) Every part of a true sentence must be “true.” If the question contains negatives, such as “no, not, cannot,” drop the negative & read what remains. decide whether that sentence is true or false. if it is true, its opposite, or negative, is usually false. Qualifiers such as “usually” or “seldom,” make more modest claims, are more likely to reflect reality, & usually indicate “true” answers. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. True-False Test Mechanics & Strategies continued Absolute words restrict possibilities. “No, never, none, always, every, entirely, only” imply the statement must be true 100% of the time and often indicate “false” answers. Use a true-false analysis for each word/item in a series—if one is false, the statement is “false.” Example below : chicken is false, so the entire sentence is false.T F Sources of vitamin E include vegetable oils, wheat germ , chicken, corn, nuts, seeds, olives, asparagus, and spinach. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. True-False Test Mechanics & Strategies continued Often true-false tests contain more true than false answers. You have ˃ 50% chance of being right with “true.” However, your instructor may be the opposite. (Review past tests for patterns.) Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. What poses the greatest difficulty for you when preparing for and/or taking multiple choice tests? Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. What poses the greatest difficulty for you when preparing for and/or taking multiple choice tests? What to Know About Multiple Choice Questions Multiple choice questions usually include a phrase or stem followed by 3–5 options. The directions can vary so pay attention: whether each question has 1 or more correct options. if you are penalized for guessing. how much time is allowed (this directs your strategy). Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Multiple Choice Mechanics & Analysis (When you need a backup to knowing.) Preview the test & mark, as appropriate, those you think you know. Cover the options, read the stem, & try to answer. Select the option that most closely matches your answer. Treat each option as a true-false question—choose the most true. Use the true-false analysis on each option. Question options that grammatically don’t fit with the stem. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Question options that are totally unfamiliar to you. Use hints from questions you know. Question options that contain negative or absolute words. Try substituting a qualified term for the absolute one, like frequently for always or seldom for never, and see if you can eliminate it. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Multiple Choice Mechanics & Analysis continued When in doubt, favor options that contain qualifiers such as usually or generally—the response is longer & more inclusive. If you know 2–3 options seem correct, “all of the above” is a strong possibility. Be aware of “look alike options.” Probably one is correct; choose the best but eliminate choices that mean basically the same thing & cancel each other out. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Multiple Choice Mechanics & Analysis continued Double negatives = positive. If 2 options are opposite, chances are one is correct. If two alternatives seem correct, compare them for differences, then refer to the stem to find your best answer. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. What is your greatest challenge when writing essay question responses? Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. What is your greatest challenge when writing essay question responses? Essay Exam Mechanics & Strategies Preview the test & determine how much time you have for each question. Allow time to review the entire test before submitting. While fresh in your mind, jot down notes, outlines , steps, & formulas as you preview. Pay close attention to the directives (list, explain, compare, contrast, critique). Make a brief outline for each response. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Essay Exam Writing & Answering Tips Begin with a strong first sentence stating the main idea of your essay. Continue first paragraph by noting all key points. Begin each paragraph with a key point from the introduction. Develop each point in a complete paragraph.. Use transitions or enumerate to connect points. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Essay Exam Writing & Answering Tips continued Write concisely; make each word count. Use bulleted lists if/where appropriate. Stick to your time allotment & organization. Avoid very absolute statements when possible. A qualified statement connotes a philosophic attitude, the mark of an educated person. Qualify answers when in doubt. It is better to say “toward the end of the war” than to say, “in 1756” when you can’t remember whether it’s 1756 or 1776. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Essay Exam: Writing & Answering Tips continued Stick to the facts unless you are specifically asked your opinion. State evidence to support each point. Be concise. Proof. If you know or can predict any of the essay questions, practice writing the answers before the test. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. The key to performing at your peak in any test situation is preparation—the earlier you start the better. Use time management to budget your study time & sustain your preparation. Use sound preparation strategies to solidify what you learn. Prepare yourself mentally & physically through positive self-talk, visualization, & relaxation. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Key Chapter Points continued The key to preparing & performing well on different test formats is understanding the test mechanics & rehearsing what you’ve learned by simulating the test format. Study groups enhance & solidify learning. All of the above will help to overcome or eliminate test anxiety. Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Making Mistakes “Flops are part of life’s menu. Everyone makes mistakes. High achievers learn by their mistakes. By doing that, an error becomes the raw material out of which future successes are forged. Failure is not a crime. Failure to learn from failure is.” —Unknown Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Being self-disciplined about learning actually feels good! Copyright © 2016 by Tapestry Press, Ltd. Share with your friends:
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