When you get the test, read the essay question(s) first, then do the rest of the test. You may find answers or supporting points for your essay in the other part of the test.
Reread the essay questions and underline key words and make sure you understand what you are being asked to do.
Jot down all the ideas and examples in the margin or on a scratch sheet of paper.
Budget your time according to point value.
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Writing
Begin with the question that seems easiest to you.
Turn the question or statement into a thesis sentence adding your opinion to the statement.
Make your handwriting as clear as possible. If the instructor can not read it, you will lose points.
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Writing (cont.)
Write at least three supporting statements.
Back your statements up with the facts, quotations or references to reading material, and statistics you have studied.
If you have the time, read over your answer to see if you have included all the necessary points.
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True/False
Read the directions before you begin.
Determine the number of questions and budget your time.
Read each question carefully.
Look of qualifiers: Never, all, none, only and always generally indicate a statement is false. Sometimes, generally, often, frequently, and mostly indicate a statement is true.
Answer all questions you know first.
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True/False (cont.)
When guessing, do not change answers. Research indicates your first answer is usually best. Note: Often true/false tests contain more true answers than false answers.
Answer all questions.
“Reason” statements tend to be false. When something is given as the reason/cause/because of something else the statement will tend to be false.
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Multiple Choice
Read the directions carefully.
Attempt to answer the question without looking at the options.
Preview the test. Read through quickly and answer the easiest questions first.
Answer the questions you know first. Mark the ones you don’t know. Often answers to questions you don’t know are supplied in other questions, so pay attention.
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Multiple Choice (cont.)
Eliminate the distracters. Analyze the options as true/false questions. In a negatively worded question (as in “which of the following are NOT. . .”), put a T or F beside each option, then simply select the false statement.
Never be afraid to use common sense in determining your answer. Sometimes reasoning through the questions is better than trying to recall the “right” answer.
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Multiple Choice (cont.)
When guessing, do not change answers. Research indicates your first answer is usually best, but don’t be afraid to change it if you have a good reason.
When guessing, choose answers that are not the first or last option. Research indicates that the option in the middle with the most words is frequently the correct response.
Answer all questions.
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Multiple Choice (cont.)
If the first option is a correct one, look at the last option to make sure it is not an “all of the above” option. The same is true for “none of the above” question.
If options appear similar, chances are one of them is the correct response.
Read through the test a second time and answer the difficult questions.
