Top 10 Test Taking Tips

Notes are critical, but when it comes down to it, your grade is determined by how well you do on tests and papers. Below are some tips to help you become an effective test-taker:

Go to Class. It seems obvious, but it's the one most often ignored. Attend all lectures, stay awake and take notes. Professors often cover things in class that are not in the textbook, and they will also emphasize the ideas and concepts that are bound to show up on the test. You can also ask questions and get clarification of difficult points in class. Someone else's notes cannot take the place of being there.

Read. At the beginning of the term, you will typically get a syllabus telling you what you will read. Don't just put it in the back of a folder and leave it there. Complete reading assignments before attending the lecture which covers the material. You'll know what the lecture is about and what is important, and you will be able to ask questions in class about concepts you didn't understand in the reading. After class, go over the reading again briefly to review concepts in your mind.

Give Yourself Advance Notice. Know well in advance when tests are scheduled, what type of tests they will be, and what will be covered. This is important to planning an effective study schedule.

Prepare Your Answers. On any essay test, if you have been keeping up in the reading and in class, you will have a general idea of the major themes that the questions will cover. Prepare and memorize an outline for these questions. For non-essay tests, you can do the same thing. You know the topics that the professor feels are important. Prepare yourself for questions about them, and always expect the most difficult question.

Test Yourself First. Using your class notes and text materials, make up your own test questions, and take your own test first. Have a classmate help you out by reading the questions to you, and answer them aloud. Then you ask the questions and listen to his or her answers. Studying with someone from your class who is familiar with the material is extremely helpful because you can each benefit from each other's perspectives and questions.

Understand Directions. The most common cause of low-test scores is misunderstanding of test directions. Before you begin, read all the directions for the entire test twice and ask for clarification of anything don't understand.

Watch the Clock. Keep an eye on the clock to make sure you are working at a pace that will allow you to finish the entire test without rushing at the end. If you run out of time, give a quick outline of the remainder of your essay answer, and answer all multiple choice or true/false questions, even if you have to guess.

Answer the Questions You Know First. Read each test questions twice, once to get the meaning and the second time to make sure you read it correctly. If you know the answer, answer it. If you don't know the answer, don't labor over the question. Move on to another question, and come back to that one later. This strategy will help you feel more confident as you go through the test, and will help you keep your concentration focused, ensuring that you'll answer all the questions you know.

Answer All the Questions. Never turn in a test will blank multiple choice or true/false questions. Even if you don't know the answer, guess - you've always got a chance of getting it right when the answer is right in front of you.

Check Your Answers. Give yourself time at the end of the testing period to review the test and check your answers. Proofread your essays, check your short-answer questions, and if there is a computerized testing sheet, make sure you've filled in the correct space for the correct question. When checking your answers, be careful. Research shows that when making corrections, students most often change correct answers to incorrect ones. This means that your instincts are often right. You should check your answer to make sure you haven't made silly mistakes, not to second guess yourself.