STUDY SKILLS
St. Jude School
Enrichment Program
Taking Tests
Strategies For All Kinds of Tests
Arrive Early
Compose your thoughts
Sharpen your concentration
Organize your materials
RELAX!
Listen Carefully for Instructions
Look Over Test, Reading Instructions Carefully
“Dump” Memory Banks
Write on back or in margin
Good if you’re afraid you’ll get nervous and forget something
Budget Your Time
Spend more time on a 5 pt. question than a 1 pt. question
Quickly figure out how much time for each question
If you can’t answer in the allotted time, skip it and come back (leave a mark in
the margin to make it easy to find)
Answer Easy Questions First
Builds confidence
Lowers anxiety
Look For Qualifying Words
Never
Always
Many
Often
Etc.
Leave Essay Questions for Last
If Unsure of an Answer, Write Best Guess
Come back to it, if time
Only change answers if you’re sure they’re wrong
Never leave any blank!
Use ALL Time Allowed
Check your answers
Make sure you followed directions exactly
“Tricks” for Different Types of Tests
True – False
Beware of Qualifying Words
Absolute words usually false
Always, Never, Only, All, etc.
Limiting words usually true
Usually, Often, Frequently, etc.
Look at length of statement
If long, more likely to have at least one part false
If in doubt, go with your hunch!
Matching
Read list on right first
These are the possible answers
Be familiar with all options
If unsure, leave it and come back
All remaining questions use process of elimination
Cross off answers as you use them
Multiple Choice
Read entire question
Try to think of answer before reading choices
Read ALL choices given, even if you find the one you think is correct
A better choice may follow
The correct answer may be “all of the above”
Multiple Choice, cont.
Eliminate the obviously incorrect answer(s) first
Read question carefully
Which is not an example of…
Which is the best example of…
If 2 statements appear to be true and you’re unsure about the 3rd, it is
probably “all of the above”
Short Answer / Fill in the Blank
Read question several times
Answer may pop after repetition
Look for context clues
“A” and “An”
After “A,” next word begins w/consonant
After “An,” next word begins w/vowel
Look at verb
Singular or Plural?
Short Answer / Fill in the Blank
Skip answers that don’t come quickly
Mark and come back to it
You may get a trigger from another question
Read directions carefully
Does answer need to be in a complete sentence?
Essay
Ask in advance if test will include essay questions and prepare
Plan you time carefully
Know your facts
Write neatly and leave margins
Essay cont.
Organize or outline your answer
Writing will be better if not stressing over facts
Answer will be more logical and easier to understand
Know test terminology
Compare and contrast
Evaluate
Interpret
Essay cont.
Use complete sentences!
Restate the question in the first line of your answer
Begin paragraphs with topic sentences
Keep your answer simple and concise
Essay cont.
Include a summary or conclusion
Proofread quickly for errors and missed information
Math Tests
Skim test quickly
Write down any formulas in t he margin
Double-check the accuracy of problems copied on scratch paper
Math Tests cont.
Draw graphs, pictures, etc. to help you understand
If allowed to use a calculator, use it!
Check ALL work
BEWARE of little mistakes!
Points to Remember
Good preparation yields good results!
Good preparation takes daily effort!
If you follow the ideas presented in this class, you can be confident you did
your best work regardless of your grade!