1. Test-Taking Strategies 2009 Workshop Recruitment, Retention, & Tutorial Services

2. Overview Essentials Questions about test Objective Tests Types Distracters Subjective Tests Types Strategies:

3. Sound Advice…

4. Essentials

5. Questions to Ask about the Test

6. Test Types Objective Types: Multiple choice True/False Matching Complete the sentence/fill-in-the-blank Only one possible answer Only one best answer All test your ability to recall information Subjective Tests: Short Answers Essays No “wrong” answers, but “better” answers. Test your ability for recognition

7. Three (3) Parts of a Test Question

8. The Stem (examples) Five forms of a stem in questions Background statement A young woman arrived to the hospital in early labor. Question Form Which of the following signs is the best indicator of early labor? Incomplete sentence (fill-in-blank) The best indicator that labor is early and progressing is _______.

9. The Stem (examples) cont. Multiple multiples Which of the following is the best indicator that labor is early and progressing….? Negatives or Exceptions All of the following behaviors are typical of a woman in early labor except: The word except directs you to behaviors not typical Which of the following is NOT true about diffusion? The word not directs you to a process not affiliated with diffusion

10. Multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies 2009

11. Multiple Choice: Distracters Greater the similarity between the correct answer.. What is the capital of Michigan? A. Grand Rapids B. Detroit C. Lansing D. Ann Arbor …and the distracters (incorrect answers), the greater the difficulty What is the capital of Michigan? A. California B. Iowa C. Lansing D. Montana

13. Sequential Multiple Choice The following people were the founders of sociology; the author of Society in America ignored due to her genders; the person who coined the term “ survival of the fittest” and thought helping the poor was wrong; the sociologist who studied social integration and suicide, and the sociologist who studied the relationship between religion and capitalism. A) Comte, Martineau, Durkheim, Marx, Martineau B) Weber, Marx, Durkheim, Dubois, Weber C) Comte, Martineau, Spencer, Durkheim, Weber D) Comte, Spencer, Marx, Durkheim, Weber E) Comte, Addams, Durkheim, Weber, Martineau Answers are presented within the sentence and separated by semicolons (;) Tip: Number the sequenced sentences in the question, and match them with the answers.

14. Let’s Take a Break? If you leave, please return promptly, and quietly, thank you! 

15. Distracters vs.Limiters Change the choices and context found in most answers Change the choice and context found inmost questions

16. Multiple Choice & True/False Limiters Absolute limiters can usually be eliminated as an answer choice Absolute limiters are rarely correct, especially in soft sciences. Absolute limiters are NOT about if you are absolutely confident it’s true… True of False? Time can always be controlled Everyone has the same amount of time Prioritizing is a technique that identifies what is most important Negations: “NOT” “NEVER” Absolutes: “ONLY” “ALL” “EVERY” “ALWAYS” Choices/Degrees: “BEST” “WORST” “EITHER/OR”

17. True/False Question Limiters: Likelihood Special words that may increase the likelihood that the statement is true Asks for a degree of possibility Pale, cool, and clammy skin suggests which of the following? A) a stable patient B) airway obstruction C) liver disease D) Shock If any part of the statement is false, then the entire statement is considered false: T/F: The sky is never blue T/F: The sky is blue everyday T/F: The sky is blueat _____ o’ clock T/F: The sky is blue probably due to oxygen “MOST LIKELY” “BEST” “MOST COMMON” “…OF CHOICE” “LEAST/MOST RELIABLE” “SUGGESTS, SUGGESTING, SUGGESTIVE” “MIGHT EXPLAIN” “COULD HAPPEN” “PROBABLY DUE TO: ”

18. (T/F likelihood cont.) T / F: You have checked your patient’s skin temperature and have determined that his/her forehead feels very cool. You should now check the skin temperature in a more central location such as the torso. When in doubt, choose “True”!

19. matching Test-Taking Strategies 2009

21. Correct answer for one concept serves as a distracter for all the others

22. Strategies:

23. Mixed flash cards with similar definitions

24. Diagramming old and new information together

26. Process-orientated questions Test-Taking Strategies 2009

27. Process-Orientated Questions What is the protocol for receiving an HBV vaccination? It’s a 3 step process… Name 2 extra steps used in blood culture specimen collection that are not part of regular venipuncture procedures? Two extra steps directly following would be… Anticipate questions, and study past the answer.

28. Process-Orientated Questions (cont.) (Nursing) Look for key words First, primarily, initial, early, most important, except, next, The very next sentence answer should describe the very next step in the process, - period. Place a period at the end of the test question Think of the very next step if you were to conduct the process in real life

29. Short/long answer (essay) Test-Taking Strategies 2009

31. If you don't know--come back & make educated guess if you must

32. No blanks--go for partial creditRead the question and try to answer it before reading the choices Read all the options before selecting your answer Look for similar answers, it will usually be the right answer Cross off answers that you know are wrong Answer every question unless there is a penalty for guessing

33. Short Answer Essentials Never assume that the length of the blank has anything to do with the length of the answer Look for key words in the sentence that may trigger a response “According to…(scientist/practitioner/book author)” “(Company/individual/researcher/etc.) has decided to….”

34. Long Answer (Essay) Strategies Plan your time Read through the entire question Pay attention to key words: Describe; differentiate; explain, give an example; compare and contrast Develop an outline so you know what to include in the answer: Write down keywords in the margins as you think of them Your opening statement summarizes your essay Summarize and conclude your thoughts again in your final paragraph Take time at the end to reread your answer!!

36. Don't change your answerYou more often remember the times when changing your answer cost you points, and less often remember the times when changing it gained you points Geiger’s (1991)* study showed… Go with what you believe is correct – first choice or if you go back

38. Ex: A way to remember the difference between catabolism and anabolism is…CATAstrophe is when everything starts to break apart, and a body-builder on ANAbolicsteriodsbuilds up more muscle.

39. Compare difficult or confusing terms to one another

40. Ex: Circle the correct term:

41. When drawing a blood culture with the Winged Infusion set (butterfly) always draw the aerobic/anaerobic bottle first.

43. Learning Style Strategies Linguistic/Verbal/Intrapersonal Learners: Turn the chapter/lecture objectives into questions Make a sample question for each bold faced term in the textbook Make a sample question for each key word written or described in the lecture TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS!

44. Learning Style Strategies Visual Learners: Utilize Youtube, CD-Roms with textbook, DVDs, labs, & your textbook’s websites Draw or use pictures and diagrams

45. Learning Style Strategies Interpersonal/Kinetic/Visual Learners: Walk and talk to yourself while reading the book Find a serious study partner to discuss Q & A. Use a study room with a dry erase board Try to teach yourself and your study partner using the dry erase board

46. Nursing Test-Taking Strategies Outline your notes to each disease With info from lecture and book Pathophysiology of disease/system Signs and symptoms (including tabs) Highlight special S & S Such as RLQ pain for appy Nursing Diagnosis Goals Specific Implementation Plans Patient Teaching

47. Nursing Test-taking Strategies cont. If you must guess, think physiological needs first… Airway Breathing Circulation Disability Safety second Communication Nursing process

48. Multiple Multiples Each person participating in the testing program….

49. References Nursing Practice test websites http://www.testprepreview.com/ http://caring4you.net/tests.html Biology EMS/EMT