Week 8: Test Preparation & Dealing with Test Anxiety

1. IMPROVING YOUR
PERFORMANCE ON EXAMS

2. College Test Taking
 From time to time, you will be called upon to
“show what you know.”
 Knowing your learning style can help you decide the
best way to study for your test.

3. Be Prepared
 Physically
 Get some sleep
 Exercise
 Eat right
 Emotionally
 Know the material
 Practice relaxing
 Use positive self-talk
 Generally
 Find out about the test
 Design a plan
 Join a study group

4. First & Foremost
 Put the test in perspective.
 Of course, you want to do your
best, but remember:
 This test is not the end of the
world, all you are doing is putting
marks on a piece of paper or on a
computer screen.
 Be prepared. Relax.
 Know that you will pass the test
with flying colors.

5. Tips for Taking Tests
 Analyze, ask and stay  Don’t linger on hard
calm. questions – move on.
 Make the best use of your  If you feel yourself
time. starting to panic, stop
 Jot down idea-starters what you’re doing and
before the test. take a deep breath.
 Begin by previewing the
 Ask for clarification when
entire test. necessary.
 Ask any questions
 Use clues in the test to jog
regarding the instructions. your memory.
 Don’t get distracted by
 Re-check your work before
others finishing before you. handing it in.

6. Essay Question Strategies
 Budget your exam time.  Don’t get distracted by
others finishing before
 Read the question you.
carefully.  Conclude by
 Outline the key ideas. summarizing how your
thesis is supported.
 Refer specifically to the  Watch grammar, spelling
question in your opening and punctuation.
sentence.  Be sure you have
 Make a clear, coherent completely answered the
question.
thesis statement.  Write legibly.
 Develop the main body of  Proofread your work.
the essay to support your
thesis statement.

7. The Million Dollar Question

8. Multiple Choice Strategies
 Read the question carefully and try to
answer it before you read the choices.
 Strike out wrong answers.
 Beware of questions that use absolute
words, like “always” or “never.”
 Change answers cautiously. Beware of
second-guessing yourself.
 Read all the options before making a
choice.
 If you don’t know an answer, move on.
 If there is no penalty for guessing,
make an educated guess.

9. True-False Strategies
 Read the question carefully.
 Go with your hunch.
 Watch for key words:
 Absolutes (never, etc.) are probably
false
 Relatives (some, etc.) are probably true
 Double negatives – not untruthful, etc.
 If a part of it is false, all of it is false.
 Answer all questions unless there is
a penalty for guessing.

10. Fill-in-the-Blank Strategies
 Read thoroughly to be sure what
is being asked.
 Be brief and specific.
 Give an answer for every blank.
 Short blanks may have long
answers and vice versa. Don’t
assume anything.
 Remember an “a” before a blank
wants a consonant word and
“an” a vowel word.
 Watch for key “trigger” words.

11. Matching Questions
 Before answering, review all terms and
descriptions.
 Match the terms you are sure of, crossing
them out as you go.
 Try using flash cards to help you prepare for
these types of questions.

12. Types of Tests
 Problem-Solving Tests
 Math, sciences – will be asked to show steps to solve a problem
 Machine-Scored Tests
 Be careful to include all information
 Computerized Tests
 Your comfort depends on how computer literate you are
 Laboratory Tests
 Completing tasks similar to those you have been performing in lab
 Open-Book and Open-Note Tests
 Usually harder than other exams, not easier – look out!
 Take-Home Tests
 Usually essay, and tend to be more difficult than other tests

13. Test Anxiety
 Test anxiety has many sources:
 Setting unrealistic goals
 Expectations of those close to you
 Lack of preparation
 Negative prior experiences
 Types of test anxiety:
 Standardized tests
 Types of classroom tests
 Computerized tests
 Subject-specific

14. Symptoms of Test Anxiety
 Butterflies in the stomach
 Queasiness or nausea
 Headaches
 Faster heartbeat
 Hyperventilating
 Shaking
 Sweating
 Muscle cramps
 “Going blank”

15. Combating Test Anxiety
 Control your breathing
 Stretch your muscles
 Sit relaxed, no tense muscles
 Visit your campus counseling center
for other tips, including visualization
 Focus on the positive
 Do not allow anyone to undermine
your confidence

16. Getting Your Test Back
 Begin by reviewing your test results.
 Don’t let yourself become undone by one
failure.
 Use the disappointment to critically
think about
 the causes of the poor performance
 crafting new strategies to improve your
situation.
 Talk to your instructor if you find an
error.

17. Tempted to Cheat?
Cheating and plagiarism can have
ugly consequences:
 Cheaters struggle with a nagging conscience, self-doubt,
dissatisfaction and guilt.
 Humiliation results if you get caught.
 You may, at least, receive a “0” on your exam, or possibly
be expelled from the college or university.
 Professors who catch you cheating may spread the word and
refuse to write letters of recommendation, ruining chances
for graduate study or participation in special programs.
 And remember the person you cheat the most is yourself.

18. The Big Three
 Be prepared!
 Relax!
 Know you can do it!

19. GSP Exam
 Grammar, Spelling,  GSP Resources
Punctuation  www.unt.edu/writinglab
 Multiple choice  GSP workshops –
 70% or higher AUDB 103
 October 18 @ 11:00
 May take the test up
to 3 times a.m.
 Individual tutoring