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Test Taking Skills
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Test
taking skills are skills, yes, but they are skills that can be learned.
Two different people who know the same amount of material for a
test may get very different test results. Why? Because they have
different levels of test taking skills.
Test taking skills can range from how you prepare for a test to
how well you can reduce your anxiety while taking it and how you
go about taking your test, as well. Here are some test taking skills:
• Before the test:
o Do not procrastinate studying for the test. “Cramming”
for a test may help in the short term, but it does not help in the
long run.
o Do not stay up the late the night before “cramming”
– make sure that you get a good night’s rest.
o Eat well and wear comfortable clothes.
o Know in advance what kind of test it will be – multiple
choice, etc.
o Know what materials you need to bring (do you need a calculator?
A #2 pencil? Etc.)
o Arrive on time. You do not want the added stress of being late.
o Some anxiety is fine – a little anxiety will help you do
well.
• How to reduce excessive test anxiety:
o Be positive. Do not focus too much time on the questions that
you do not know the answer to. Smile when you know you have gotten
one write.
o Take the test one question at a time. Do not be worrying about
other questions when you should be focusing on one. Besides, such
concentration will reduce anxiety.
o Relax. Take deep breaths.
o Focus.
• The test itself:
o Read all directions carefully. If you do not understand the directions,
ask.
o Scan the test to plan how much time you need to spend on each
section.
o Answer easy questions first. Build up your confidences.
o Skip questions that you cannot answer on a first reading –
do not waste your time on theses. You can come back to them at the
end of the test if you have time. Also, you may learn the answers
to these questions by reading other test questions.
o When you are done, review the questions and your answers. Make
sure that you did not make any blaring mistakes.
o Make sure that you did not leave any questions blank – that
is a sure way to lose some points.
o Review your own performance on the test. Did these test taking
skills help? What can you do next time to improve even more? Do
you need to learn new test taking skills or practice your test taking
skills?
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