Exam Strategies

Preparing for the exam

• Ask professor what type of exams will be given (essays vs. multiple choice).
• Ask professor where the exam material comes from (how much from reading vs. lecture).
• Ask other students who have taken the exam in a previous semester what kind of test-style the professor uses.
• Review earlier exams and analyze mistakes.
• Develop practice tests to take prior to the exam.
• Make extra copies of handouts (maps, worksheets) to practice before the exam.

Taking the exam

• Bring necessary materials (#2 pencils, pens, calculator).
• Get to class a little bit early.
• Look for clues for answers throughout the exam.
• Don't change answers without good reason.
• Don't get stuck; move on to the next question.
• Use the D.E.T.E.R. strategy of testing taking.

True/False exams

Read questions carefully.

• The entire sentence must be true for a true answer.
• Watch for key words.
• Key words usually found in false statements: no, never, none, every, always, all, only.
• Key words usually found in true statements: sometimes, often, many, usually, few.
• Never leave an answer blank - You have a 50/50 chance of guessing the correct answer.

Matching exams

• Count both columns to see if you will have extra choices.
• Answer the ones you know and then lightly cross them out.
• Best way to prepare for this type of question is by creating and using flash cards.

Fill-in-the-Blank exams

• Look for key words.
• Decide type of information required: date, name, place, term.
• Use grammatical structure of sentence to determine word: noun, verb, qualifier.
• Best way to prepare for this type of question is by creating and using flash cards.

Multiple Choice exams

• Read question and try to answer without reading choices.
• Read all choices before making a decision.
• Cross out all wrong choices.
• Choose the best answer.
• Circle words like "Not" and "Except" to help remember what answer is needed.
• "All of the above" questions are like a true/false where every choice must be true.
• Look for choices that are complete and contain the most detailed information.

Short Answer exams

• Keep answer short and to the point.
• Use complete sentences when required.
• Follow directions: list, name, identify.
• Amount of space provided on the test may give a clue to how much to write.

Essay exams

• Use the Q.U.O.T.E. strategy.

Open Book exams

• Write all formulas, definitions, etc. on a separate sheet of paper for easy referral.
• Prepare your notes for quick reference. Make a table of contents, number your pages and tab important pages.

Science and Math questions

• Translate problems into English to help you understand what is being asked. For example, the formula for calculating interest, I = P x R/100 x T would be translated as Interest equals principal times the rate as a percentage times the time period.
• Determine the unknown. Determine the known quantities.
• Write out the formula.
• Show all your work. Do not skip steps, even if they seem trivial to you. Your professor needs to see the logic of your answer and may give you part credit for each step of the solution.
• Check for a logical answer. Make sure what you have calculated makes sense.
• Check to see if you used all of the data supplied. It isn’t often that data is given and not used.
• Proofread your exam. Check the steps of each problem.

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