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 Conquering Test Anxiety
Along With

Tips and Strategies for

‡True/False Tests
‡Multiple Choice Tests
‡Short Answer Tests
‡Essay Tests
 


 What Kind Are You?

 Dreamer
 Procrastinator
 Planner
 ëeneral Strategies

 Write down key facts (on the back of the

test)

 Begin with an Overview

 How many questions
 Point values

 Read Test Directions

 ëeneral Strategies
 Mark up the questions, circle:

 Qualifiers (always, never, all, none

sometimes, etc.)

 Verbs that give directions

 Tricky questions or concepts

 ëeneral Strategies
 Double check answers on scantron
answer sheet
 Match numbers from test to scantron
 Use a straight edge to keep place

 Watch the clock

 ëuess intelligently
When you can¶t answer a question
 Ask for clarification
 Skip it and come back later
 Use what you know to build logical
connections to the answer
 Visualize where the material was in the
book or in your notes
 Start writing on scrap paper-
paper-to aid memory
 Test Anxiety
How do I know I have it?
Before the test I:

 Can¶t sleep the night before

 ëet sick if I eat
 Am Irritable and hard to be around
 See it as a measure of my worth as a
student
 Before/During the test :
 I have a negative attitude

 I think about not taking the test

 My body reacts negatively

 sweats
 nervousness
 butterflies
 During the test :
 I worry when other students are still testing and I
am done

 I worry when others finish and I am not done

 I am afraid I will run out of time

 I get frustrated

 Blank out
 Start with the Basics
ë








 
Attitude is Everything!

To help calm test

anxiety, use positive
mental images. Picture
yourself at the ³finish
line´ of your test, having
achieved your goal as
this long-distance runner
did at the 2000 Olympics
 Overcoming Test Anxiety

 Approach the test with an I can attitude

 Realize tests measure performance not
personal value
 Understand the instructor is on your side
 Practice relaxation
 Practice positive self talk/block negative
thoughts
 Overcoming Test Anxiety
 Relaxation releases energy for learning and
thinking

 Trust your memory

 Make up your own exams and practice taking

them

 Use Visualization
 Types of Tests

 Matching
 True
True--False

 Multiple
Multiple--choice

 Short Answer
 Essay
 Hints for Success
Matching
 Work from the longest column
 Answer the questions you know first
 Check off items as you use them
 Use the process of elimination
 Look for clues and relationships
 True--False Tests
True

 Read the statement carefully

 Watch for key words

 Look for negatives and double negatives

 If part of the statement is false, the whole

statement is false
 True--False Tests
True
 Pay attention to conservative words that
may make the statement true such as
³some,´ ³few,´ ³many,´ ³often,´ ´generally,´
³usually,´ and ³sometimes´

 Pay attention to absolute words that may

make the statement false such as ³never,´
³all,´ every,´ ³only,´ and ³always´
 Multiple--Choice Tests
Multiple
 Try to answer the questions before you
read the answers

 Look for similar answers, one of them is

usually correct

 Answers containing extreme modifiers, like

always, every, and never are usually
wrong
 Multiple--Choice Tests
Multiple
 Cross off answers you know are wrong
 Read all the answers even if you think the first
one is right

 When the answer is a number, the highest and

lowest numbers are usually wrong

 Underline key words and phrases

 Multiple--Choice Tests
Multiple

 A joke or funny answer is usually wrong

 The most inclusive answer is often correct
 The longest answer is often correct
 Is the choice relevant? It may be correct,
but not related to the question
 Multiple--Choice Tests
Multiple
 When the questions are linked to a
reading passage, read the questions first

 Some questions may provide answers or

clues to other questions

 Several choices may be correct. Choose

the   correct
 Short--Answer Tests
Short
 Look for key words

 Insert your answers; then reread the

sentence to see if it makes sense and is
grammatically correct
 Short--Answer Tests
Short
 Make sure the number of blanks and the
number of answers match

 Pay attention to the word before the blank

if it is ³an´ give answer that begins with a
vowel (a, e, i, o, u)
 Essay Tests
 Be concise and informative

 Outline your thoughts before you write

 Start with a thesis statement

 Watch spelling, grammar, and punctuation

 Essay Tests
 Watch for action words. They tell you what
your instructor wants you to do as you
answer the question

 Use details such as times, dates, places

and proper names

 Answer all parts of a question

 Essay Tests
 Summarize your main ideas as a
conclusion

 Revise

 Edit

 Proofread
 Learn from Mistakes
Review the questions you missed
 Why did you miss it?
 What was your biggest problem?
 Nervous
 Misread question
 Didn't study enough
 Studied incorrectly
 Careless errors
 Factual errors
 Learn from Mistakes

 What types of questions did you miss most

often?

 How will you study differently next time?

 List two practical steps you will take during

the next exam to avoid mistakes
 Congratulations!
You are licensed to test
Participant¶s evaluation comments
 ³This is good stuff!´
 ³I like the presentation, the time and the
equipment you used to explain the topics,
and the people were great.´
 ³I really like the special instructions for
taking tests better and to relieve the stress
of test taking.´
 ³I think the information presented was
sufficient.´
 SOURCES
 --Al Siebert, P.H.D & Mary Karr, M.S. The Student¶s
ëuide to Survival & Success 5th Edition
 --Al
--Al Siebert & Bernadine ëilpin, The Adult Student¶s
ëuide to Survival & Success 3rd Edition
 --Bruce
--Bruce M. Rowe, The College Awareness ëuide
 --James
--James C Williamson, Debra A McCandrew, Charles T
Muse,Sr. Roadways to Success 4th Edition
 --Robert
--Robert Sherfield, Rhonda J Montgomery, Patricia ë
Moody, Cornerstone Building on Your Best