Test Taking Tips

Objective tests may include multiple choice questions, matching, fill-in-the-blank, sentence completion, and true-false questions. On an objective test, material is usually provided from which you choose the best answer for a particular question. Therefore, you must study to recognize the right answer.

General Rules for Test Taking

  • Briefly look over the entire test to see what is ahead of you.
  • Read the directions and make sure you understand them. If in doubt, ASK.
  • Know the scoring policy! Are you penalized for guessing?
  • Determine how you will use your time. Have a watch or clock and pace yourself. Shoot for the most points in the time you have. Allow time for:
  1. Reading directions, previewing the test.
  2. Completing items (according to their value).
  3. Break time (in a test which is more than one hour in length, give yourself five or more minutes to clear your mind, stretch, and go to the restroom).
  4. Go over difficult or skipped items.
  5. Check to see that your responses were marked in the correct places on the answer sheet.
  • Sincerely attempt every question. Avoiding it completely because it looks hard is self-defeating. However, hard questions can be left until last, unless they carry a great deal of value and you need more time to ensure answering them.
  • Do not read things into the question. Take them at face value.
  • If you think you know an item but are not sure, mark your response and come back to the question. Remember, however, first impressions or intuitions tend to be correct; if you do change your answer, make sure you have a good reason for doing so.
  • Answer questions you know first. This relieves tension and gives you confidence, thus loosening up material from your memory as you proceed. Go back to the ones you skip later, of course.
  • If the question seems unintelligible, reword it or break it down into parts.
  • Beware of mandatory words such as "never," "must," or "always." The obvious answer might not be correct if there are exceptions to the statement.
  • Words such as "seldom," "normally," "generally," or "usually" allow exceptions, however.
  • Use information from other test items. Often the answer to a question is found in another.

Multiple Choice Questions

  • In multiple choice questions, anticipate the correct answer before looking at the options.
  • Relate response options to the question one at a time. Be sure to read all of the options. Often, people stop with the first option that looks right.
  • Balance options against each other.
  • Have good reasons for eliminating options.
  • Familiarity of a response does not necessarily make it the correct choice and vice versa

Matching Questions

  • These questions are multiple questions with multiple answers. Following directions are critical.
  • Work with one column at a time, matching each item of that column to all options in the second column.
  • Only work tentative lines (light pencil) until you have completed the task, then mark them heavily.
  • Make choices you know first - then work on the more difficult matches.
  • Balance options against each other.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions & Sentence Completion

  • Guess! Usually there is no penalty with this type of question, so if you do not know the answer, it is best to write something.
  • Give general answers if you do not know specifics. For example, a correct and specific answer would be 1904; a general, possibly correct answer would be early 1900’s.
  • When you’re torn between two alternative responses you could fill in, commit to one but mention the other. This shows that you do know something, e.g. "Pegasus" (or possible Poseidon).
  • Use grammar of the question to help determine your answer.
  • Avoid flippant answers.
  • Consider the number and length of the blanks to be filled in as possible clues.

True-False Questions

  • Watch for qualifiers or mandatory words such as "always," "never," or "must." If they are present, chances are the statement is False, since few things are "always," "never," or "must."
  • If a question contains words such as "seldom," "normally," or "generally," where an exception would not alter the answer, chances are the answer is "True."

Poorly Constructed Tests

If you feel a test question was poorly constructed, consult with the instructor during or immediately following the test. Avoid being flippant.

 

Additional Information