Preparing for an exam requires much practice and experience. With the correct research and proper techniques, a student can effectively prepare for a test. Using the skills acquired from research can successfully enhance a student’s test taking ability. One extremely stressful point in an adult learner’s life is preparing for a test. A student can rectify this by observing certain key points in managing their preparation skills. Tests are unavoidable throughout the process of earning a degree. They are designed to measure and evaluating a student’s level of understanding the material. There is a quotation from an important figure in my life. It directly relates to a person’s resiliency when dealing with test taking. In a speech by John F. Kennedy, he declared, “We have failed to take steps to improve the quality of education. Classrooms and teachers alone will not mean an improved education for all our children. We must search for new teaching methods, new classroom techniques, new ways of presenting old subjects and imaginative ways of presenting new subjects” (Kennedy, 1960). According to the Center for Teaching and Learning American Public University System. (n.d.), the key to successful test taking is preparation. A student’s lifestyle and method of learning will play a large part of how he or she prepares for a test. There are many differences in each person’s learning style. Every test taker uses various universal learning techniques. One of the major factors to improve a student’s test taking abilities is through practice and experience. As the student practices these principles and gains experience, it will refine their ability to be an effective test taker. There are many research techniques that a student can use to properly prepare for a test. A student can manage their research skills to coordinate factors such as time and energy spent on each topic. The student should consider managing their time in the preparation process. Study the test material each day for short periods of time. Soaking in all the material the night before a test is counterproductive. This is due to the difference between short term and long term memory. The night before a test, it is practical to study a brief summary of notes and receive a decent night of sleep. Proper rest will allow the brain to function correctly on test day. When studying for an exam, create time to study the practical exercises, assignments and reviews. While reviewing, glance over the objectives of the course, topic and chapter to insure that the focus is on the right material. When studying for a test, remain as calm and focused as possible. Listening to loud music or studying in a room with multiple activities in play can be distracting to a student’s study habits. If this is the case, try to find a quiet and peaceful place to study. There are many people that have improved their study skills while listening to music. If a student finds it easier to study with activity around, changing this during a study session is not effective. Be consistent with the environmental variables that create comfort. As stated in Center for Teaching and Learning American Public University System. (n.d.), Stay away from drinking too much coffee, energy drinks or beverages with caffeine. A student may become hyper and not be able to focus on the material. The same
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Test taking is an art and skill that can be developed over time. According to the Center for Teaching and Learning American Public University System. (n.d.), when dealing with a test, read the entire question and all of the answers. There will likely be key words in the question that can give away the answer. Those same key words can also eliminate many of the answers. The same principle applies with multiple choice questions. Read all of the answers in order to narrow down the correct answer. When dealing with a True or False answer, the question may have one word in it that can possibly deliver the wrong answer. Stay alert for qualifiers within a question. Many of these include the following: all, always, bad, entirely, equal, good, is, less, more, most, never, no, none, only, and some. When answering a question, consider these tricky words
Test taking is an art and skill that can be developed over time. According to the Center for Teaching and Learning American Public University System. (n.d.), when dealing with a test, read the entire question and all of the answers. There will likely be key words in the question that can give away the answer. Those same key words can also eliminate many of the answers. The same principle applies with multiple choice questions. Read all of the answers in order to narrow down the correct answer. When dealing with a True or False answer, the question may have one word in it that can possibly deliver the wrong answer. Stay alert for qualifiers within a question. Many of these include the following: all, always, bad, entirely, equal, good, is, less, more, most, never, no, none, only, and some. When answering a question, consider these tricky words