How to Take the Test Part I Academic Support Center Phyllis Zahnd, Ph.D. Bishara Al-Akeel, MSEE Judy Marano, MST Tip: Relax and Preview the Test Don’t start writing immediately. Put your pen down and take a deep breath. Preview the test. Decide how you will budget your time. Know how much credit each question is worth. For example, you can decide to spend 10-minutes on short answer, 30 minutes on essay, and 10-minutes on reading instructions and reviewing. Most class tests are not a race against the clock. Rushing through in a state of anxiety will not result in your best grade. Read the Instructions! Read the instructions BEFORE you read the questions. Then read the instructions again. Don’t begin to answer questions because you are anxious about finishing on time. This will save time in the end. Underline important words. Now Read the Questions! Read the entire question. Do not assume that you know what the question is asking. Underline important words if this will help. Tip: You Do Not Have to Start the Test at the Beginning Do the easiest problem first, if this will help you to feel more confident, Or do the most difficult problem first and get it out of the way, if this will reduce anxiety. Tip: How To Handle a Difficult Question Do not spend too much time on any one question. Make a light mark in the margin and return to the question later. Never leave an answer blank, if there is no penalty for guessing. Tip: Write Down Key Facts Sometimes there is information you think you may forget. These often include math equations, science formulas, dates in history. As soon as the test begins write this information down immediately on the test or scrap paper. This will free your mind to concentrate on the rest of the test. It will help you to avoid drawing a blank. Now you can preview the test and read the instructions. Tip: Stay Alert to the Information Provided By the Questions Sometimes information provided in one question may be the answer to another question. Sometimes information in one question can jog your memory and help you to answer another question. Tip: Write Clearly Teachers cannot grade what they cannot read. If teachers cannot read your handwriting, they will not give you credit for your answer. Teachers appreciate a neat paper. Review If you have time left, review your work. Don’t compare yourself with other students. There are no extra points for leaving early!!! Make sure you have answered all the questions. Return to questions that you lightly marked in the margins. Proofread all writing. Tip: When Reviewing Do NOT change an answer unless you are SURE you made a mistake!! The first answer is usually correct. Thank You Thank you for listening. This is the end of Part I of “Taking the Test.” Please continue with Part II for information about taking specific types of tests.

. Hello and welcome to our to Take the Test video case . taking the Test will be presented in two parts . part one to give general test taking strategies . like to work give strategies for specific types of tests . nineteen is Phyllis learned . I prepared and will be leading you through the video cast variation of Taking the Test . I Akeel provided technical expertise and animation for this video . taking the Test was a regionally presented by Katie Marano as a workshop in the Study Skills series offered by the Academic Support Center at Westchester Community College . Relax and preview the test . don't start writing immediately . put your pen down and take a deep breath . preview the test . this guy had you will budget your time . know how much credit each question is where . for example you can decide to spend ten minutes on short and sit . thirty minutes time essay and ten minutes on reading the instructions and Reviewing . most class tests . I'm not a race against the clock . Rushing through in a state of anxiety will not itself in your best grade . read the instructions . read the instructions BEFORE you read the question . and then read the instructions again . don't begin to answer questions because you're anxious about finishing on time . this will KP time in the end . Underline important words . now we can question . read the entire question . don't assume taking know what the question is asking . Underline important words if that will help . he did not have to start the Test at the Beginning Do the easiest problem first if this will help you to feel more confident Or do the most difficult problem first and get it out of the way if this will reduce anxiety . had to Handle a Difficult Question Do not spend too much time on any one question . make a light mark mark in the margin and the tent at the question later . never leave an answer blank if there is no penalty for guessing . Write Down Key Facts Sometimes there is information you think you make the get . these often include equations that man science for new a point dates in history . Inner the test begin . write this information can immediately on the test or a piece of scrap paper . this will free your mind to concentrate on the rest of the test . and it will help you to avoid during a blank . now you can go and preview the test and be that the instructions actually discuss . he let to the Information Provided By question . Sometimes information provided in one question may be the answer to another question . he let . Sometimes information in one question can jog your memory and help you to answer another question . they left . write Clearly . teachers cannot read what they cannot week . teachers cannot read your handwriting they will not keep you credit for your answer . teachers appreciate a neat paper . review . if you have time left at the end of the test . review your work . don't compare yourself with other students there are no extra points for leaving early . make sure you have answered all the questions . preparing to the questions that you marked lightly in the margin . Proofread already . when repealing . do not change an answer unless you are SURE you made a mistake . the first answer is usually correct . . the deal . Thank you for listening . the end of Part mind of Taking the Test . please continue with Part to for information about taking specific types of tests .