Test Taking Advice for Students

I will be bringing over some blog posts from my old blog to the new site, and adding updates to them. Here is an old blog on preparing for exams.

This week I have a new article coming out on The Instructor Exchange (instructorexchange.com) on preparing for a cumulative exam, so I thought I'd share some ideas for students who are preparing for an exam.

Test Taking Advice for Students

In the words of the great John Wooden, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” One of the keys to doing well on tests is to prepare fully. Start your preparation well in advance of the test, do not wait until the night before to cram. You should know the format of the exam, the topics that will be covered, and approximately how many questions to expect. Try making a list of problems or objectives that you anticipate seeing on the test.

What to Review

Review your old homework assignments, notes, and note cards. Spend more time on problems you struggled with in the past.
Work through the chapter test and the chapter review in the textbook. I recommend working the chapter test first – it will let you know which problem types will require further study. You can find several problems of that type in the chapter review.
In other words, try all the problems on your textbook's chapter test, then only focus on problems in the chapter review that are similar to the problems you struggled with. If you still have problems after that, go to the appropriate section in the textbook for more problems and explanations. Also consider your other resources like your instructor, the tutorial center, your classmates/study group, Internet tutorial videos, ...

Practice Test

Make a practice test for yourself. Take it under test conditions – do not use your notes or textbook, and time yourself. Allow yourself the same amount of time that you will be allowed for the actual test. This will really help you determine which problems you have under control and which problems require further study. Also, you will know whether you are working fast enough to complete the exam.
Many students do not realize they are not fully prepared until they sit down to take the actual test. You must see how you are performing without your resources in order to determine whether you are actually prepared or not.

Final Preparation

Get a good night’s sleep on the night before the exam. If you are tired you cannot think as clearly. Also, be sure to eat properly before your test. It is easy for hungry students to become distracted during a test.

If you have any questions about preparing for a test, or if you have any strategies as an instructor that you would like to share, I’d like to encourage you to share by leaving a comment, or reaching me through the contact page at my web site – georgewoodbury.com.
-George

I am a math instructor at College of Sequoias in Visalia, CA. If there’s a particular study skill you’d like me to address, or if you have a question or a comment, please let me know. You can reach me through the contact page on my website – http://georgewoodbury.com.