TEST TAKING

1. TEST TAKING Strategies for Those “Wordy” Tests

2. CHOY CHOY CHOY CHOY CHOY CHOY CHOY CHOY CHOY

3. PARTS of a Multiple Choice Exam • The STEM - Provides the information needed to complete a correct statement. The stem starts right next to the test item number. • The SET of POSSIBLE ANSWERS, also called responses, choices, or options (A, B, C, D, E ).

4. Stem Formats

5. The Possible Answers: • One is correct (or best). • The others are distractors.

6. Be Careful! • Common learner errors and misconceptions are often used as distractors.

7. Another WARNING! • Distractors can also appear in the STEM of a multiple choice item.

8. Don bought a motorcycle for a sticker price of $10,000 at Speed World. That price was 20% less than another dealer’s asking price of $12,500 for the same vehicle. Also, he was able to purchase it in Volusia County, where the sales tax is 5%, instead of in his home county, where the tax is 7%. What was the total cost of Don’s new motorcycle, including sales tax? $13,375.00 C. $13,125.00 $10,500,00 D. $10,700.00

9. Inclusion of Items on aMultiple Choice Test • By categories • Randomly • Easy to hard questions • Different order for each test taker • Different items for each class • Different answers on each test version

10. The BASICS • Consider vocabulary building a daily goal. • Study carefully and avoid cramming. • Get a good night’s sleep and have a high protein meal before an exam. • Dress comfortably, in layers. • Arrive early, get comfortable.

11. There are MANY test-taking strategies. Use the ones that work best for YOU.

12. The STRATEGIES 1.READ the directions carefully …at least TWICE.

13. The STRATEGIES 2. If you possibly can, READ all the test items quicklybefore you mark your first answer.

14. The STRATEGIES 3.Cover the answer choices. Try to think of the correct answer BY YOURSELF.

15. The STRATEGIES 4. Use your COMMON SENSE, your KNOWLEDGE of the WORLD, and your KNOWLEDGE OF LANGUAGE to help you choose correct answers.

16. Common Sense: Some test items are like scenarios. Old Mc Donald’s organic vegetable garden is exactly one acre. It measures A. 208 cubic feet. B. 360 degrees. C. 5,280 feet. D. 43,560 square feet

17. Language Knowledge Clues: • Inconsistencies • General Qualifiers / Absolute words • Negatives • Double Negatives • The phrases, “all of the above” and “none of the above”

18. Language Knowledge Clues: Inconsistencies A lease on a commercial property should be written by an A. landlord/broker B. property manager C. attorney D. tenant legal assignee The parties involved in a School Board decision are A. the public B. the Superintendent C. the Board and the Superintendent D. the teachers and the Principals

19. Language Knowledge Clues General Qualifiers and Absolute Words The words GENERALLY, MOST, SOME, MANY, USUALLY, (etc.) often* indicate correctresponses. The words MUST, ONLY, NEVER, ALWAYS, ENTIRELY, ALL (etc.) often* indicate wrong answers.

20. Language Knowledge Clues Negative Words Which of the following is not recommended in conflict resolution procedures? All of these strategies are used in Hemmer’s revised conflict resolution program except

21. Language Knowledge Clues Double Negatives (Somewhat rare, but just in case…) An executive is not dealing in an unethical manner when he/she:

22. Language Knowledge Clues Questions with “all of the above” or “none of the above” When you see one of these phrases, Assign a label of TRUE or FALSE to each of the other responses.

23. The STRATEGIES 5. TheNASTYDOUBLE Multiple Choice Policy holder with PAP coverage does the following: I. Runs into rental home garage door II. Backs over son’s tricycle III. Runs over & kills neighbor’s dog IV. Damages friend’s TV in trunk (rear-end collision). a. None of these damages are covered. b. I and III are covered. c. Only IV is covered. d. I and IV are covered.

24. The STRATEGIES 6. Where did THAT vocabulary come from?!! • Use common sense, language knowledge, and knowledge of the world. • You have read & studied carefully? Then what you don’t recognize could be a DISTRACTOR.

25. The STRATEGIES 7. DON’T CHANGE your answers unless…

26. The STRATEGIES 8. There IS such a thing as intelligent guessing. • The PROCESS OF ELIMINATION can change your chances of a correct answer to 33% or 50% when there are four options.

27. The STRATEGIES 9. Do NOT panic when you are “clueless”-- just use the one-size- fits-all GENERIC ANSWER.

28. The STRATEGIES 10.If you’d rather take a chance when you’re clueless… • If two answers or two quantities are VERY SIMILAR, choose one of those. • If responses VARY WIDELY, choose one “in the middle.”

29. The STRATEGIES 11. Make YOUR OWN test questions as you read and study.

30. The STRATEGIES 12.CODE YOUR ANSWERS • S = You’re SURE it’s the right answer. • P = This is probably the right one. • ? = You still have questions on this one. • C = You are totally CLUELESS.

31. TRUE / FALSE Another Kind of “Wordy” Test

32. T/F Strategies • Read instructions carefully. • Note point value. • Read EVERY word slowly and carefully, several times. • If ANY part of statement is false, the whole statement is false • It’s harder to create false statements…. • Observe test-maker’s patterns • Generic answer?

33. MATCHING TESTS Not as “wordy,” but tricky

34. MATCHING TEST Strategies • Read instructions carefully. --Can an item be used more than once? --Do both lists have same # of items? • Read EVERY word in both lists BEFORE marking any answers. • Anchor your reading on the LONG side. • Draw lines if you can. • Use “process of elimination.”

35. two suggestions… • PRACTICE these strategies frequently, even when you take short quizzes. • NOTICE any patterns in test maker’s choice of test item features.

36. The MOST Important Things: • REVIEW for the test wellahead of time. • SKIM the whole test before you start marking your answers. • And if you ALSO have a repertoire of strategies, YOU WON’T NEED LUCK!