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Tests are one method of measuring what you have learned in a course. Doing well on tests and earning good grades begin with good study habits. If your goal is to become a successful student, take the time to develop good study habits.

TAKING AN EXAM
On exam day arrive early and get organized. Pay attention to verbal directions as tests are distributed. Read directions slowly. Scan the entire test, noticing how many points each part is worth and estimate the time needed for individual questions. Before you start answering questions, write down memory aids, formulas, equations, facts and other useful information in the margins.

Check the time and pace yourself. If you get stuck on a question try to remember a related fact. Start from the general and go to the specific. Look for answers in other test questions. Often a term, name, date or other fact you have forgotten will appear somewhere else in the test. Move on to the next question if memory aids do not help. You can always go back to the question if you have time.

TEST-TAKING TIPS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXAMS
Multiple Choice--Check the directions to see if the questions call for more than one answer. Answer each question in your head before you look at the possible answers. If you can come up with the answer before you look at the choices you eliminate the possibility of being confused by them. Mark questions you can't answer immediately and come back to them later.

When taking a multiple-choice exam guess only if you are not penalized for incorrect answers. Use the following guidelines to make educated guesses.

- If two answers are similar, except for one or two words, choose one of these answers.

- If the answer calls for a sentence completion, eliminate the answers that would not form grammatically correct sentences.

- If answers cover a wide range (5, 76, 87, 109, 500) choose a number in the middle.

For machine-graded multiple-choice tests be certain that the answer you mark corresponds to the question you are answering. Check the test booklet against the answer sheet whenever you start a new section and again at the top of each column.

* True-false--If any part of a true-false statement is false, the answer is false. Look for key words, i.e., qualifiers like all, most, sometimes, never or rarely. Questions containing absolute qualifiers such as always or never often are false.

* Open book--When studying for this type of test, write down any formulas you will need on a separate sheet. Place tabs on important pages of the book so that you don't have to waste time looking for tables or other critical information. If you plan to use your notes, number them and make a table of contents. Prepare thoroughly for open-book tests. They are often the most difficult.

* Short answer/fill-in-the-blank--These tests require students to provide definitions or short descriptions (typically a few words or a sentence or two). Study using flashcards with important terms and phrases. Key words and facts will then be familiar and easy to remember as you answer test questions

* Essay--When answering an essay question, first decide precisely what the question is asking. If a question asks you to compare, do not explain. Standard essay question words are listed next. Look up any unfamiliar words in a dictionary.

Verbs Commonly Used in Essay Questions--Analyze, Compare, Contrast, Criticize, Define, Describe, Discuss, Enumerate, Evaluate, Examine, Explain,Illustrate, Interpret, List, Outline, Prove, State, Summarize.Before you write your essay, make a quick outline. There are three reasons for doing this. First, your thoughts will be more organized (making it easier for your teacher to read), and you will be less likely to leave out important facts. Second, you will be able to write faster. Third, if you do not have time to finish your answer, you may earn some points with the outline. Don't forget to leave plenty of space between answers. You can use the extra space to add information if there is time.

When you write, get to the point. Start off by including part of the question in your answer. For example, if the question asks, "Discuss the benefits and drawbacksof universal health care coverage to both patients and medical professionals." Your first sentence might read, "Universal health care will benefit patients in the following ways." Expand your answer with supporting ideas and facts. If you have time, review your answers for grammatical errors, clarity and legibility.

*This publication was prepared with funding from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, under contract RR93002002. The opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of OERI or the U.S. Department of Education. Permission is granted to copy and distribute this ERIC/AE Digest.