Come Prepared

Since you will only have a certain amount of time for the exam, you must come prepared. You will need a watch to keep track of the time. If this is an exam that will require calculations, bring an adequate amount of scratch paper. You don’t want to be searching through your backpack in the middle of an exam for some extra paper to write on. Bring several sharp pencils. You don’t want to have to get up and sharpen your pencil and lose precious time. You will not want to use a pen, especially during an essay exam, since it will be much more difficult to scratch out part of an answer than it will be to simply erase it.

Peruse the Exam

Before you actually begin taking the examination, take two minutes to peruse the entire exam. Most exams are a combination of short essay, multiple choice, true and false and long essay questions. In your mind, plot out the exam into different sections, allotting a chunk of time to each section. For example, if you have one hour to complete the exam, allot 15 minutes for the multiple choice questions, 10 minutes for the true and false questions and 35 minutes for the essay questions. Keep track of the time on your watch. If you are not finished with the multiple choice questions or true and false questions in the allotted time, you can come back to them later.

Answer Easy Questions First

We look at one of the first questions that reads, “If Train X is moving towards the center of town at 65 miles per hour and Train Y…” and, suddenly, it looks as if the question is written in another language. What does it mean? If you look at a question and it looks difficult, skip it. Move on to an easier question. This will not only build your confidence, but it will let you get all of the easy questions out of the way and let you move on to the harder questions. If you let yourself get stuck on the hard questions at the beginning, you may lose time and not get to answer some of those easier questions (thus gaining some easy points) before the exam ends.

Be Careful With Essay Questions

When you reach essay questions, carefully read the question and immediately write down whatever thoughts pop into your mind. Sometimes you will think of something brilliant and moments later, forget what it was you had in mind. After brainstorming some quick notes, jot out a short outline of what you wish to write before you actually begin writing. As ideas pop into your head, jot them down immediately. This will eliminate any time you might spend erasing and revising later on.

While you will want to finish the exam within the time limits and answer each question to the best of your knowledge, you will also not want to finish an exam before time is up. If you find that you have sped quickly through an exam, use that extra time to proofread your answers and go over some of those more difficult questions.

D = Directions

• Read the test directions very carefully.
• Ask your teacher to explain anything about the test directions you do not understand
• Only by following the directions can you achieve a good score on the test.
• If you do not follow the directions, you will not be able to demonstrate what you know.

E = Examine

• Examine the entire test to see how much you have to do.
• Only by knowing the entire task can you break it down into parts that become manageable for you.

T = Time

• Once you have examined the entire test, decide how much time you will spend on each item.
• If there are different points for items, plan to spend the most time on the items that count for the most points.
• Planning your time is especially important for essay tests where you must avoid spending so much time on one item that you have little time left for other test items.

E = Easiest

• The second E in DETER reminds you to answer the items you find easiest first.
• If you get stuck on a difficult item that comes up early in the test, you may not get to answer items that test things you know.

R = Review

• If you have planned your time correctly, you will have time to review your answers and make them as complete and accurate as possible.
• Also make sure to review the test directions to be certain you have answered all items required.

Using the DETER strategy will help you do better on tests and get better grades.

Here are the direction words that are most frequently used by teachers when they write essay test items. The meaning of each direction word is provided and is followed by an example of an essay test item using that direction word. Get to know what each of these direction words tells you to do.

• Analyze – Analyze tells you to break something down into its parts and show how the parts relate to each other to make the whole.Analyze the factors that contribute to good health.
• Compare – Compare tells you to show how two or more things are BOTH similar and different.
• Compare the forms of government found in the United States and in China.
• Contrast – Contrast tells you to show how two or more things are different.Contrast the Republican and Democratic political platforms.
• Define – Define tells you to explain the meaning of something in a brief, specific manner.Define what is meant by “living life to the fullest.”
• Describe – Describe tells you to present a full and detailed picture of something in words to include important characteristics and qualities.Describe what it was like to live in ancient Rome.
• Diagram – Diagram tells you to illustrate something by drawing a picture of it and labeling its parts.Diagram a modern commercial jet airplane.
• Evaluate – Evaluate tells you to present both the positive and negative characteristics of something.Evaluate the impact of rap music on American youth.
• Explain – Explain tells you to provide facts and reasons to make something clear and understandable.Explain why the American Civil War occurred.
• Justify – Justify tells you to provide reasons and facts in support of something.Justify the need for the federal income tax.
• List – List tells you to present information about something as a series of brief numbered points.List the ingredients needed to bake bread.
• Outline – Outline tells you to present the most important information about something in a carefully organized manner.Outline what it takes to be successful in school.
• Summarize – Summarize tells you to present the main points about something in a brief form.Summarize how Thomas Edison’s inventions have made our lives better.
• Trace – Trace tells you to present the order in which something occurred.Trace the major events that led to America’s Declaration of Independence.

Recognizing these direction words and knowing what they tell you to do will help you do well when taking an essay test.

There are preparations that need to take place up to three weeks before the big test is to be taken. You can contact the testing facility and ask them to send a sample test. Study these sample tests and study up on the subjects that will be on the test.

The first thing you should do before taking any test is to have had a good night’s rest. This will help you think clearly without bogging your brain down. It is very helpful to eat a good well-balanced breakfast; this will give you the mental boost you need to stay alert.

If you are taking a standardized test at a testing facility, it is best to arrive early and familiarize yourself with the area; this will avoid you losing time if you need to go to the bathroom. Bring all your supplies you will need and bring extra sharpened pencils: this will save time if your pencil breaks.

The majority of standardized have time limits per subject, so eliminating any delays will improve the number of questions that you will be able to answer. This will also allow you extra time on questions that you are having trouble with.

For some people timed events cause anxiety, if this happens, put your pencil down and relax. Take a few breaths and get up and move around without disturbing others who are taking the test.

To ensure your answers are recorded properly, mark your answers completely. Make sure you fill in the circles completely and make sure you have filled in the correct circle for the numbered question that you are answering.

When the testing is completed, if you feel you have not done well at all you can contact the main testing headquarters and ask that your test not be scored. Let them know that you did not do well at all, and would like to retake the test. The test can be re-scheduled, but a note will be made on your record that you requested a retake. This is will not look bad on your record: it looks better than a bad score.