Tips on True / False Tests:
- Watch for words that will try to divert you from the right
answer. Extreme words like "all," "every,"
always," and "only" exclude other options. These words
are often found in false statements.
- Read the statement carefully. If one part is correct
but another is wrong, the statement is false. All parts must be
correct to be true.
- Watch for words like "usually" and
"generally." These words are often found in true statements.
Tips on Multiple-Choice Tests:
- Try to answer the question before looking at the
answers. If your answer is one of those listed, mark it.
- Look for distracters. These are choices used to
distract you from the correct answer. Read the questions and answers
carefully and discard any distracters. Then decide which answer is
correct from those remaining.
- Answers that are vague are usually distracters.
Answers that are specific and detail-filled are usually the correct ones.
- Beware of answers that do not match grammatically with the
question.
- Look for opposite answers among the choices. One of
the opposite choices is often the correct answer.
- Remember - the answer is always right in front of you on a
multiple-choice test.
Tips on Matching Tests:
- Complete all the matches you are sure of on your first
review of the exam.
- Use clues within the remaining items to make more matches.
- Look for clues, such as grammatical agreement, to try to
solve more matches.
Tips on Completion Tests:
- It is important to read the directions carefully.
Determine if the teacher wants a one-word answer or a complete sentence or
two.
- Look for grammatical clues, such as "a" or
"an," or singular or plural agreement.
- After you fill in each answer, read the entire sentence to
yourself to see if it sounds right.
- Even if you don't think your answer is exactly the right
word or phrase the teacher is looking for, write it down. If you can't
think of a better answer when you recheck your answers, you may still be
given partial credit.
- Don't depend upon the length of the line to be filled in as
a good clue for the length of an answer. A teacher may use a long line
when looking for the answer "1776," or may use a short line when
looking for the answer "where the first Olympics were held."
Tips on Essay Tests:
- If you have a choice of which question to answer, mark
those you feel confident about. Write down on scrap paper anything you
can think of that relates to those questions for use in your essays.
- Give yourself a time limit for each question and stick to
it.
- Restate the question in your opening statement. Write
one part of the answer in each paragraph and support it with details and
facts.
- Summarize the main point of your essay in the last
paragraph.
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