Academic Skills Center
Study Skills: Improving Your Exam Scores
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One of the most difficult problems in college is dealing with exams. Anxiety, cramming, time management and other influences sometimes keep you from doing your best. But, by following these tips you can help improve your next test score.
TRY NOT TO READ INTO THE TEST
Sometimes a first response is to read into a question. You may think that some items are trick questions, or too easy. Instead
of it being too easy, it may be that you studied effectively and remember the material well.
CHECK FOR TIME
Be sure you know how much time your professor has allocated for the test. Check periodically to see if you are keeping up.
For example, when half of your time is up make sure you are half way through your test.
DO NOT WASTE TIME ON DIFFICULT QUESTIONS
If one of the questions is confusing or you do not know the answer, circle it or put a star by it and come back to it later.
REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS
When you review them more slowly you may find that there is a better answer. Do not hesitate to change your answers.
OUTLINE ANSWERS ON ESSAY QUESTIONS
Develop a short outline of your answers for essay questions. This will guide you to organize your answer, avoid possible
repetitions, and skip circular arguments. Follow-up by forming the essay according to the outline
BE SHORT AND SPECIFIC ON YOUR ANSWERS
Follow the old addage, "Be short, sweet, and to the point" when answering questions. Use specific terms and ideas to illustrate,
or identify all possibilities. If you can not remember specific details, try to describe it in your own terms.
ASK QUESTIONS IF NEEDED
Asking your instructor a question can help to distract you and reduce your anxiety. It can also help to clarify those concerns
that you may have.
TALK TO YOURSELF
If your anxiety continues, tell yourself phrases like "I can be anxious later, now I am going to continue my test." Use any type
of internal dialogue (nobody else needs to hear you) that can help you do better in your test.
FOR MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS:
- Anticipate the answer before you look at them.
- Read over all options.
- Eliminate highly impractical answers.
- Look for answers that the examiners may have given away in their tests.
- If you must guess, keep in mind the following tips for multiple choice tests:
- Sometimes lengthy or highly specific answers will be the correct answer.
- Be aware of words like always, never, only, and must. These words are usually the wrong answers since there are many exceptions to rules.
The popular belief is that "your first hunch is your best hunch." Research has found that this popular belief is wrong. Changes from a wrong answer to a right answer outnumber changes that go from a right answer to a wrong answer by a margin of approximately 3 to 1. Research has also shown that changing answers does improve students scores!
