Chapter 12: Test Taking

Bridging the Gap, 9/e

Brenda Smith

2008 Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers

 In this chapter you will answer the
questions:
Can being testwise improve your score?
How should you prepare before a test?
What should you notice during a test?
What strategies should you use to read a
comprehension passage?
What are the major question types?
What hints help with multiple-choice items?
How do you answer an essay question?
 Can Being Testwise Improve Your Score?

High scores depend on preparation, both

mental and physical.
Understanding how tests are constructed can
help.
 Strategies for Mental and Physical Preparation

Get Plenty of Sleep the Night Before.

Arrive Five or Ten Minutes Early and Get
Settled.
Know What to Expect on the Test.
Have Confidence in Your Abilities.
Know How the Test Will Be Scored.
Plan Your Attack.
 Readers Tip: Preparing for a Test

How will the test look?

What material will be covered?
How will you study?
When will you study?
What grade are you honestly working
to achieve?
 During the Test

Concentrate.
Read and Follow Directions.
Schedule Your Time.
Work Rapidly.
Think!
Ignore Students Who Finish Early.
 After the Test

Analyze Your Preparation.

Analyze the Test.
Analyze Your Performance.
 Strategies for Standardized Reading Tests

Read to Comprehend the Passage as a Whole

Anticipate What is Coming Next
Read Rapidly, but Dont Allow Yourself to Feel
Rushed
Read to Learn and Enjoy
Self-Test for the Main Idea
Recognizing the Major Question Types

Main Idea
Details
Inference
Purpose
Vocabulary
 Strategies for Multiple-Choice Items
Consider All Alternatives Before Choosing an Answer
Anticipate the Answer and Look for Something Close to
It
Avoid Answers with 100 Percent Words: no none, only,
every, always, must
Consider Answers with Qualifying Words: few, much,
often, may, many, some, perhaps
True Statements Must Be True Without Exception
If Two Options Are Synonymous, Eliminate Both
Study Similar Options to Determine the Differences
Use Logical Reasoning If Two Answers Are Correct
 Strategies for Multiple-Choice Items

Look Suspiciously at Directly Quoted Pompous Phrases

Simplify Double Negatives by Canceling Out Both.
Use Cant-Tell Responses If Clues Are Insufficient
Validate True Responses on All the Following Except
Note Oversights on Hastily Constructed Tests:
Grammar
Clues from Other Parts of the Test
Length
Absurd Ideas and Emotional Words
 Strategies for Content Area Exams

Multiple-Choice Items:
Make a list of key terms, facts, and concepts.
Quiz yourself and make connections with
similarities and differences.
Invent scenarios that depict principles and
concepts.
Factual questions
Conceptual comprehension
Application questions
 Strategies for Content Area Exams

Short-Answer Items
Make lists and self-test.
For history exams, be prepared to identify who,
what, when, where, and why.
 Strategies for Content Area Exams

Essay Questions
See the Readers Tip on
Translate the Question.
page 619 for examples of
Answer the Question. Key Words in Essay
Exams.
Organize Your Response.
Use an Appropriate Style (not conversational).
Be Aware of Appearance.
Predict and Practice.
View Your Response Objectively for Evaluation
Points.
After the Test, Read an A Paper.
 Locus of Control

External Locus of Control: does not take

responsibility for test grades
Internal Locus of Control: takes responsibility
for success on tests.
WHICH ARE YOU?
 Summary Points

Can being testwise improve your score?

How should you prepare before a test?
What should you notice during a test?
What strategies should you use to read a
comprehension passage?
What are the major question types?
What hints help with multiple-choice items?
How do you answer an essay question?
 Search the Web

For more information on Test-taking, search the

Internet and look at information on:

http://www.ablongman.com/smith/