Effective Note taking / Test Prep

1. Effective Note taking / Test Prep

2. Note taking / Test Prep • Most of the information that appears on test and quizzes comes from the teacher’s lecture. Notetaking is essential to pass all exams, test and quizzes.

3. Note taking / Test Prep Effective Notetaking Classroom Lecture: • Write down the main ideas • Write down the details

4. Note taking / Test Prep 3 Note taking methods • Cornell note taking method • Outline • Mapping

5. Note taking / Test PrepCornell Recall Column --2 Inches-- Reduce ideas after class into a few words. Record Column --6 Inches-- Record the lectures as fully as possible. Reduce Column Reduce the main points of this page of your lecture notes. --2 1/2 Inches--

6. Note taking / Test PrepOutline • Nov 15, 2006 World History The Russian Revolution I. Collapse of the Imperial Regime A. WWI a cause of collapse of tsarism 1. War aggravated inherent political weaknesses 2. Government unable to get cooperation of the country in war effort 3. Could not remain in war w/out political changes

7. Note taking / Test PrepMapping

8. Note taking MappingExamples

9. Note taking / Test Prep Effective Notetaking Classroom Lecture What Your Study Sheet should Include • Organize all notes, old quizzes, and hand-outs • Go through each and “Predict” which items will appear on the test. Write these in the left column • In the right column write what you need to know about the item on the left. • Fold on the pink line. Use it to study. Hint (have someone quiz you )

10. Note taking / Test Prep Effective Notetaking Classroom Lecture Here is a sample Vacuoles Organelles that store water and food for cell ChloroplastOrganelles that plants use to make food Cell theory 1. all organisms are made of one or more cells 2. a cell is the small unit of life 3. all cells come from other cells.

11. Note taking / Test Prep Effective Notetakingfor a Classroom Lecture • Review notes and homework from lecture daily/weekly • Use flashcard to review vocabulary words • Make a study sheet for test review

12. Note taking / Test Prep Effective Test Tips… Before you Begin • Look at the test before beginning. • Read all the directions carefully. • Answer the questions you know first. • Note key words in direction and question

13. Note taking / Test Prep Test Anxiety • Think positively • Use a relaxation technique • Think beyond the test. What you are going to do after the test • Look over the test before you begin (look familiar) • Resist the temptation to look at the person’s test next to you.

14. Notetaking/Test prepEssay test • Use the topic sentence in the essay • Write the essay so it could be understood by any reader • THINK before you write • Do begin sentences with pronouns (He,She, It) or because. • Use proper grammar • Do not use slang • In the conclusion restate your position or topic sentence.

15. Notetaking/Test PrepTrue/False Test Tips • Usually there are more true answers than false on most tests • If any part of the question is false, then the entire statement is false, but just because part of a statement is true doesn't necessarily make the entire statement true. Educated Guessing- When limiting words such as all, never, always, must – false is the better guess • When qualifying words are used such as usually, generally, sometimes- true is a better guess • Longer choices are generally false • First impressions are usually correct • Beware double negative. Cross out both double negatives then read the statement.

16. Notetaking/Test PrepMultiple Choice Test tips • Don't read into questions beyond what is there. • Pass over the difficult or debatable questions on your first reading and then come back after completing those of which you were sure. • Use information from other questions. Educated Guessing Matching • Count the number of items in both columns • Do the ones you know first • Do the rest of the test before completing the matching section • First impressions are usually correct • Beware double negative. Cross out both double negatives then read the statement.

17. Note taking / Test PrepMultiple Choice Test taking tips • Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible answers, this way the choices given on the test won't throw you off or trick you. • Eliminate answer that you know are incorrect • “Trust your gut” Go with your first answer Educated Guessing • When two of four are opposites, pick one of those two. • B and C answers are best on four multiple choice questions • Avoid pairs. If 11 is B avoid selecting B for 10 or 12 • You will never find three A,B,C etc. in a row on a standardized test • “All the above” is generally a good guess • “None of the above” is generally a bad guess • Longest multiple choice answers are good guesses. • If two choices are almost identical pick the longest

18. Note taking / Test Prep • The Last Resort Cramming (the smart way) • This is not the most effective way to study • Be selective – Don’t try to memorize everything. Review the important information from your notes. Make a quick study sheet focusing on what your most familiar with. • Recite- Read your study sheet out loud • Learn from your mistake- Do not make this your preferred method of preparing for a test.

19. Note taking / Test PrepCheating Don’t It’s not worth getting caught and getting zero. Cheating is unfair to you and the student you are cheating off .