Excel at Taking Tests

1. Excel at Taking Tests How to study smarter—not harder!

2. Agenda: Getting Prepared! How We Process Information Before, During and After the Test Different Types of Tests Last Minute Study Tips Test Anxiety Cheating

3. How We Process Information

4. Elaboration Likelihood Model • Dual route approach to processing information: • Central • Peripheral

5. ELM • 3 Assumptions of ELM • People do not have the motivation or ability to process everything via the central route • People want the “correct” answer • One’s ability and motivation to process messages determines the route to persuasion

6. Central Route to Processing • Benefits • Messages seem to be more accessible (easier to recall) • Messages are more stable and persistent • Messages are more resistant to change, challenges • Attitudes adopted are more predictive of attitude-relevant behavior • Receiver of the message has more confidence in attitudes adopted with the central route

7. What Influences How We Process What are some situational factors that are currently affecting your ability to process information? • Factors affecting ability • Dispositional • Intelligence • Age • Issue-relevant knowledge schema • Situational • Distractions (external and internal) • Confidence in one’s own thoughts

8. What Influences How We Process How can a professor make course material personally relevant to college students? • Factors affecting motivation • Dispositional • Need for cognitionlow in need means low in motivation • Need for evaluationlow in need means low in motivation • Openmindednesslowdogmatics are more flexibile with belief structure and are more willing to listen • Situational • Interest • Personal Relevance • Value Relevance

9. How to Use This in Class • Aim to be a central processor to retain course material over time • Overcome situational factors • Minimize distractions • Increase self-confidence • See the personal relevance in what you study • Follow your interests, when possible • Work with dispositional factors • Ask instructor to explain using simpler language • Have peers or tutors help

10. You Tell Me… Why do you think processing information centrally would be useful in studying?

11. Before the Test

12. Before the Test • Start preparing on the first day of class. • Don’t miss class, set up a review schedule, keep up with reading. • Know expectations. • Keep a copy of your syllabus, ask instructors to clarify expectations. • Ask questions in class. • Raise your hand in class, ask instructor for clarification. Don’t assume all of the lecture will cover the text.

13. Before the Test • Keep up • Manage your time; keep up with daily reading and assignments. • Review early and weekly • Preview chapters before class; review notes immediately after class; schedule an hour weekly to review materials; use flashcards • Final review • The week before the test schedule extra review time. Suggested two hours a day at least three days prior to the exam.

14. Before the Test • Create a sample test • Pre-test yourself with questions created from key concepts, notes, and chapter objectives. Remember to save all quizzes and course materials for review. • Study Group • Share notes and possible test questions. • Be prepared on test day • Bring pencils, pens, paper, watch, and any other materials you might need.

15. During and After the Test

16. During the Test • Mind dump. • Jot down formulas, key works, facts, etc. in the margins or on the back of the exam. • Read and listen to all instructions. • Take your time, read directions, and ask for clarification. • Determine which questions are worth the most. • Spend more time on questions that are worth the most.

17. During the Test • Answer objective questions. • These questions may contain information that will be useful in essay questions. • Answer essay questions. • Spend more time on these questions because they tend to be worth the most points. • Answer remaining questions. • Answer all questions unless there is a penalty for guessing. • Review • Review your exam before turning it in to instructor.

18. After the Test • Reward yourself. • Analyze your performance. • Confirm your grade—check to make sure the grade was calculated correctly. • Determine what types of mistakes you made—was it lack of preparedness or was it because you did not follow directions? • Learn what to do different for the next test.

19. Types of Tests True/False Multiple Choice Matching Fill-in-the-Blank Open Book Essay

20. True/False Read entire question before answering it. Pay attention to details—read names, dates, and places carefully. Watch for qualifiers—always, all, never, and every. These questions are usually false. Answer every question. Trust instinct—if it doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t.

21. Multiple Choice Read the question carefully. Eliminate choices. Go from easy to difficult. Watch for combinations—“all of the above” or “none of the above.” Look at sentence structure.

22. Matching Read both lists carefully. Eliminate—this is the key to a matching test. Cross choices out as you complete matches.

23. Fill-in-the-Blank Look for cues—if the word before the blank is “an” the blank will generally start with a vowel; if the word before the blank is “a” the blank will start with a consonant. Count the number of blanks. Watch for the length of the blank—this will indicate a longer or shorter answer. Answer the questions you know first.

24. Open Book You still need to study. Focus on organizing your material. Know what you can use and have it with you—notes from class, previous homework, etc. Key is to know how to find information quickly. Use sticky notes to flag pages.

25. Essay Budget time wisely. Read the question carefully before beginning to write. Create an outline. Your thesis should be in intro. Use key terms and phrases. Write neatly. Re-read, edit and revise.

26. Last Minute Study Tips Focus on a few points. Decide what is the most important. Stay positive. Don’t panic and waste energy being negative—do your best and move on. Review all notes.

27. Test Anxiety • Definition—learned response to stress. • Everyone experiences test anxiety. • Symptoms • Nervousness • Upset stomach • Sweaty palms • Forgetfulness

28. Overcoming Test Anxiety Make your own! • Prepare, prepare, prepare!!! • Practice taking sample tests. • Get regular exercise—this will help release tension. • Eat a light, healthy breakfast. • Stay calm—get a good night’s sleep and take slow, deep breaths directly before the exam. • Get to class early. • Don’t over exaggerate the importance of the exam. • Get help if symptoms become severe.

29. Cheating is…. Looking at someone’s paper during an exam. Passing notes back and forth. Getting notes from someone who has just taken the same test. Stealing tests from an office. Using unauthorized electronic devices. Having someone else complete the work online for you. Not properly citing your resources—i.e. plagiarism.

30. Questions?