Study Guide

TEST WRITING: How Can I do My Best on the Test?

Types of test questions

• Essay - may have several possible answers, marked as "good-bad" rather than "right-wrong". The test may require you to analyse, compare and contrast, give your opinion, etc.
• Objective - generally have a definite correct answer. These are normally marked as "right-wrong". Examples: multiple choice, true-false, matching, fill-in-the-blank, definitions.

General Strategies

These are excellent guidelines for any type of test. If you follow these, you will write the test well, and with confidence.

• Answer what you know first; then return to what you were unsure about.
• Always guess (objective) or write something (essay) if there is no penalty for incorrect answers.
• Look for hints in the question to give you clues to the right answer.
• As you read over the test, jot down information/thoughts that may be of help to you.
• Budget your time.

Essay Strategies

• Underline key words in the question.
• Make an outline before writing; organize your thoughts first.
• Be sure you answer what is being asked. If the question has three parts, your answer should too.
• If time is running out, switch to point form.
• Make it easy to read/keep the marker happy.
• Keep to the point; try to convince the marker that you know the answer right from the start.
• Don't forget the basics. The marker can only mark what you write down.

Objective Strategies

• Read the question carefully. Don't bother trying to figure out hidden meanings and tricks. They're usually not there.
• Underline words that suggest a negative (e.g. not or never).

Answers which are "all or nothing" are more likely to be incorrect (e.g. " all, only, never, always, invariably").

Multiple Choice

Multiple choice format is the most popular type of objective test. Follow these steps when answering multiple choice questions:

• think of the correct answer before reading the choices
• re-read the question as you read through each choice.

Find out if marks will be taken off for incorrect answers. If not, guess when you're not sure. Use these strategies to help you make the correct choice:

• cross out answers you have decided are definitely incorrect (i.e. use a process of elimination)
• select answers you learned. do not choose an unfamiliar term just because it is unknown.
• if the answer calls for sentence completion, eliminate those that don't make grammatical sense
• don't change your choice unless you are absolutely sure!
  

Analyzing Returned Tests:

1. If you receive your test back to keep, rework your errors to find out why the correct answer was correct.
2. If you do not receive your test back, visit your instructor's office to take a look at your answer sheet and the questions you missed.
3. Look for the origin of each question--text, notes, labs, supplementary reading, etc.
4. Identify the reason you missed questions. Did you fail to read it correctly? Did you fail to prepare for it? Was the test at a more difficult level than you prepared for? Did you run out of time?
5. Check the level of detail and skill of the test. Were most of the questions over precise details and facts or were they over main ideas and principles? Did the questions come straight from the text or did the testmaker expect you to make sophisticated transformations and analyses?
6. Did you have any problems with anxiety or blocking during the test?