The first thing to do to prepare for a test is to gather as much information as possible about the test itself. Doing so helps you know what you need to study, how much time you have to prepare, what types of questions you can anticipate, and more. This section focuses on finding out the details of a test and applying this information when you begin your review (covered in the “Reviewing for a Test” section later in this chapter).
Most of the time, your instructor will give you advance warning for major tests and may even provide some guidelines of what to expect. If not, ask your instructor any questions you have about the test. Also, after you take one test from an instructor, you’ll know what to expect on the future tests — for example, whether she uses questions based on the book and/or focuses on homework assignments.
Your instructor may even give you a study guide or host a study session in class. These are helpful guides when studying for a test, so pay close attention to what the instructor stresses in these guides or sessions.
The following sections look at specific questions you want to ask about your tests.
What Type of Test?
Instructors use different kinds of tests, and some tests are better than others for seeing what you know and don’t know. For example, in math tests, you’ll typically solve problems, so it’d be unusual to have an essay question on a math test. On the other hand, in literature, expect to find essay questions, multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and so on.
Ask your instructor what kind of test you’ll have. Is it an essay exam? Does it contain multiple-choice items? A matching list? A combination of elements? Your instructor should give you some idea of the types of questions you can expect. The following lists the most common types of assessment or test items.
- True/false: Probably one of the most basic test items, this type of question makes a statement. As the test-taker, you evaluate that statement and say whether it is true or false. For example, on a history or social studies test, your instructor may ask “True or false: Benedict Arnold was a successful merchant trader.” (The answer is true.) Sometimes, these questions take a slightly different format, such as yes/no or on/off.
- Multiple choice: In this type of question, the instructor writes a statement, and then provides several possible answers. You select the best answer from the list. For example, your instructor may ask this question:
Who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird?”
a. Victor Hugo
b. Harper Lee
c. Mark Twain
d. Tennessee Williams
(The answer is b.) Sometimes, several of the answers are
correct (or none is). For example, answer “d” could have read “all of the above” or “none of the above.” Chapter 6 explains how to evaluate and be alert for these possibly tricky questions.
- Fill-in-the-blank: For other questions, the instructor may just provide the statement, but not any possible answers. For example, the preceding question might appear as “_______ wrote To Kill a Mockingbird” or “Who wrote To Kill a
Mockingbird?” You fill in the blank part to complete the statement or answer the questions. (In this case, Harper Lee.)
- Matching questions: Another type of question you find on exams requires you to match items from one list to items in a second list. For example, on a vocabulary test, the instructor may list the terms in one list and the definitions in the
second. You then match them up. Usually, one list is numbered and one is lettered, so you write the matching letter next to the number. As a younger child, you may remember drawing an arrow from one item to its match, another way to supply the answer.
Short Essay
Your instructor may distinguish between short and regular essay questions. For example, in a short essay question, you may write only a paragraph to answer the question. For a more detailed essay question, you may need to write several paragraphs. The test should give you guidelines on the appropriate length for your response.
- Essay questions: For topics that require an expression of your thoughts and ideas (for example, talking about the theme in a novel), your instructor may ask you to write an essay question. For example, a question may say, “Talk about the importance of setting (time and place) in To Kill a Mockingbird.” You then compose your response. Students often struggle with essay questions, but if you know how to prepare for them (as explained in Chapter 6), you’ll be confident in answering this type of test item.
- Problems: On math tests, you often have to solve a problem and provide the correct answer. For example, in algebra, you might need to solve an equation. In geometry, you may need to write a proof for a statement. You may be graded solely on the getting the right answer, or you be graded on a combination of showing your work and providing the right answer (often called partial credit, because you can get some credit for the work you do without getting the right answer).
- Performances: For some classes, your grade may be based on performance. For example, in biology, you may have to dissect a frog and identify its parts. In a music class, you may have to play a song on an instrument. In a physical education class, you may have to perform a dance or play a sport as part of your grade. While these may not seem like “tests,” they are assessment methods that instructors use in particular situations.
Study Breaks
One of the advantages of studying early is that you won’t feel the time pressure to get the studying done in one session. Break your study time into two or more sessions or take frequent breaks. There’s only a certain amount of information you’ll be able to absorb in one sitting, so try to plan enough time that you can at least take breaks to refresh your mind when studying.
What’s Covered on the Test?
In addition to figuring out what type of test you can expect, find out what’s covered on the test. Is the test on just one unit? Or is it cumulative (that is, it covers all the preceding units). Does the test cover just the reading from the textbook? Or should you also review outside reading resources and/or lecture notes?
Usually, your instructor tells you that a particular test covers certain chapters or a page range in your textbook or other reading material. Don’t focus only on the textbook, though. Know what other resources the instructor may use for questions. Gather all these resources when you’re preparing to study, so that what you need is at your fingertips.
When Is the Test (Or How Long Do You Have to Study)?
Another factor to take into consideration is when the test is scheduled; that is, how much time do you have to study? Sometimes, an instructor provides you with a schedule or syllabus of all the test dates; this may be for a quarter, semester, or the entire school year. Other times, the instructor may announce tests as you progress through the materials.
In any case, you can make the most of your preparation time by doing the following:
- Complete your reading assignments. One of the biggest mistakes is to put off doing your reading until the last minute. When you do that, you have to not only study but also read, and most people don’t have time for both. It’s key that you do your reading (and homework) when it’s due. You’ll be able to more actively participate in class and, therefore, the information should be easier for you to recall, come test time.
- Take good notes. Consider taking notes not only on lectures but also on reading assignments.
- Do your homework assignments. Often, you practice skills on a test in homework drills, especially in classes like math. If you don’t do your homework or don’t put a lot of effort into it, you’re likely to struggle at test time. Practice helps you improve; do your homework!
How Will the Test Be Graded?
Knowing what criteria the instructor will use to grade the test is another question to ask when preparing for the test. For example, math instructors may give partial credit if you show your work, even if you aren’t accurate in your final answer to a problem. Your instructor may tell you ahead of time or indicate on the test itself the relevant weight or number of points given for a right response in each test section (if there is more than one type of question). For example, true and false questions may be worth one point, while a more difficult question, like an essay question, may be worth 15 points. Often, the instructor uses a grading scale of 100% (perfect score), but you may find instructors who use a different method for grading.
Also, note whether the instructor will subtract if you guess. Are you penalized for wrong answers? Is it okay to take a guess? The key is to know what the instructor expects from you and what you need to provide to get the best grade.
In addition to knowing how the test will be scored, you also want to know how the test will affect your grade in that class. For example, if there are four tests given in a marking period and the instructor includes homework and participation, the instructor may break your grade down as follows:
Test 1 20% of grade
Test 2 20% of grade
Test 3 20% of grade
Test 4 20% of grade
Homework 10% of grade
Class work 10% of grade
From this scoring method, you can see the importance of each test; each one is worth one-fifth of your grade.
Grading on the Curve
You may have heard the expression “grading on a curve,” and some instructors may use this type of grading (called officially norm-referenced grading) especially when everyone does poorly on a test. Because educational studies have emphasized the drawbacks of this type of grading, instructors are discouraged from using this style of grading. Grading on a curve, because of its comparative nature, encourages competition and doesn’t encourage cooperation.
Experience Grows
The first test is somewhat of a dive into the unknown, but after that (if your instructor is consistent), you’ll have a good idea of what information the instructor stresses from the materials or lectures, which types of questions the instructor likes to ask, and what other test or assessment elements may appear. Use each test experience to guess or anticipate what the following tests will be like.
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