Studying for Tests: Anticipating the Test and Its Questions

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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.