Taking Tests: Strategies for Test Subjects

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Different subjects lend themselves to different types of tests. Therefore, your preparation will vary, depending on the subject of the test. This section gives you some specific advice on what to expect on particular tests for different subjects.

Preparing for a Math Test

Most often, in a math test, you solve problems, such as formulas, equations, word problems, logic questions, and so on. The best way to prepare for a math test is to practice sample problems that are likely to be on the test.

When studying, practice all types of problems, but focus especially on the problems for which you didn’t receive full credit in your homework, quizzes, or in-class assignments.

Be sure to check your work. Even if the instructor doesn’t require it, show your work on scrap paper so that when you review your answers, you can check each step of the equation from your work.

Preparing for a History or Social Studies Test

History and social studies focus on countries, events, cultures, geography, wars, people, and more. You may be tested on recalling key facts, such as the date an event occurred or the name of a ruler or capital. You may also have to fill in a map or put a series of events in order. When studying, try to choose the most important facts. For recall information, your instructor may include multiple-choice, true-or-false, matching, or fill-in-the blank questions. Review the “Strategies for Typical Test Questions” section for tips on handling these types of questions.

In addition to objective test questions (like true-or-false and matching), your history or social studies instructor may include essay questions. An essay enables your instructor to see how well you made sense of the information and how you can relate the information to other similar events or issues. To prepare for possible essay questions, look for themes that your instructor or textbook stresses or that you notice. If your book includes discussion questions, test yourself using those; your instructor is likely to include similar essay questions on your test.

Preparing for a Science Test

When you study science, you need to read and make sense of information about how things work, why something occurs as it does, who discovered key scientific facts, who invented key technology, and more. For this type of knowledge, you need to be able to read and remember the facts when you study.

In addition, you may learn procedural skills, such as what steps to follow when performing an experiment or how to solve mathematical problems that underlie or relate to science. To study for this type of test, practice the applicable skills — for example, solve sample problems.

Preparing for an English or Literature Test

Depending on your grade and school, English and literature (or reading) may be taught in one class or may be taught separately. As you progress through school, you’ll find that English grammar and linguistics classes focus on sentence structure, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, etymology (language origins), and other similar topics. English classes of this sort focus on English as a language, and you’re tested differently than you are for literature and reading classes. For example, on a vocabulary test, you may have a list of definitions and terms and have to match them. Or your instructor may include fill-in-the-blank questions, for which you need to supply the missing term. To test grammar, you may have to edit a paragraph, correcting spelling and grammatical mistakes. English tests, then, require some recall (that is, learning definitions) as well as some practical application (such as correcting grammar). Your approach to studying will be based on the type of test. For recall tests, study the material. For practical tests, practice.