Study Skills - Studying For Tests

Study Skills - Test Taking

Studying For Tests

Tips for studying for Multiple Choice, True/False & Matching tests:

Know specifics, key terms, and dates. These are often on multiple choice tests.
Don’t assume that you just need to memorize facts and figures. Professors can write test questions that check your overall understanding of the subject.

Tips for studying for Essay tests:

Ask the professor for sample questions (the professor may or may not give them to you, but it never hurts to ask).

Make up an outline for all sample questions that are given.
Find out how many questions will be on the test and how much time you will have to answer each question. Practice writing under a similar time constraint.

Know the key concepts well. Outline major points of the most important concepts.
Know the relationships between concepts. This is often a theme that appears in essay questions.

Tips for studying for Problem Solving tests:

Don’t fall behind in your homework. If you miss a problem in the homework, find out how to do it correctly before moving on to new material.
Don’t take shortcuts on the homework. Be sure to read the text as well as doing the problems. Make sure to label all answers and use proper notation. If you build good habits while doing the homework, you will be less likely to forget little details on the test. (Little details can add up to big points!)
Make up practice tests by mixing homework problems for different sections. One good way to do this is to put problems on separate index cards. On the front of each card put only the question. On the back of the card, write the answer and what section the problem is from. Mix up the cards and take the sample test you have created. By doing this you are simulating the test environment where you won’t have the tip-off of knowing what section the problem comes from.
Practice doing problems without referring to the book, your notes, or other problems.
Try to work similar problems for extra practice. You can get these from the book, from sample tests, or from other textbooks (the Tutorial & Academic Skills Center has older textbooks to checkout).