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Test Preparation Advice

1. Prepared cramming: short-term cramming for a test such as this will be unproductive because of the extensive scope of the material. For successful results, the following steps are suggested:
   1. Review recommended reading material over a brief period. Establish a schedule for yourself and determine time frames which will allow you to complete the following preparatory tasks. This schedule should begin a minimum of six weeks before the test.
   2. Review the examination content outline in detail. There will be at least one question on almost all items in the outline.
   3. Identify and focus yourself on particular areas which may be difficult for you.
   4. Organize these areas by topics and take written notes accordingly.
   5. Take an hour or so to condense and organize your notes.
   6. Review your notes for a total picture.
   7. Check your memory as you review your notes and delete information that you know.
   8. Continue to eliminate the information that you already know.
   9. Keep in mind that when taking multiple choice tests recognition and association are the types of memory used rather than recall.
   10. As the time for the test draws near, you might want to consider preparing with someone else who is also taking the exam.
2. Emotional Preparation is important: it does affect scores and outcome. The following strategies may assist you in emotional preparation:
   1. Remember, test anxiety is good; and anxiety will not necessarily prevent you from doing well.
   2. Be confident: your confidence level will very likely affect your test scores. Do what you need to do to increase your confidence by adequately preparing for the test, giving yourself credit for what you know, quizzing yourself, and listing your reasons for believing that you will pass the test.
   3. Establish a positive general attitude for a week or so prior to the test. Try to avoid additional stressful or pressure situations and make sure you include enjoyable leisure activities in your daily schedule.
   4. Visualize yourself succeeding with the test.
   5. Develop a relaxed attitude about the test by using relaxation techniques prior to studying
3. Preparatory Tasks: your anxiety will lessen if you know you are attending to preparatory tasks. These tasks include the following:
   1. Get a normal amount of sleep the evening before the test.
   2. Avoid excesses in food, sleep, study, etc., for several days before the test.
   3. Bring a jacket or a sweater in case you get cold.
   4. Bring several sharpened #2 lead pencils.
   5. Eat a scheduled meal prior to taking a test so you are not distracted by hunger.

Advice for Taking the Test

1. Techniques for succeeding during the test taking situation include the following:
   1. Carefully read the directions; it may be helpful to underline key words in the directions.
   2. Begin as soon as you are instructed to do so.
   3. Skim the test to get a feel for the time you think you might need.
   4. Budget your time.
   5. If you freeze up, go through the test and answer the questions that you find the easiest.
   6. If you feel that you are spending too much time on a particular question, skip it and come back to it later.
   7. Select your seating appropriately:
      1. Avoid sitting in aisles or by windows.
      2. Do not sit close to the door.
      3. Do not sit close to acquaintances or friends; you may find this distracting.
      4. If the lighting is poor, try to sit directly under a light.
      5. Wear a watch.
      6. Do not allow yourself to become distracted by others finishing the test and leaving the room before you.
2. Mastering Multiple Choice:
   1. Be attentive. Pay attention to what you are doing and read carefully.
   2. If you are not sure of an answer, skip the question and come back to it. When you skip a question, flag it so it will be easy to find when you come back to it.
   3. Read all directions carefully.
   4. Read the sentence carefully; pay particular attention to words that may make a difference in the answer.
   5. After reading the question, try to guess the answer before you read the choices.
   6. If the correct answer does not appear to be on the list, select the answer that is the closest.
   7. Eliminate the incorrect answers in the following order: obviously wrong answers, partially wrong answers, and answers which are correct statements but which have nothing to do with the question.
   8. When two answers appear correct and are similar, try and determine in what ways the answers are different and how that difference makes one of them correct and one of them incorrect.
   9. Be cautious about absolutes. Absolutes are seldom the correct answer.
   10. Look for familiar phrases.
   11. Skip a question if you do not know the answer; look for clues in subsequent questions.
   12. If you do not understand the wording of the question, try to replace abstract words with more concrete words and then attempt to answer the question.
3. Use all of your time.
   1. After you have finished the test, go back and attempt to answer the questions which you originally left blank.
   2. If you still do not know an answer, guess. The best way to guess is to narrow down the two most probable answers and select from these.
   3. After completing the questions which you left blank, go back and review each question and answer.

Source: Gifford, Charles S., and John L. Fluitt, Test Taking Made Easier, The Interstate Printers and Publishers Inc., Danville IL, 1981.