Deck 8: Taking Tests Successfully

Question 1

When designing your exam plan, you should

A) go about it without any concrete steps or tasks to guide you.
B) make sure your schedule is flexible to allow for distractions or emergencies.
C) learn all the material within the week leading up to the exam.
D) block out ten- to twelve-hour chunks of time to devote strictly to studying.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which strategy will best help you prepare for math and science exams?

A) completing homework assignments only when they will be graded
B) setting aside your notes from previous chapters so you can focus on current material
C) studying formulas by preparing and reviewing paragraph-length explanations
D) attending every class, being on time, and staying for the entire class

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Zoe is preparing for her history midterm tomorrow. She has just finished reviewing her notes and feels confident that she knows the material well. One of the many things she can do to prepare physically is

A) maintain her regular sleep schedule.
B) use positive self-talk.
C) skip her regular morning run to make more time for studying.
D) eat a large breakfast the morning of the exam.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which is a recommended strategy for exam preparation?

A) adjusting your sleep routine to allow for late-night studying
B) eating candy and sugary snacks to fuel your studying
C) exercising consistently and taking breaks from studying
D) drinking lots of caffeine and soda to stay alert during the exam

Question 5

What is one way to emotionally prepare for an exam?

A) stay up late to cram
B) practice relaxing
C) be self-deprecating
D) focus on your past failures

Question 6

Cedric has been following a detailed review schedule in preparation for his test. He feels confident that he knows the material, but is still a little nervous that he will forget what he has studied when he actually opens his test booklet. Which strategy will help Cedric keep track of his thoughts as he takes the test?

A) rushing through the test and answering everything as quickly as possible
B) turning in his test as soon as he finishes so he doesn't second-guess his answers
C) jotting down a brief list of notes or an outline of ideas on the back of his test
D) answering the questions in order, from first to last

Question 7

What should you do if you finish your test early?

A) go back and check your answers
B) relax and wait for the period to end
C) turn it in immediately
D) start studying your notes for your next class

Question 8

When taking a problem-solving test, you should

A) trust the answer your calculator gives you.
B) make sure your answers are documented step by step.
C) just write the answer and not spend time showing your work.
D) not worry about misplaced brackets, parentheses, or signs.

Question 9

When taking a machine-scored test, it is important to

A) leave your name off of the answer sheet.
B) follow some of the directions.
C) cross out any answers you decide to change.
D) fill in the bubble completely.

Question 10

Which statement about computerized tests is accurate?

A) Computerized tests are typically administered online.
B) Computerized tests usually follow the same format.
C) Some computerized tests allow you to see only one question at a time.
D) Computerized tests are only administered in math and science courses.

Question 11

In which course are you most likely to have a laboratory exam?

A) literature
B) history
C) sociology
D) biology

Question 12

Alana's psychology instructor announced that next week's exam will be an open-book test. None of her teachers in high school ever had open-book tests, so she isn't sure what to expect. What advice would you give Alana to help her do well on her open-book psychology test?

A) Study as completely as you would for any other test.
B) Look up all answers as you go, even if you are sure you are correct.
C) Take as much time as you want answering each question.
D) Plan to be able to read entire passages from the textbook while taking the test.

Question 13

Which statement about take-home tests is accurate?

A) Take-home tests are usually easier than in-class tests.
B) Instructors expect take-home test essays to look like essays from in-class tests.
C) Instructors may not allow students to work in groups on take-home tests.
D) Students are not allowed to use their textbooks and notes when taking take-home tests.

Question 14

College instructors often prefer essay exams because they

A) are easier and faster for instructors to grade.
B) require deeper thinking than other types of exams.
C) take less time for students to complete.
D) give students a 50 percent chance of guessing the correct answer.

Question 15

Fabian is taking an English exam that has three essay questions on it. He feels confident about two of them, but he finds the third one difficult: "Critique Jane's actions after finding out that Mr. Rochester was secretly already married." How should Fabian approach this question?

A) He should retell the story in his own words.
B) He should focus on the why and how of the plot.
C) He should offer his opinion on Jane's actions, whether positive, negative, or mixed.
D) He should define the words "critique" and "action."

Question 16

You should provide a broad statement and back it up with detailed information if you come across which word in an essay question?

A) define
B) summarize
C) narrate
D) discuss

Question 17

If you see the word "evaluate" in an essay question, it means you should

A) give your honest opinion about the topic.
B) identify the differences between ideas, events, or objects.
C) discuss the strengths and weaknesses of an idea or position.
D) identify the differences between two or more ideas.

Question 18

If you see the word "outline" in an essay question, it means you should

A) present a series of main points in order.
B) give the meaning of a word or expression.
C) break the whole topic into parts to explain it better.
D) clarify a statement.

Question 19

When answering multiple-choice questions, you should

A) skip questions that confuse you if there is no penalty for guessing.
B) select an answer before reading the question.
C) ignore any grammar discrepancies between the stem and answer choices.
D) predict your answer before reading the options.

Question 20

Which statement about fill-in-the-blank questions is accurate?

A) If a fill-in-the-blank question features a series of blanks, your answer should consist of a single word.
B) When answering fill-in-the-blank questions, you are provided with a choice of possible answers.
C) Preparing for fill-in-the-blank questions is similar to preparing for multiple-choice questions.
D) Fill-in-the-blank tests are commonly administered using a Scantron form.

Question 21

True/false questions containing which word tend to be false?

A) never
B) often
C) except
D) frequently

Question 22

When answering matching questions, you should

A) match the terms you are sure of last.
B) leave terms you have already matched to use for other descriptions.
C) match terms and descriptions without reviewing the options.
D) match one term to only one description.

Question 23

Which is a common cause of test anxiety?

A) family expectations
B) preparing in advance
C) positive past experiences
D) getting enough sleep

Question 24

When Padma took her history midterm exam, her mind went completely blank, she started to panic, and she hyperventilated because she knew she would fail. Now she is preparing for the final exam. What should Padma do to address her test anxiety?

A) hunch over her desk to avoid back strain
B) tell herself that she's going to do well on the test
C) cram all night before the exam to ensure she knows the material
D) refrain from eating anything before the exam in case she gets nauseous

Question 25

Which is a common form of cheating?

A) discussing with the instructor what to expect on an exam
B) seeking help from a tutor before an exam
C) looking over a classmate's shoulder for answers during a test
D) studying with a group of peers the night before an exam

Question 26

Taking another person's ideas or work and presenting them as your own is known as

A) fair use.
B) plagiarism.
C) peer pressure.
D) test anxiety.

Question 27

When taking an online test, you should

A) type your answers into a Word document before entering them into the test.
B) take breaks to check your social media accounts if you have trouble concentrating.
C) surf the web for answers to difficult questions.
D) rely strictly on your notes to answer questions.

Question 28

If you are worried that you might do poorly on an exam, you should skip the last class before the exam and instead spend that time studying.

Question 29

Talking with students who have already taken the course you're in can be beneficial because they can give you a good idea of what to expect on tests and exams.

Question 30

When taking a test, if you cannot answer a question completely, you should not try to answer it at all.

Question 31

A laboratory test may require you to identify parts of models or specimens.

Question 32

You should budget an equal amount of time for all essay questions on a test.

Question 33

Test anxiety only affects students who lack motivation to succeed.

Question 34

Some people experience test anxiety only when taking tests in a specific subject.

Question 35

One method for reducing test anxiety is to increase your rate of breathing.

Question 36

Some students cheat because they are not prepared for the test or assignment.

Question 37

Submitting a paper you purchased online may result in suspension or expulsion.

Question 38

Now that you have studied this chapter on test taking, reflect on your academic performance so far and any test taking strategies you have used. Based on the suggestions in the chapter, are there any new strategies you'd like to try or changes you'd like to make? If so, what are some of the outcomes you envision from making these changes?

Question 39

How does an essay question that asks you to compare differ from one that asks you to contrast?

Question 40

List three symptoms of test anxiety.

Question 41

Identify three strategies students can use to avoid problems with academic honesty.