Deck 9: Test Taking

Question 1

Studying for a test in advance will

A) help you digest the material more fully.
B) increase your test anxiety.
C) be less effective than cramming.
D) leave you with a surface-level understanding of the material.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

When you give your brain a very limited amount of time to learn information, you're likely to

A) feel less stressed about the test.
B) learn the material more effectively.
C) develop a deep understanding of the information.
D) forget what you studied.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Barry had a civics exam on Tuesday, a physics test on Wednesday, and an American history test on Friday. He always did well on history tests in high school, so Barry didn't bother studying for his American history test until Thursday. As he studied, he realized that he didn't have as strong a grasp of the material as he thought, so he stayed up late cramming. When Barry takes his American history test on Friday morning, he will most likely

A) have difficulty recalling details of the material that he studied.
B) be able to apply what he knows to novel questions on the exam.
C) complete the test quickly because the information is still fresh in his mind.
D) feel confident and relaxed because he will have mastered the material.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

If you need to get up at 7:00 am on the day of an exam, what is the latest time you should go to bed?

A) 8:00 p.m.
B) 9:00 p.m.
C) 1:00 a.m.
D) 2:00 a.m.

Question 5

On the morning of a test, you should

A) study as much as possible.
B) skip breakfast and eat a big lunch later instead.
C) give yourself enough time to get ready.
D) wear something uncomfortable to keep you alert.

Question 6

What should you do if you feel anxious on the way to a test?

A) Practice shallow breathing.
B) Listen to music.
C) Encourage yourself to finish the test quickly.
D) Tell yourself a low grade will bring your GPA down.

Question 7

Eating something substantial on the day of the test will

A) cause your mind to wander.
B) increase your stress level.
C) make you feel fatigued.
D) help you keep your energy up.

Question 8

On the day of a test, what should you do as soon as you receive the exam?

A) Quickly look it over.
B) Begin answering the lowest value questions.
C) Start answering questions immediately.
D) Answer the most difficult questions first.

Question 9

Which question should you ask yourself when looking over an exam?

A) Are any questions likely to be repeated on the final exam?
B) When will I find out my grade on the test?
C) Where should I be halfway through the time allotted?
D) Did I study the right chapters for the test?

Question 10

What should you do if you are confused about the directions on part of a test?

A) Look at a classmate's paper to see what he or she is doing.
B) Ask the instructor for clarification.
C) Make your best guess and hope you're right.
D) Focus instead on the parts of the test that have clear instructions.

Question 11

While taking a calculus exam, Lindsey got stuck on a certain question. She thought she had the right answer, but when she did a proof to check it, she realized she had made an error. She tried reworking it a few different ways, but she couldn't come up with the correct answer. Now she realizes that she's running out of time to finish the exam. What should Lindsey do?

A) Circle the question and move on to the next one.
B) Continue working on the question until she figures out the answer.
C) Cross the question out and move on to the next one.
D) Make a note in the margin to look up the answer after the test.

Question 12

Ricky is taking his art history midterm and feels as if he is doing well. He glances up at the clock and notices that his time is halfway up. When he looks at his test, though, he realizes that he's not going to finish the test if he keeps up his current pace. What should Ricky do?

A) Slow down and double check that his answers are correct.
B) Skip every other question and then go back to answer them if there's time.
C) Keep working at the same pace and ignore the clock.
D) Keep going, but try to shorten his answers.

Question 13

Laurel finished the multiple-choice portion of her biology exam and now just has to answer a few essay questions. Unfortunately, she's running out of time and won't be able to write complete, well-composed answers to all of the questions. It would be most appropriate for Laurel to

A) write complete answers for as many questions as possible.
B) leave a question blank.
C) use bullet points in her answers.
D) ask her instructor for more time.

Question 14

If you feel tempted to cheat, you should

A) make sure you don't get caught.
B) cheat only as much as necessary.
C) ask yourself why.
D) withdraw from the course.

Question 15

Where would be the best place to take a practice test?

A) at a desk in the library
B) at a table in the cafeteria during lunch
C) while lying in your bed
D) at a picnic table in a park

Question 16

If you will have an hour during class to complete an exam, how long should you give yourself to complete a comparable practice exam?

A) forty-five minutes
B) an hour
C) an hour and a half
D) as much time as you need

Question 17

_____ will help you reduce your stress on the day of the test.

A) Avoiding overly negative classmates
B) Skipping breakfast
C) Arriving in class just as the test begins
D) Telling yourself the test is extremely important

Question 18

If your mind goes blank during a test and you start to panic, what should you do after calming down?

A) Take as much time as you need to answer the question.
B) Quickly write down any answer and move on to the next question.
C) Go back to the first question and restart the test.
D) Reread the question and freewrite for a few minutes.

Question 19

Since starting college last month, Haben experiences severe test anxiety. His heart races, his mind goes blank, and he feels very uncomfortable. He has failed two tests so far, and he is concerned that he might flunk out if things don't improve. What should Haben do?

A) Spend more time studying.
B) Hide his symptoms and hope for the best.
C) Talk to his instructor, advisor, or mentor.
D) Talk with other anxious students just before each test.

Question 20

Cramming leaves you with a deep grasp of the material.

Question 21

If you're allowed to do so, it's a good idea to bring a snack and drink to a test in case you need a boost right before or in the middle of the exam.

Question 22

Online tests can be set up very differently from traditional tests.

Question 23

If you're ahead of where you should be when your test time is halfway up, you should keep going.

Question 24

A good way to gauge whether you're working at an appropriate pace during a test is to look around to see how far along your classmates are.

Question 25

If you finish an exam and find that you still have extra time, you should hand the test in and leave early.

Question 26

If an instructor has reason to believe that you are cheating, you could fail the class, be suspended for a term, or even be expelled.

Question 27

Reviewing your test when you get it back will help you improve your score the next time.

Question 28

The more you practice and put yourself in testing situations, the more difficult test taking becomes.

Question 29

It is better to leave a question blank than to give an imperfect answer.

Question 30

Why is it important to get a good night's sleep before an exam?

Question 31

Why is it important to arrive early for a test?

Question 32

What should you NOT do if you get stuck on a question?

Question 33

Identify three ways to learn from your test mistakes.

Question 34

List three strategies for reducing test anxiety.

Question 35

Describe what steps you would take immediately after receiving your exam. Include examples to illustrate the reasoning behind your response.

Question 36

Imagine that you took a test and thought you did well, but when you got it back, you found that you barely passed. Explain what you would do and why. Include examples to illustrate the reasoning behind your response.

Question 37

Describe at least three test-taking strategies you use and explain your reasoning for each. Include examples in your response.

Question 38

Describe at least three characteristics of an ideal location to take a practice test and explain why each is important. Include examples to support your position.