Test-taking and studying advice
My thoughts on test taking
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Don’t |
Do |
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- Study only on the day of the test, or within 12 hours of the test (cram)
- Assume that because you are given an equation that it will work for all problems related to that equation. It is important to know how to manipulate equation to give different answers (basic algebra)
- Feel like you have to memorize every possibility indicated by a certain law or set of rules. Try to understand the law or set of rules well enough that you can predict an answer based off the given information in a problem (unless special exceptions must be memorized)
- Think that since you did a mathematical practice problem successfully a week or two before the test that you know how to do it. If it’s been that long since you practiced that type of problem and this is relatively new information, there’s a good chance you will blank on this when you see it on a test
- Glance at a problem in the book or your notebook and think that because you have a picture in your mind of the steps involved in doing that problem that it will be doable on a test. Do each step then compare what you did to what the correct step should be and see if you are doing it the right way. If not, try to figure out what’s not making sense
- Commit everything to conscious memory. This is kind of like the tip about cramming. If you try to have everything important to know at the front of your mind when you start a test, best case scenario is a few things don’t fit and they get dumped by your brain. Worst case scenario is that your brain will dump as much information as it can to alleviate the stress/burden, or anxiety about the test will override the information anyway |
- Study lightly in the week leading up to the test with most of the study time being within four days of the test
- Make sure you understand the material as it is taught. If something doesn’t make sense, read the corresponding section in the book, look at example problems, or ask Matt or myself for help
- Use process of elimination if possible to figure out troublesome multiple choice style answers. Also other questions in the test may provide useful in coming to a conclusion for an answer
- Try to see what is happening that causes certain things we are taught to be the way they are. Question yourself on what we are learning. Why does atomic radii decrease as you go across a period? Why does it make sense that in an equation for calculating wavelength that the speed of light would have to be divided by the wave’s frequency and not the other way around?
- Redo example questions or problems done in class, without looking at the answer first, and see if you can do it off the top of your head. Lookup how to do it if necessary. Then match what you got to what it should be
- Feel confident working with the material. If you get to a point where you can understand how to answer problems and perform calculations correctly with minimal guidance from examples/the book/outside help, this will translate to inner confidence in your knowledge of the material, which you will carry with you into taking the test. It’s a lot easier to combat test anxiety if you can logically dispute any anxious thoughts your mind comes up with related to the test |
My thoughts on studying
Reading your notes – Excellent idea. I suggest reading them from unit start to unit finish at least once, with twice or three times probably being optimal. Performing math problems from notes from start to finish is also a very good idea, as is quizzing yourself on short answer problems.
Reviewing Matt’s handouts/my handouts – Very good idea, might be better idea to review Matt’s handouts (activities) first if possible as they will more closely resemble the style of questions to expect on a test.
Reading sections in the book – Good idea, but can be time consuming and confusing if not done immediately after taking notes on the section. Most definitions in the book are more complex than what we are working with. Good for practice problems though.
Looking up online resources (videos, websites, practice problems, etcetera) – Can be useful, not as useful as whatever’s in the book though as any resources outside of the class may not use exact same rules, definitions, etc as we do in notes/book sections. However some websites will provide practice problems that are solved with steps shown, which might not be easy to find in the book.
Study strategies (flash cards, creating acronyms, general mnemonics) – Up to personal preference. I personally don’t use flashcards because they limit a person to doing definitions/multiple choice/true or false questions and I tend to retain more information if I have to write something down, for example someone/myself asking me a definition question then having to write the definition from memory. Making drawings or diagrams that help you to remember information can be very beneficial if it makes sense.