Test-Taking Strategies 


RELAX

J     Get a comfortable seat.

J     Don’t sit near anyone or anything that will distract you.

 

EXPECT TO MAKE MISTAKES

J     People who get the average score of 21 on the test only answer about 55% of the questions correct.

J     The people who designed the test expect you to make certain mistakes.

 

DON’T GET TRICKED

J     The test includes distracters (incorrect answers that look correct)

 

SAVE THE HARD ITEMS FOR LAST

J     Answer all easy questions first.

J     Go back to the difficult items after you have answered all the questions that you know.

J     Draw a circle around the difficult items in your test booklet so that you don’t forget to go back.

 

ELIMINATE AND GUESS

J     If you can’t figure out the correct answer, eliminate the answers that you know are incorrect.

J     NEVER leave an item blank. (there is no penalty for taking a guess)

J     Guess the answer from the remaining choices.

 

CONCENTRATE ON FILLIN G IN YOUR ANSWER SHEET

J     Be careful not to fill in the wrong circle.

J     Do your work in the test booklet: underline, take notes, do calculations, etc. 

J     Take advantage of the space in the booklet.

J     Going back and forth from your test booklet to your answer sheet can be difficult, so write your answers in the test booklet and transfer them onto your answer sheet when you are done.

 

WATCH THE TIME!

J     Pace yourself.