Study Skills- Chapter 10 & 11

PREPARING and TAKING EXAMS

Contents

I. Developing a study planII. Test- taking strategies

I. Developing a study plan

ExerciseAlways

Sometimes

Never

1. Xác định những nội dung liên quan trước khi ôn tập?

2. Đặt mục tiêu những gì cần hoàn tất trước khi ôn tập?

3. Dành đủ thời gian để ôn tập?

4. Kế hoạch ôn tập có trải dài trên nhiều ngày?

5. Dùng nhiều cách thức ôn tập khác nhau cho các nội dung, môn học khác nhau?

6. Học nhóm?

7. Chọn không gian yên tĩnh để ôn bài?

8. Xem xét, đánh giá lại kỳ thi trước, các bài thi trước đó?

9. Tự đặt câu hỏi liên quan đến nội dung đang ôn tập?

10. Gom nhóm nội dung ôn tập theo từng chủ đề từ giáo trình và tập ghi chú?

I. Developing a study plan

Determine the content coverage and question format of the exam?

Course SyllabusTextbook ChaptersLecture NotesPrevious Exams and QuizzesInstructor’s HandoutsInformation From Other StudentsInformation From the Last Class Before the Exam

Organize and separate the content into partsUse thematic study, which involves organizing all relevant content, no matter where it is found, around specific topics or themes. For example, a unit covering different wars in history might be organized as follows: causes, major battles, military leaders, and political and economic consequences

I. Developing a study planIdentify specific study strategiesPredicting Exam Questions: Lower level questions involve responses regarding facts, dates, terms, or lists. Questions beginning with Who . . . ? What . . . ? When . . . ? and Where . . . ? are appropriate for lower level questions. The following examples are stems for higher level questions: Why . . . ? How . . . ? What if . . . ? How does A affect B? What are the advantages or disadvantages of . . . ? What are the strengths or weaknesses of . . . ? What are the differences between . . . ? What is your opinion of . . . ?

II. Test- taking strategies

1. Objective test questions2. Essay questions

Test-taking strategies cannot substitute for ineffective exam preparation

II.1. Objective questions

How should you manage your time? Always know how much time you have for the test. During the test, check the clock once in a while so that you will know how much time is left. When you begin the test:

a. Answer questions you know first. b. Do not spend too much time on hard questions. Try not to get upset when you cannot answer a

hard question. c. Skip hard questions and go back to them at the end of the test.

When you have answered all the questions, go back and check your work.

How should you approach each question? If you do not know the answer to a question, read the question again. Read each of the answers. Mark the best answer only after you have read all of the answers. If you cannot figure out the answer to a question, guess. Be sure you mark one answer for each question. Do not leave a question blank.

When should you change an answer?

Strategies for True- False questions- Carefully read key words such as all, most, some,

always, little, none, completely, better, and more. A key word is a single word that can determine the overall meaning of the statement.

- Do not read too much into the statement. Base your response on the information provided in the statement, not additional knowledge you may know about the topic.

- Carefully read questions that have two-part statements. Remember that both parts of a statement must be true for you to correctly mark it “True.”

Statements Key words

1. Geniuses is always neurotic

2. You can accurately tell what someone is thinking from facial expression.

3. Cats can see in total darkness.

4. Your IQ is completely determined by heredity

5. It has been proven that animals can sense a coming earthquake.

6. Slow learners remember better what they learn than fast learners.

7. There is a clear distinction between normal people and emotional disturbed people

8. Darwin was the first person to advocate a theory of evolution.

9. It is possible to classify everyone as either extroverted or introverted

10. Studying mathematics will necessarily make you a better thinker.

Strategies for matching questions- Understand the direction- First match the terms you know- Work from one side only- Eliminate any items on the answer list that clearly

are not related- Draw a line through all terms that have matched.

Strategies for Fill-in-the-blank questions- Make your response grammatically correct.- Be sure the answer makes sense- Do not leave any blanks

Strategies for Multiple-Choice questions- Follow the direction- Determine the time allotted - Read the stem and all the choices before determining

the best answer- Skip difficult questions at the beginning of the exam- Review choices that are very similar.- Use caution for “ all of the above” or “none of the

above”- Review difficult questions before you hand in the exam- When in doubt, guess.- Review exam results

II. 2. Essay Questions Read the directions carefully and do exactly

what is asked. Read each question carefully to determine

what is expected in the response Determine how you will use your time Determine the order you will response Organize your response Follow specific procedures Review your exam results

Bertrand Russell: What I Have Lived For