P.O.W.E.R. Learning Ch-4

Advice for true-false questions:

- answer the ones you already know - don't rush; it's important to read every part of a true false question, because keywords such as "never", "always", and "sometimes" often determine the appropriate response. - if you don't have a clue about whether a statement is true or false, here's a last resort principal. Choose "true". (Most questions' answers on these types of tests are true)

When using an educated guessing strategy...

1) eliminate any obviously false answers. 2) examine the remaining choices closely. Does one choice include a subtle factual error?

Actions words for essays:

Analyze Clarify Compare Compare and contrast Contrast Critique Define Discuss Enumerate Evaluate Explain Illustrate Interpret Justify Outline Prove Relate Review State Summarize Trace PAGE 97 of textbook for definitions

Cramming

Hurried, last-minute studying

Quizzes

Is a brief assessment, usually covering a relatively small amount of material. Collectively they can become a significant part of your final course grade. **Usually over one class or reading.

On the day of the test, avoid comparing ____________with your friends.

Notes - chances are - you'll find others who have spent significantly more time studying than you did, and this will do little to encourage you.

Knowing the test point weighing is critical because

You want to make sure that you spend your time on the right things. For example you don't want to spend 90% of your time on an essay that's only worth 10% of the points, and you want to be sure to leave time at the end of the test to check your answers.

Hints for lowering test anxiety:

- prepare thoroughly - take a realistic view of the test - eat right and get enough sleep - learn relaxation techniques - visualize success

Proven strategies that will help you maximize your success while taking a test:

- take a deep breath - read instructions carefully - skim through the entire exam before you begin to look at the kinds of questions in the way they will be scored

strategies for answering essay questions:

1) read the question carefully, noting what specifically is being asked. 2) if your essay is lengthy, you may want to write a short outline. 3) Pay attention to keywords to indicate what, specifically, the instructor is looking for in an answer. 4) use the right language in essays. Be brief and to the point in your essay. Avoid flowery introductory language. 5) because I say is often contain several different, and Betty questions, you have to be certain that you have answered every part to receive the credit. 6) Pay attention to action words in essays.

Academic honesty

Completing and turning in only one's own work under one's own name

plagarism

taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas

To find out about an upcoming test ask these questions:

- " is the test called a "test", "exam", "quiz" or something else?" - " what material will the test cover?" - " how many questions will be on it?" - " how much time is expected to take? A full class? Only part of a period?" - " what kinds of questions will be on the test?" - " how will it be graded?" - " Will sample questions be provided?" - " Will the instructor hand out a study guide?" - " are tests from previous terms available?" - " how much does the test contribute to my final course grade?"

How we do on a test depends on a number of considerations:

- The kind of test it is - The subject matter involved - our understanding of test taking strategies - How will we prepare for it

How can you organize for a test?

- bring the right tools (2pens & 2 pencils) - bring a watch to the test (to be able to pace yourself properly during the test) - make sure to bring your notes and textbooks in case an instructor allows you to use them during the test. - plan on panicking. This will help you recover from your initial fears. - Listen carefully to what an instructor says before the test is handed out. (may tell you about a question on the test)

Types of test questions:

- essay - multiple-choice - True-false - matching - short-answer - fill-in

Why answering the easiest questions first is important

- you leave yourself more time to think about the tougher questions - moving through a series of questions without a struggle to build your confidence - working through a number of questions will build up a base of points that may be enough to earn you at least a minimally acceptable grade

Principles that will help you do your best on the test:

- answer the easiest questions first - write legibly and on only one side of the paper - Master machine-scored tests

What do you do if you have to cram for an exam?

- don't spend a lot of time on what you're unable to do. - choose what you really need to study (develop a plan about what you can accomplish in the limited time you've got) - writing the material down will help you remember it and you can refer to the summary sheet frequently over the limited time you do have to study. - read through your class notes, concentrating on the material you underlined and the key concepts and ideas that you've already noted. - read only the passages that you've underlined in the notes you've taken on the readings - maximize your study time. Use Notes, index cards, and concept maps, go over the information. Read it. Say it out loud.

2 key factors to consider as you get ready to take an online test:

- have your computer at the ready and have reliable access to the Internet. - be sure to know exactly when the test will be available online. If there is a timeframe and you miss it - you could be SOL.

Drawbacks to study groups:

- they don't always work well for students with learning styles that favor working independently. - people who don't pull their weight - may cause difficulties for the group.

Study groups can be extremely powerful tools because they help accomplish several things:

- they help members organize and structure the material to approach they're studying in a systematic and logical way. - they allow students to share different perspectives on the material. - they make it more likely that students will not overlook any potentially important information. - they force members to rethink the course material, explaining it in words the other group members will understand.

Advice for multiple-choice questions:

1) read the question carefully 2) try to answer the question in your head before looking at the answers 3) look for absolutes like "every", "always", "only", "none" and "never". Choices that contain such absolute words are rarely correct. 4) less obsolete words, such as "generally", "usually", "often", "really", "seldom", and "typically", may indicate a correct response. 5) be especially on guard for the word "not" 6) if you're having trouble understanding your question, underline keywords or freezes, or try to break the question into different short sections

Tests are not a measure of your value as an individual they are only...

A measure of how well (and how much) you studied and your test taking skills.

Test anxiety

A temporary condition characterized by fears and concerns about test taking.

A key part of preparing for a test is...

A trial run-through

Most sure way to get good grades on tests:

Attend class faithfully and complete all class assignments seriously and on time

Educated guessing

The practice of eliminating obviously false multiple-choice answers and selecting the most likely answer from the remaining choices

Tests

Is a more extensive, more heavily weighted assessment then a quiz, covering more material. ** May come every few weeks of the term, often after each third or quarter of the term has passed.

Exams

Is the most substantial kind of assessment. Exams are usually weighed quite heavily because they are meant to assess your knowledge of all the course material covered up to that point. ** usually at the end of the term. Sometimes there are two exams, one at the midpoint of the term (midterm), and the second at the end.

The danger of test anxiety is...

It can become so overwhelming that it can hurt test performance.

How will an initial read-through of the test help you?

It will help you verify that you have every page of the exam and that each one is readable. It may also provide you with "intratest knowledge" in which terms defined or mentioned in one part of a test, trigger memories that can help answer questions in another part of the test.

P.O.W.E.R. Plan for Test-taking

PREPARE - ready test-taking strategies ORGANIZE - Bring the right tools to the test WORK - Tackle the test EVALUATE - Check your work RETHINK - reflect on what you've learned when you get a test back

Study groups

Small, informal groups of students whose purpose is to help members work together and study for a test.

Advice for short-answer & fill-in questions:

Use both the instructions for the questions and the questions themselves to determine the level of specificity needed for an answer. Try not to provide too much or too little information.