Test Taking Tips In General

Look for options that give complete information

Although incomplete answers may not be false, they do not contain specific, detailed information and therefore will probably be the wrong answer!

True/False Questions:

• Your chance of being correct is always 50%. • Look carefully at the details of the questions. • For a statement to be true, each part must be true. • Qualifiers like never, all, none, every, no, always, and only frequently make statements false. • On the other hand, terms such as; often, may, many, few, most, can, sometimes, rarely, generally, frequently, and usually can make the statement true!

To Know(2)

•The longest answer is often correct. • The most complete and inclusive answer is often correct • An answer in the middle, especially if it is the longest, is often correct. • If two answers have opposite meanings, one of them is probably correct • Answers with qualifiers, such as generally, probably, often, sometimes are frequently correct. • Answers with qualifiers, such as all, always, never, none, and only, are usually incorrect.

To Know

A positive choice is more likely to be true than a negative one. Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most information.

Certain Questions

In "All of the above" and "None of the above" choices, if you are certain one of the statements is true don't choose "None of the above" or one of the statements are false don't choose "All of the above".

Certain Questions(2)

In a question with an "All of the above" choice, if you see that at least two correct statements, then "All of the above" is probably the answer.

Basic

Read the question before you look at the answer. Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible answers, this way the choices given on the test won't throw you off or trick you. Eliminate answers you know aren't right. Read all the choices before choosing your answer. Don't keep on changing your answer, usually your first choice is the right one, unless you misread the question.

Watch out for answers which state: "All of the above," "both (a) and (b)," or "none of the above."

Read carefully. If you can eliminate even one of the alternatives, you can eliminate "all of the above". In the same vain, if you are positive that at least one option is correct, you can eliminate "none of the above". Instructors who carefully design multiple-choice questions often make "all of the above" and "both (a) and (b)" the correct answer. "None of the above" is sometimes just to fill in for an answer.

Watch out for questions and choices that include absolute terms of qualification

Such as: always, never, must, all, none, only, etc. Choices using these terms are frequently incorrect because they need to be true in every case; and few statements are always true.

Be aware of key words used in the stem or in the answers

Such as: not, except, and, or, but, etc. These words can completely change the meaning of a sentence. If you skip over these little but significant words, you most likely will choose incorrectly...be careful!

Statements, which contain negative words, require careful consideration

Underline or circle negative words like "not" when they appear in a true/false question. If the question includes a double negative, and a negative prefix (in, il, ir or un), cross out the word "not" and the negative prefix. Reread the question to determine whether it is true or false.