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Any exam study tips?


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lsiunsuex

lsiunsuex

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It's been almost 20 years since I graduated high school. So taking an exam isn't really something I do on a regular basis.

Next Thursday, I have a 60 question / 80 minute timed exam. The first of at least 3 and possibly 8. At $150 / exam, I don't really want to fail, lol (not about the money; just don't want to have to do it twice)

I've watched (about 60 hours worth) all the training videos and did the hands on work; I found them to be easy.

The practice exams I score anywhere between 75-80% (passing is on a bell curve so 65-70% is usually a pass)

I've been going through the FAQs for the subject matter and taken my own notes from them - I intend to study these next week before the exam.

Other then a good night sleep and not eating junk food for a few days so I'm not groggy - any other tips?

I don't think flash cards work for the information - it's not really yes or no / right or wrong content. It's very scenario based.
 
This might be one of those instances where you don't need to study. It's been my experience that unless rote memorization is any benefit (e.g. PMP exam), you either know or don't know the material. Your time would probably be better spent focusing on the obscure items where you may already know you could do with some extra time rather than on the subject matter in total. Why review something you are already proficient in, right? That's pretty much what I'd do.

As I've gotten older, I've noticed that I don't treat tests the same way I did in school. In Adultland, they're pretty much just one more thing. I don't alter my routine - diet, sleep, exercise - because I have an exam...especially since, in Adultland, our tests tend to be pass/fail. It's not like scoring a 99% as opposed to a 71% is gonna buy me anything extra (e.g. congratulations - based on your score, you don't have to take the next two exams!).

Just my thinking...
 
lsiunsuex said:
I've been going through the FAQs for the subject matter and taken my own notes from them - I intend to study these next week before the exam.
Click to expand...
It's been years for me as well, but I always found this to be the most effective. The more times I write it down the easier it is to commit to memory. That and a good sleep and a good breakfast before the exam. Good luck!;)
 
Other than:

1)Go through all of the questions first and answer the one that you are sure of first
2)Be sure to make an effort to answer each and every question since "work" may contribute to partial credit (disregard this if it isn't true).
 
Less is more, for me. If the material is in there, it is in there, if not ... Over-prepping just clogs things up.
 
All good advice which I used to do. One other thing that I did was go through all my wrong answers on the practice tests to make sure you remember them. I also had a list of simple stupid mistakes on easier questions that I missed 2 times or more on my practice tests and put those on a list. Maybe between 5-10 things usually. I would take one last look at that list before going into the exam. I didn't want to give away easy marks for simple things I might miss.
 
lsiunsuex said:
It's been almost 20 years since I graduated high school. So taking an exam isn't really something I do on a regular basis.

Next Thursday, I have a 60 question / 80 minute timed exam. The first of at least 3 and possibly 8. At $150 / exam, I don't really want to fail, lol (not about the money; just don't want to have to do it twice)

I've watched (about 60 hours worth) all the training videos and did the hands on work; I found them to be easy.

The practice exams I score anywhere between 75-80% (passing is on a bell curve so 65-70% is usually a pass)

I've been going through the FAQs for the subject matter and taken my own notes from them - I intend to study these next week before the exam.

Other then a good night sleep and not eating junk food for a few days so I'm not groggy - any other tips?

I don't think flash cards work for the information - it's not really yes or no / right or wrong content. It's very scenario based.
Click to expand...


On a timed exam do it in multiple passes. If you aren't sure on a question, skip it. Get your dunkers done right first, then go back through the others. Best way to fail is to torture yourself working out early ones then be on a time crunch through questions you would have gotten.
 
Just found out you can mark the question for review and come back to it at the end.

So I'll probably take that route if I get stuck - get the easy questions done first, then go back and focus on what's tougher.
 
First of all, CRAM like a {expletive} the night before or even day of! The fresher the memory, the better.

DaiLun said:
1)Go through all of the questions first and answer the one that you are sure of first
2)Be sure to make an effort to answer each and every question since "work" may contribute to partial credit (disregard this if it isn't true).
Click to expand...

Both of the above!

Also check to be sure if a WRONG answer on a multiple-guess question is simply not added to the total of correct ones, or is specifically docked against you.

One other insight I can provide is that back when I was a grad assistant, I went to a seminar where one of the profs showed some numbers that asserted, when correctly written, a multiple-guess question could approach the accuracy of such things as fill-in-blank and short answer essays. Multiple-guess answers, of course, can be machine scored and are easier to process.

The key was to give one answer that is absolutely correct, one answer that is almost correct but has a definite flaw, one answer that looks correct when first skimmed but has a definite flaw, and one answer which is most definitely incorrect. From such things as con ed and cert tests I've taken in recent years, it's obvious that quite a few professional test writers follow this model.

Hope this helps.
 
My advise is to first think of what the answer is in your mind before you look at the possible answers.
You will notice right away the correct answer. Sometimes the answers are written really strange where
you know the answer but it looks like the possible answers are wrong. That happened to me at the
DMV test on a computer. I just chose an answer and hoped it was correct. BUT YOU CAN MARK IT and go back if you have time.

More advise: How to remember your information is to first write it down, Look at it and see it with your mind, and Verbally say it out loud in your voice. Those three things you have to do.
When you are taking the exam you will just know the answer, be able to see the answer in your mind, you will hear your voice in your mind the answer and you will see the answer written in your notes.

What the above advise will do for you is to notice that one of those ideas will be your strongest ability to know your information. For example; I have visual memory which is my strongest ability. I remember things that way. I also have a 6 sense that helps me to answer a question. You use your
6 sense when you have to guess.
I wear a watch to time myself.
Don't go back and change your answers if you think you were wrong with your answers if you only are going to guess. Just go back and look again at the ones you marked to make sure you can
correct the answer with the best you can do. You have to use your 6th sense maybe if you still don't
know the answer.
I only missed one answer to a question that didn't make sense at all. Who ever wrote that answer was off the mark.
Years ago I took a test for a job and knew that I could score a 75% and be considered passing. Plus,
I knew I could go back and take the test again. So I TOOK a high risk when I answered the Math
section. I chose to just guess at the answers on all the math questions. I used my 6 sense abilities that is super strong in me.
My abilities are stronger in the English type questions on grammar. So I spent more time on them.

The test was timed so I kept looking at the wall clock and didn't wear a watch so I depended on the
wall clock. I knew I had to finish before the time was up so I could be one of the first ones to get
the results on the same day. There were approx. 100 persons taking the test. I had heard that a
lot of the people don't pass the test so some of them were taking the test again.

I made the mistake of turning in my test paper too early by 20 minutes left. I could have used some more time to scan my answers.
I was in the Lobby waiting for my test results with a friend. A man came out of the test room and
called my name. He looked at me very strange as he handed me my test results.
I opened the envelope and I had scored a 98%. My friend and I screamed real loud with joy.
I was given a promotion. I still am not great at math so I have to use my 6th sense to know the
answer to a math question and I come pretty close to an answer.

I know you will pass the exam with all of the advise we all have given you. Remember that you do
know the answers to the questions so don't try to buy into the wrong answers. Just one simple word
in a possible answer will be the correct one. I wish you the luck of the Irish. LucyR.
 
DaiLun said:
Other than:

1)Go through all of the questions first and answer the one that you are sure of first
2)Be sure to make an effort to answer each and every question since "work" may contribute to partial credit (disregard this if it isn't true).
Click to expand...
This. Especially the first part.

Do the little things. Make sure you have enough sharpened pencils, paper, and erasers. If it's only 80 minutes, use the restroom beforehand and eat a snack so you don't get hungry.
 
If you're doing practice tests, make sure they are timed just as the actual test is timed. As a nursing instructor, I find that students struggle with the time limits we have for exams. We allow 1.2 minutes per question.

Another suggestion, and I apologize if any of these have been mentioned before, is to cover the answer options and read the question. Too many times I've seen students automatically select an answer because they thought it was correct, yet they missed one key word in the question because their decision was influenced by the answer options.

Don't over study. Yes, it's really possible. If you feel confident that you know the material, let it be, then refresh your memory the day before the test. I'm not a proponent of looking at the material again right before the exam because there's a point I which the brain just can't hold any more information and I follow the old saying "if you don't know it by now, you're not going to know it."

Before talking the NCLEX (Registered Nurse licensing exam), I actually got up, treated myself to a bit of shopping and had a nice lunch before my scheduled time. That way, I was nice and relaxed when I arrived for the test. Of course, at the end, I was crying and cussing the computer because I knew I had failed it (at 75 questions) and wanted more time to prove that I knew what I was doing. I passed the first try.

Lastly, read the blasted instructions. This is so trivial, but I have 6 requirements for my unit exams and final and it never fails - at least one student will leave off a unit of measure, or forget to write their math answers on the back of the Scantron, or forget to bubble in their name, student ID, test form, etc., and I deduct 1 point (which is clearly written in the instructions). I have 46 ADULT students that should be able to follow directions at this point, and if they can't, then I have to do it and that takes time and adds frustration because the machine gets its undies in a wad.

Lastly, given what you've already done, it seems as if you'll ace the test. Think positively. It'll go a long way to ease your stress/anxiety levels.

Good Luck!
 
I like to read all the questions first.. Sometimes you find answers in the questions later asked..
but like someone else stated, start with the easier questions and get those done then you can go back and do the tougher questions.
 
MTMONGO said:
Weed and Red Bull, you will be good.
Click to expand...

Red Bull, possibly. Back when I was in college, a product called "Comeback" was popular, basically a super No-Doz type of thing. Bennies and White Crosses were popular too as a stay-up-and-cram potion but far be in from me to admit to any illegal substances. :)

Weed? You gotta be kidding! That would just make me tired and stupid and disoriented and not give a $#!+ about studying, uh, not that I've ever had any experience with things like that, that is. :) :)
 
Read the question first. Duh thats obvious.
But the obvious part is not to read the answers.
Think of the answer first then look to see which matches.
Using this method you aren't just memorizing and placing it in short term memory but instead it triggers the long term memory.
 
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