Hi Gallus! So you mentioned in the tags that you have a good method for multiple choice tests. Can you expand on that?
CAVEAT: I am not a professional educator, tutor or teacher. This is just what worked for me when I was in public school and maybe you’ll be able to get some milage out of them too.
So let’s imagine you’re me, Plopping down to take the ACT with a 103 degree fever and exactly Zero Studying, because your principle is a jackass that won’t let you rescedule. You’ll get him back later by delibarately sneezing all over his desk to give him whatever Public Ed Death Fever you have, but right now you have a test to take. So here’s some strategies:
First of all, This Test Doesn’t Matter. Actually, no fucking tests Matter. Even when you get to college, only a handful of tests will matter and as long as you’ve gone to office hours and attended class, even if you bomb them your prof probably won’t let you fail. The SAT and ACT will both let you re-take them. If you’ve made effort in class and can demonstrate some kind of understanding of the subject, you can probably negotiate with your teacher if you have testing issues.
No really if you’re bad at tests ask your teacher if you can do a research report/verbal presentation/some other complex project instead. That’s called taking intiative and engaging with the subject matter and it’s deffo worth a shot.
The skill that ACTUALLY matters in high school/college/the workforce is SHOWING THE FUCK UP TO CLASSES/OFFICE HOURS/EVENTS and learning how to absorb and regurgitate vast quantities of text. If you have difficultly with time management, being polite to people you don’t actually care about or reading, it’s 110% worth the cost/effort of seeing a specialist about those skills.
OK NOW THAT WE’VE ESTABLISHED THAT THIS TEST IS PURELY A PREFUNCTORY BIT OF SOCIAL THEATER, WE CAN GET TO THE ACTUAL ADVICE UNDER THE CUT:
MULTIPLE CHOICE SECTION TIPS:
Step the first: Hydrate. hydration is key.
Step 2: READ ALL THE QUESTIONS FIRSTthis hella important1. Lets you get an idea of the task ahead, and you’ll have a better idea of how to budget your time.2. reading the questions will help your groggy, fevered brain remember what you learned in class.3. Sometimes, answers to early questions are in later questions. For Example: if #3 asks you to match a vocab term to a phenomenon, and #17 uses one of the possible answers in the question, it’s probably that term.
Go through and answer the questions that you’re sure of right away, regardless of order. Besure not to dick up your scantron sheet in the process.
Next look at the questions that look familar but you might have to think about a bit-Read the question ALL THE WAY THROUGH because they like to but tricky bits at the end.-If it’s math, present the answer in the format requested by the question, no matter how stupid that format is.-If two answers are more alike than the others, the correct answer is PROBABLY one of those. Take a guess and move on.
Before the test, clarify with the teacher/proctor if it’s better to guess on a question you don’t know the answer to leave it blank, because different tests score differently. Many tests, you get partial credit for answering, or at least not docked for guessing wrong. If this is the (very likely) case, and you’re running out of time (less than 2 minutes) go through and mark the remaning questions “B”.
ESSAY AND SHORT ANSWER TIPS
Stay hydrated beautiful, we’re enarly there.
Whoever is grading your test is probably grading hundreds, if not thousands of these. They will be tired. They might also be drinking. Explain yourself with clear, simple sentences like you are explaining this concept to a Kindergartener, because that’s probably where they are, emotionally.
Brevity is key on the short answer section, in terms of both clarity and time managment. Write answers like you’re defining the concept on twitter- in both terms of character length and audience familarity with the subject.
On long essays, Confidence is Key.Which is to say, if you’re not 100% confident about the subject but you’re much more confident on a relevent adjacent topic, write about that second topic. This confidence will make the words happen better and get you a better grade.Examples: For AP Statistics, I had to write essays explaining the complex statistical process of uh. determining how liekly moose were going to occur in an area.We did not go over this chapter in class. or in the out of class work.So I didn’t know dick about the mathemetical process.BUTI’m a bio nerd and know about moose.So Instead I did what math I could and talked about Moose Behavior Using Complex Science Terms and managed to walk away from that Exam with a 5/5 somehow.
Also, regarding the 5-Paragraph essay Structure:In education, there’s a 3-step process-Announce what you’re going to be learning about today (Introductory paragraph, 3 supporting topis)-Teach them the thing (elaborate on your three supporting topics)-Repeat in brief what you just said because everyone was probably on thier phones, spiritually, if not literally (Concluding Paragraph.
This three step structure works for presentations, PSAs, opinion pieces and explaining how to operate the washing machine to your college roommate. its a good life skill to practice.
Since you’re probably going into this test better prepared than I was:
STUDY.
If possible, take what opportunities you can to familiarize yourself with the subject matter in whatever way helps you best. For me, it was physically writing down notes, with a pen and paper, from my textbooks and explaining the concepts to my parents and peers. the former helped with my recall and the latter really made sure I thoroughly understood the cencept. Your learning method might be different- some other methods to try might include:
Re-Reading the text while chewing strongly-flavored gum, then having the same gum at the test. Scents and flavors have a strong impact on our memories.
They physical act of making flash cards is a good way to link topis for some people
illustrating the subject matter
having a friend pop quiz you. esp while working out, if you’re a more kinesthetic person.
listening to Ted Talks on the subject
Tutoring
going and talking to your teacher about the parts you don’t understand- this is good both to help you learn and to make a connection with your teacher. they’ll grade you more lieniently if you make an effort.
For Most People, getting a good rest the night before the test does more good than last-minute cramming. If you can’t sleep (I never could) even just lying in the dark with your eyes closed will help you charge better than dicking around online or reading will. There was a whole mythbusters episode on this.
He was appalled by the examination system, when it was explained to him; he could not imagine a greater deterrent to the natural wish to learn than this pattern of cramming in information and disgorging it at demand.
The Dispossessed
by Ursula K. Le Guin
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Standardized testing in the US was so so much less in the 80's when I was in grade school, but even then it was clunky and limited and kids hated it and it gave everyone testing anxiety and nobody respected it. The *quality adults* knew it was crap we all just had to put up with even then.
I was spectacular at taking standardized tests. Actually infamous for it. It never ever gave me any joy, I just was really good at it from the very first test I ever encountered.
Realized very recently that this is because I look(ed) at every interaction thru the lense of What Are You Asking of Me (so I can do that and this interaction can be over), and I simply approached tests that way too. Ah, this paper wants certain answers from me. I can do that.
SIGH.
--My comment on Chapter 3 of What We Make of It (Shotgun Wedding) by charlottemadison
