Before the first test:
Get an outline of the course. See what is required of you. See what the purpose of the course is.
Find out what you will be tested on. The book? The lecture? Both? Other things?
Note amount of time spent by instructor on each topic.
Ask instructor to see previous exams.
    1. How does this instructor test? Objective, essays, What?
    2. What does this instructor test on? Main Ideas? Details?
    3. What does this instructor emphasize? ( How many questions on each topic?)
Predict questions the instructor may ask. Write them down and answer them.

REMEMBER: Doubt about what you will be tested on means disaster at test time.
 

Ask yourself after each study hour:
"What have I done this hour that will make me do better on the test."

 
After the first test, prepare for the next test:

Check your performance on the returned examination.

• Note the errors you have made.
• Check to see what happens when you change answers. Do you tend to get more right or wrong, or what? Remember this for next time.
• Check to see how many questions you predicted accurately.

• Note the type of questions the instructor asked.
• Note what topics were stressed, omitted, etc.
• Are there any patterns to the questions? To the answers?
• Does the number of questions on any topic match up with the amount of time spent in class on that topic? Does it match up with the number of pages in the textbook.

Learning by preparing test materials:
 

• First find and put into one pile all the material you will be tested on. (e.g. lecture notes, cognitive maps, questions and answers, books articles, instructor handouts, study guides, etc.). Keep asking question and searching until you know for certain that you have all the materials in front of you.
• Find out what type of test is to be given. Usually more detail has to be learned for objective tests. Essay test usually require you think with ideas you’ve been given in class.
• Make cognitive maps to see the topics and main ideas. Also, to see the topics and their major supports.
• Make flash cards on technical terms and main ideas you need to know. Main ideas, terms, and topics are often called by other names such as:

• Make up your own test. Predict exam questions. Make up questions that you think will be on the test. Take the role of the instructor – what would you test on if you were that person?
• Develop memory cue devices to help you remember lists of dates, names, etc.
• Attend the Exam Reviews that the tutor or instructor will schedule in advance.

• Use the flash cards to memorize all material that you will have to recall during the test. Recall means that if you are given a cue you will remember a word or idea. Carry the flash cards with you.Run through them in spare moments; possibly between classes.
• Test yourself on the materials using the questions you predicted. Take the test under the same conditions as you will take the actual test.
• Have a friend test you using your flash cards, your questions and answers from the text or the exam questions that you predicted.
• Post visual cue cards around your room, so that you will come into contacr with the material.
• Use the tape recorder to give yourself questions or to hear material over and over until it sinks in. Speak along with the tape recorder until you can say it without the help of the recorder.
• Seminar with other students in your class. Take turns explaining ideas to each other. Have them ask questions as if they didn’t know anything and you were having to explain the idea to them as if it is brand new.

To Study Skills Table of Contents
To ARC Page
To Chapman Home Page