Changes

[[American History Lecture Two|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Two|Questions]] <!--- [[American History Homework Two Answers|Student Answers]] -->

[[American History Lecture Two|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Two|Questions]] <!--- [[American History Homework Two Answers|Student Answers]] -->

Before we start our second lecture for American history, here are several test-taking tips for multiple-choice history exams.  Test-taking is a skill; master it and you will excel in any career you choose.  Treat a multiple-choice exam like a contest or a game.  How well you do depends on two components:  how well you prepared prior to the exam, and how well you tried on the exam itself.  Everyone can improve their test-taking skills and obtain higher scores on all multiple choice exams.

Before we start our second lecture for American history, here are several test-taking tips for multiple-choice history exams.  Test-taking is a skill; master it and you will excel in any career you choose.  Treat a multiple-choice exam like a contest or a game.  How well you do depends on two components:  how well you prepared prior to the exam, and how well you try on the exam itself.  Everyone can improve their test-taking skills and obtain higher scores on all multiple choice exams on any subject.

== Test-taking tips ==

== Test-taking tips ==

There are seven ways to improve your score while taking a multiple-choice exam.  Following these tips can improve your score significantly:

There are seven ways to improve your score while taking a multiple-choice exam.  Following these tips can improve your score significantly:

1. Understand the question.  The better you understand the question, the more likely you can answer it correctly.  Beware of qualifiers in the question, such as "EXCEPT":  "Each of the following was a cause of the Revolutionary War EXCEPT ...."

1. '''Understand the question'''.  The better you understand the question, the more likely you can answer it correctly.  Beware of qualifiers in the question, such as "EXCEPT":  "Each of the following was a cause of the Revolutionary War EXCEPT ...."

<br>2. Do not give up too easily on a question when you don't yet know the answer.  Keep looking for clues in the question and answer choices.

<br>2. '''Do not give up too easily on a question''' when you don't yet know the answer.  Keep looking for clues in the question and answer choices.

<br>3. Answer every question.  Most exams (including the CLEP) do not deduct for wrong answers, so it's worth guessing.

<br>3. '''Answer every question'''.  Most exams (including the CLEP) do not deduct for wrong answers, so it's worth guessing.  Even if an exam does deduct points for wrong answers, it is worth guessing if you can narrow the possibly correct answers before picking one.

<br>4. Eliminate wrong answers before picking the correct one.  The more wrong answers you can cross out, the better your chances are of getting the right answer.  Examples of wrong answers would be:

<br>4. '''Eliminate wrong answers before picking the correct one'''.  The more wrong answers you can cross out, the better your chances are of getting the right answer.  Examples of wrong answers would be:

*Wrong time period

*Wrong time period

*The answer doesn't match the question – e.g., the answer is sometimes true, but does not specifically answer the question asked.

*The answer doesn't match the question – e.g., the answer is sometimes true, but does not specifically answer the question asked.

*The answer is something you never heard of.  Don't pick it simply based on a hope that it might be right.

*The answer is something you never heard of.  Don't pick it simply based on a hope that it might be right.

*Two answers are too similar to each other.  Both cannot be correct, so the correct answer must be something else.

*Two answers are too similar to each other.  Both cannot be correct, so the correct answer must be something else.

5. Go with your first impression unless you have a good reason to change it.  Don't outsmart yourself by repeatedly going against your first impression.

5. '''Go with your first impression''' unless you have a good reason to change it.  Don't outsmart yourself by repeatedly going against your first impression.

<br>6. Don't let a few hard questions cause you to lose momentum during the exam.  Remember that all questions count equally in your score.

<br>6. '''Don't let a few hard questions cause you to lose momentum''' during the exam.  Remember that all questions count equally in your score.

<br>7. On College Board exams, expect some bias.  For example, College Board exams rarely ask about military battles, often have questions about women in history, and are more likely to ask about the decline of the [[Puritans]] than about their [[Christian]] success.

<br>7. On College Board exams, expect some bias.  For example, College Board exams rarely ask about military battles, often have questions about women in history, and are more likely to ask about the decline of the [[Puritans]] than about their [[Christian]] success.