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| − | Before we start our second lecture for American history, let's review some test-taking tips for multiple-choice history exams. Treat a multiple-choice exam like a contest or a game. Your performance on the exam is a function of two elements: how well you prepared prior to the exam, and how well you tried on the exam itself. Many students do not perform as well on a multiple-choice exam as they could have. These tips will help you improve on multiple-choice exam you take, whether in history, grammar, or even your driving test. | + | Before we start our second lecture for American history, let's review some test-taking tips for multiple-choice history exams. Treat a multiple-choice exam like a contest or a game. Your performance on the exam is a function of two elements: how well you prepared prior to the exam, and how well you tried on the exam itself. Many students do not perform as well on a multiple-choice exam as they could have. These tips will help you improve on multiple-choice exams, whether in history, grammar, or even your driving test. |
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| − | On history exams, many of the correct answers can be figured out during the test, '''if you do not give up too easily on a question'''. The person in the class who knows the most history probably won't be the person who does the best on the exam. Instead, the highest score usually goes to the person who tried the hardest during the test itself. Multiple choice exams can be difficult, but some simple rules can make your test-taking skills much more effective. | + | On history exams, many of the correct answers can be figured out during the test, '''if you do not give up too easily on a question'''. The person in the class who knows the most history probably won't be the person who obtains the highest score on the exam. Instead, the highest score usually goes to the person who tried the hardest during the test itself (and also prepared well). Multiple choice exams can be difficult, but some simple rules can increase your score. |
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| | == Test-taking tips == | | == Test-taking tips == |
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| − | '''Tip Number One''': Understand the question before you try to answer it. Read the question twice if you have doubts. Never, ever try to answer a question you do not understand. You can improve your score by 10% on each exam by making sure you understand each and every question before attempting to answer it. You will see other students miss questions because they misread them. | + | '''Tip Number One''': Understand the question before you try to answer it. Read the question twice if you have doubts. Never, ever try to answer a question you do not understand. You can improve your score by 10% on exams by making sure you understand each and every question before attempting to answer it. You will see other students miss questions because they misread them. |
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| − | : Example: Pay particular attention to qualifiers in questions, such as "EXCEPT". Every exam there are many students who miss questions because they overlook "EXCEPT". Question: "George Washington was popular for all of the reasons EXCEPT" .... You will answer incorrectly if you overlook the "EXCEPT". | + | : Example: Pay particular attention to qualifiers in questions, such as "EXCEPT". Every time I give an exam, there are many students who miss questions because they overlook "EXCEPT". Question: "George Washington was popular for all of the reasons EXCEPT" .... You will answer incorrectly if you overlook the "EXCEPT". |
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| − | '''Tip Number Two''': Eliminate the wrong answers before picking the right one. Draw a line through the wrong choices. | + | '''Tip Number Two''': Eliminate the wrong answers before picking the right one. |
| | Examples of wrong answers that can be immediately eliminated: | | Examples of wrong answers that can be immediately eliminated: |
| − | *Wrong dates or time period | + | *Wrong time period |
| − | *The answer doesn't match the question – e.g., the answer is generally true, but not limited to the time period in question. | + | *The answer doesn't match the question – e.g., the answer is generally true, but not necessarily true with respect to question. |
| | *The answer violates common sense. | | *The answer violates common sense. |
| − | *The answer is familiar for reasons unrelated to the question, such as an answer choice of "[[Magna Carta]]," which is not part of American history. | + | *The answer is deceptively familiar for reasons unrelated to the question, such as an answer choice of "[[Magna Carta]]," which is not part of American history. |
| | *The answer is too general, too broad, too sweeping, or too strong, such as an answer that ''everyone'' liked [[George Washington]]. | | *The answer is too general, too broad, too sweeping, or too strong, such as an answer that ''everyone'' liked [[George Washington]]. |
| | *The answer is too awkward. | | *The answer is too awkward. |
| − | *The answer is something you never heard of. Don't pick it based on 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. | + | *Two answers are too similar to each other. Both cannot he correct. |
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| − | :When you eliminate wrong answers, cross out their corresponding letter on the exam. Try to cross out 3 answers to narrow the choice to 2 answers. If you guess at that point, you have a 50% chance of getting it right. Every time you eliminate an answer choice, your chance of answering correctly increases greatly. | + | :When you eliminate wrong answers, cross out their corresponding letter on the exam. Try to cross out all the wrong answers except for two. If you guess at that point, you have a 50% chance of being correct. Every time you eliminate an answer choice, your chance of answering correctly increases greatly. |
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| | '''Tip Number Three''': Go with your first impression unless you have a good reason to change it. More often than not, your first impression is right. Don't outsmart yourself. There are no trick questions on these exams. There are traps to avoid falling into, but not tricks. Don't second-guess yourself into changing a correct answer into an incorrect one. | | '''Tip Number Three''': Go with your first impression unless you have a good reason to change it. More often than not, your first impression is right. Don't outsmart yourself. There are no trick questions on these exams. There are traps to avoid falling into, but not tricks. Don't second-guess yourself into changing a correct answer into an incorrect one. |