Chapter Introduction
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9
Performing Well on Exams
Prepare for Tests
Manage Test Anxiety
Learn Test-Taking Strategies
Follow Up after Tests
Use Test-Taking Skills at Work
My Personal Success Plan
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When you hear the word test or the word exam, what comes to mind? Do you picture yourself guzzling coffee as you cram late into the night? Do you envision your palms getting sweaty and your heart starting to pound as test time creeps closer? Do you worry that failing an exam could negatively impact your future? If you answered “yes” to these questions, you’re not alone: For many students, tests have tremendous power and meaning. That makes sense: Doing well on tests helps you get good grades, which in turn helps you keep your financial aid, stay in college, and ultimately get the job of your dreams.
Before you start hyperventilating, though, let’s put exams in their proper perspective. Yes, doing well on them matters, but exams are not measures of your worth as a human being. They’re not broad indicators of your intelligence. They don’t even completely measure your knowledge of a given topic. A single exam will not dictate the future direction of your life, and often it won’t make or break your grade for a course.
Rather, an exam is a snapshot of your ability to answer a specific set of questions on a given topic. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate (to yourself and your instructor) that you’ve studied and that you can apply your new knowledge to the questions posed on the test. As such, tests let you “show what you know.”
When you do well on a test, you demonstrate that you understand complex information — a skill that’s important not only for school but also for any career you pursue. In your work life, you’ll encounter projects, presentations, and other situations in which you need to demonstrate your knowledge. You may even have to take exams to become certified or licensed for specific careers or as part of continuing education requirements. By building your test-taking skills now, you’ll be ready to dazzle later, whenever you need to show mastery of material.
This chapter starts off with strategies you can use to prepare for exams. Next we discuss test anxiety and how to manage it. You’ll discover tactics for approaching the types of exams you’ll encounter in college and for reflecting on your performance once the exam is over. Finally, the chapter wraps up with ways to use your test-taking skills at work.
Reflect
On Your Test Taking
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Take a moment to reflect on your Test Taking score on ACES. To review your results, click here.
This score measures your beliefs about how well you take tests. Do you think it’s an accurate snapshot of your understanding? Why or why not?
IF YOU SCORED IN THE HIGH RANGE, this is great news; you’re likely a strong test taker. But you can still build on this talent. For instance, if it’s harder for you to take essay tests than multiple-choice tests, you can use the strategies you find in this chapter to make essay tests more manageable. As you read, jot down tactics you’ll try out to improve your performance on exams. By doing so, you’ll also strengthen skills in self-management, preparation, and persistence — all of which will come in handy long after you graduate.
IF YOU SCORED IN THE MODERATE OR LOW RANGE, remind yourself that tests can intimidate even the most prepared student, and you’re probably facing many of the same challenges as your classmates. Like all the other success skills in this book, performing well on exams is a skill you can build in college. Read on to find out how.
MY ACES SCORE
HIGH
MODERATE
LOW
To find your Test Taking score, go to the LaunchPad for Connections.