Student Profile with Introduction

image

Nicole Bradley, 24

Nursing major

University of Washington

image The first step to improving my test-taking abilities was changing my attitude about my ‘academic self.’ image

Nicole Bradley grew up all over the country, moving with her parents as part of a military family. “My parents were young and adventurous and willing to move wherever the military sent them,” she says. At age sixteen, she landed in Bothell, Washington, near Seattle, and was able to finish high school. Soon after her graduation, Nicole gave birth to a son and found herself working to support herself and her child. For a while, college was the furthest thing from her mind, but eventually she realized that she wanted more for her son—and for herself. “Ultimately, being a single mother is what motivates me, not only to provide a better life for both of us, but also to set an example that was not always set for me,” she explains.

Part of going to college and raising a family involves finding that ever-elusive work-life balance in areas such as preparing for tests. Nicole always thought that she just wasn’t good at taking tests or learning, so she usually finished in the middle of the pack on tests and exams. “The first step to improving my test-taking abilities,” she says, “was changing my attitude about my ‘academic self.’” Once Nicole worked to improve her attitude, she began looking at the test-preparation strategies that worked best for her. One thing she figured out was that note taking was integral to a good performance on tests. “I found that I remember things best by relating them to things that I already know,” she says. Now she knows to take careful notes during class, underline key terms, and make additional marginal notes so that when she gets home, she can create associations to help with memory. She also knows that her brain works best when the rest of her body is well cared for and has plenty of rest, good food, exercise, and often meditation and relaxation. “It works better than cram studying, and I get a lot more out of my courses and do better on my exams,” she explains.

As with many things in life, Nicole realizes that with test taking, you sometimes have to get it wrong before you get it right. Her advice to other first-year students? “Go back over the questions you got wrong on a test and try to figure out what you got wrong and why.”

Tests and exams are the primary ways that instructors will evaluate your learning. In general, tests are shorter than exams and will count less toward your overall course grade. A course might have only a final exam, or it might have a midterm and a final. These exams generally take two or more hours to complete and comprise a major component of your final grade in a course.

You can prepare for tests and exams in many ways. Sometimes you’ll have to recall names, dates, and other specific bits of information. Many instructors, especially in courses such as literature and history, will also expect you to have a good overall understanding of the subject matter. Even in math and science courses, your instructors want you not only to remember the correct theory, formula, or equation, but also to understand and apply what you have learned. Knowing your preferred learning style, managing your time and energy, and using the study and memory strategies discussed in previous chapters will help you prepare for any kind of test or exam you face. This chapter provides you with several strategies to prepare for and take tests and exams successfully, describes types of tests and test questions you may encounter, and includes tips for managing test anxiety and maintaining academic honesty.

assess your strengths

Tests and exams are an unavoidable component of college life. Good students will practice strategies to improve their exam scores. As you read this chapter, think of specific examples of your strengths in preparing for and taking different kinds of exams.

set goals

What are your most important objectives for learning the material in this chapter? Do you need to improve your abilities as a test taker, or do you need to deal with test anxiety that prevents you from doing your best? Consider what you might do to improve in these areas, such as leaving plenty of time to study in advance of exams.