
A Compendium of
Learning and Teaching Strategies for College
Test Taking
Before learning specific strategies for test taking it is important to remember that you need to be prepared for a test before taking the test. That means studying for the test, but not at the last minute. Use distributed practice.
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Carter, Bishop, and Kravitz provide a thorough discussion of test-taking strategies in Chapter 8 of their book (See Resources). They discuss both general strategies as well as strategies for specific types of tests, including multiple-choice, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer/essay questions. A very thorough discussion of test-taking strategies can also be found here.
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Two very good YouTube videos on test-taking strategies can be found here and here.
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Consider developing cue cards for different types of tests and, with the instructor's permission, using them during a test. If cue cards are not allowed, you may be able to write down some cues on the test itself, before beginning the test.