Tips for Specific Types of Examinations

• Answer the easy questions first.
• Avoid mechanical errors (putting answers in the wrong place and misreading directions)
• If the exam is scored by machine, erase completely, leaving no stray marks.
• You may find clues to early questions within the text of later questions.
• First reactions or impressions tend to be correct.
• An exam is not a battlefield for proving your point. Select the answer the professor supports.
• Don't think too hard about the choices -- you can make a case for almost any choice if you try.
• Do not change your answer because of mere doubt; change it only if you find a clear indication that it is wrong and another is correct.
• It's unlikely that the professor is trying to trick you, so don't outsmart yourself by looking for devious or tricky interpretations and ignoring the obvious.

• Do not assume that answers are in a certain order or pattern (for example, TTF, TTF, TFT)
• There are no exceptions to these and similar words: all, alone, always, entirely, never, only, etc.
• A partially false statement should be marked false, but don't look for wild exceptions.

• Determine first what the question asks, throw out obvious misfits, and select the best answer after eliminating what you can.
• Ask yourself the question before looking at the choices, then find one similar to your answer.
• Watch out for the "except" type of question where all the choices but one fit the question -- you are looking for the item that does not belong.
• The choice differing most in length from the others tends to be correct.
• Qualifying words like "usually" or "sometimes" tend to make choices correct; "always" or "never" tend to make choices incorrect.

Monday, August 14, 2006 12:18:40 PM