Study
Skills Handout
Notes
on Answering Objective Test Questions
The
handout below is just one of the many handouts available at the
Tutoring Center. If you are having trouble with study
skills of any kind, or if you have questions about study skills
that are not addressed here, stop in the Student Commons Building,
Room 1300, at the Normal campus and talk to a tutor. He/she can
provide additional handouts, help you recognize your strengths and
weaknesses and help you formulate a plan to develop effective study
strategies. Find out when tutors for various courses are available
in Pontiac
or Lincoln
by contacting the receptionist in Pontiac (815-842-6777) or Lincoln
(217-735-1731).
Notes
on Answering Objective Test Questions
Learning
how to answer test questions proves to be an effective strategy
for test taking. Test questions tend to fall into one of the following
types:
Multiple
Choice Question Answering Strategies
Read
the directions.
Are
you being asked to find the best response or the correct response?
Take
the Test.
Read
the item and all choices before selecting your answer.
- Eliminate
alternatives that are absurd, silly, or obviously incorrect.
- Make
sure the stem and the choice you’ve chosen agree grammatically.
If
you aren’t sure of the correct response, keep the following
hints in mind:
- Choose
the alternative that is most inclusive.
- Longest
choice is usually correct. It contains elaborations necessary
to make it correct.
- The
correct answer is more often placed in the middle (choice "b"
or "c") rather than in extreme locations (choice "a"
or "e").
- The
correct answer will usually contain relative qualifiers such
as usually, generally, sometimes, often, etc. These words allow
for exceptions.
- The
correct answer will usually not include absolute qualifiers
such as always, never, at no time, etc. These words do not allow
for exceptions.
- Be
alert for choices that are identical (they are usually both
incorrect) or opposite (often one of them will be the correct
choice).
Guess
if you don’t know the answer.
You
have a 20-25% chance of choosing the correct response on most
multiple choice questions.
True-False
Question
Answering Strategies
Read
the directions.
Are
you being asked to answer the question or to answer the question
and correct any false information?
How
are your responses to be marked? (T/F, X/O, etc.)
Take
the test.
If
any portion of the question is false, the entire question is false.
Read
carefully for names and dates that are similar and could be easily
confused.
If
you aren’t sure of the correct response, keep the following
hints in mind:
- Longer
questions are likely to be true.
- Questions
containing relative qualifiers (e.g., normally, frequently,
most, some, etc.) are likely to be true because they allow for
exceptions.
- Questions
containing absolute qualifiers (e.g., always, never, all, none)
are likely to be false because they do not allow for exceptions.
Guess
if you don't know the answer!
You
have a 50% chance of choosing the correct answer on true-false
questions.
Matching
Question
Answering Strategies
Read
the directions.
Is
each answer used once or more than once?
Are
you being asked to find one response to each question or all correct
responses?
Take
the test.
Complete
the matches you are sure of first.
Cross
out each answer when you find it unless you are told you may use
each answer more than once.
Eliminate
any items on the answer list that are obviously out of place or
absurd.
Answer
long matching lists in a systematic way.
Guess
if you don’t know the answer!
It
can’t hurt to try.
Fill
in the Blank/Short Question
Answering Strategies
Read
the directions.
Are
you being asked to supply a word, a phrase, or a complete sentence?
Take
the test.
Write
no more than necessary. Use the spaces provided as a clue to the
length of the answer. If there is a string of blanks, it may be
a clue to the number
of words in a phrase.
Check
your answers to see that they are grammatically correct.
Make
sure your responses make sense.
Guess
if you don’t know the answer!
But
be sure your answer sounds plausible.
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View other Study Skills Handouts
Source:
Sherman,
T.M., & Wildman, T.M. (1982). Proven Strategies for Successful
Test-Taking. Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.
Copyright
© 2002, Heartland Community College
All rights reserved
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