Test Taking Skills VI
Charlis E. Powell, Ph.D.
Learning Center Director
St. Pius X High School
Intelligent Guessing Strategies
• Research indicates that
•
•
appropriate and correct
application of intelligent
guessing techniques can raise
test scores significantly.
Use these strategies with care.
Remember to apply them only
as a last resort when:
– Your recall fails
– You are totally unfamiliar
with the material
Intelligent Guessing Strategies
• Fill in the answer the first time instead of
skipping it with the intention of returning.
• Mark or Flag the question so you can easily find
it after you have completed the rest of the test.
– Draw a star or question mark beside the question
• Think carefully before changing your first
answer.
– Odds are that your first response is the correct one.
Look for These….
• Negative Words
– Common Negative Words
• Not
• Except
• False
– Common Negative Prefixes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Un
In
Il
Dis
Non
Non
Im
ir
Look for These…
• Be especially alert to
negatives in objective
test questions
• Sometimes it is
helpful to circle the
negative words and
prefixes in questions
and answers
Look for These…
• Double Negatives are
statements which contain
two negatives—usually
one word and one prefix.
– Cross out both
– Re-read and answer
• Example:
– He is not un-athletic.
– He is athletic.
WOW!! Triple Negatives?
• Statements which contain
three negatives
– Usually one word and 2
prefixes
• Cross out two of the
negatives
– Re-read and answer
• Example
– It is not unkind to be
impatient
– It is kind to be patient.
Multiple Choice Questions
• Statements/Words are most likely to be true
•
when the answer is in the middle or the 3rd
choice of a multiple choice question –
especially if it is the answer with the most
words.
When you don’t know the right answer you
should:
A. Leave it blank
B. Answer using test wise strategies and then
flag it
C. Go to the next question
Multiple Choice Questions
What to do when you don’t have a
clue
• When dealing with “All of the above”
– If two choices are nearly the same, choose neither
one.
• Example:
– The most important thing Abraham Lincoln did
politically was to:
• A. Wield an axe
• B.
split rails
• C. Issue the Emancipation Proclamation
• D. Be shot in the Ford Theatre after the war
Multiple Choice Questions
• If two choices are opposite, choose one of them.
• Example:
– Sigmund Freud:
• A. Developed the theory of psychoanalysis
• B.
Did not develop the theory of psychoanalysis
• C. Always advised psychoanalysis for his patients
• D. Felt that therapy should be carried out in a
sanitarium.
Multiple Choice Questions
• Pick the longest choice or the most complete
•
statement– if you don’t have a clue.
Example:
–
The Great Gatsby:
A. Exploits women
B. Demonstrates the revenge of the downtrodden on
C.
D.
the rich
Occurs in Minneapolis
Illustrates southern hospitality
Multiple Choice and True False
When you don’t have a clue
• Statements are most
likely to be false if
none of the words are
familiar to you or if
you don’t recall
seeing the words
during your study
time.
Multiple Choice and True False
What to do when you don’t have a
clue.
• Absolute Statements
are most likely to be
false.
– Look for words that
are absolute
• All
• Always
• Everyone
• No one
• Only
• Never
True False and Multiple Choice
• The most general statements are most likely to
be true
• Example:
– The poem “The Cemetery of Whales”
• A. is not translatable
• B. Is basically a criticism of communism
• C. refers only to situations in Russia
• D. appeals only to people over 30
(The key word to identify this general statement is “basically”
True – False Questions
What to do when you don’t have a
clue
• Statements that contain reasons or
qualifying answers are usually false
– This can also be used when answering
multiple choice questions.
• Example:
– Paul did poorly on the test because he went to a movie
the night before instead of studying.
– The answer is FALSE
 Look for the words that qualify: in this case the
qualifier is BECAUSE
What to do when you don’t have a
clue
• CAUTION:
– All of these suggestions are only to be used
when you don’t know the right answer.
– GOOD LUCK!!