How easy would a test or exam be if you already knew the questions? Yes I know it would be even easier if you knew the answers but if you know the questions you should know the answers shouldn't you?
A really effective way to prepare for your tests and exams is to become a test psychic and start predicting (with great accuracy) what the questions will be! A simple enough idea - but you're probably thinking it would be pretty hard to execute right? Well, the answer is actually yes and no. Let's take a look at the strategy of test question prediction.
Part 1 - Focus On What Is Important
First of all, you need to actually focus in on what you believe will be the most important information to know for the test. There will be several sources of information that will be used to create test questions (obviously the questions won't be made up from thin air - or so you'll be hoping!).
Your mission is to identify which sources will be more likely than others to be on the test. Here are some very likely sources:
1. Sections and chapters from your textbook that your teacher has covered in detail in class - we'd suggest ignoring anything you really just skimmed over in class.
2. Any handouts/worksheets/homework assignments that your teacher provides to you that does not form part of the textbook.
3. Any questions that your teacher asks the class to answer or raises in class to be individually answered could be a good indicator of a likely test question. Why would you waste precious class time on subjects the teacher knows aren't important? The answer is that you wouldn't - so pay attention.
Part 2 - Become Best Friends Forever With The Teacher (Not Literally)
Try to develop some sort of working relationship with the teacher if you can - they are here to help you remember?
1. Go straight to the best source of all - the teacher. See if you can find out what material is going to be covered on the test by asking the teacher leading questions about what you are studying. "I am focusing on Chapter 12 - that's a really important chapter isn't it?" See what you can find out (no need to be sneaky you're just doing an investigation here). This should help you narrow the field of potential questions.
2. Ask the teacher what format the questions will be in. True/false? Multiple choice? Short answer? Long answer essay style? Combination mix up? Obviously, the way in which a test is structured will impact on the way you study for it and what you need to have down pat. If it's long answer, you need to be ready to write like a maniac. If you know its multiple choice you need to know lots of stacks of facts. Simple really!
3. Ask the teacher for previous test or exam papers or source these for yourselves. If you can get hold of previous tests that your actual teacher has given to previous classes before, it may give you many clues as to the probable structure and difficulty of the upcoming tests you will be receiving.
Part 3 - Your Review Habits
1. Create a specific area in your workbook or have a set of notes that you use for listing possible test and exam questions. Every time you hear or see something that you believe may be on the next assessment simply jot it down. This means that you will have created a list of thoughts and ideas that you will be able to easily look over at a later time - often this will contain topics you had forgotten about!
2. Highlight or underline (in pencil if needs be) information in your textbooks that you are pretty almost fairly 100% certain will be tested later. That way, when you skim through your textbook at a later time the most important information has already been identified. This should be done in addition to a mind mapping strategy.
3. Create a study group. This means getting together with a group of buddies (or even people who you think will be able to help you with your study i.e. possibly not your friends!) and brainstorm together possible questions and answers to future tests and exams. Two heads are always better than one. Three are better than two, four are better than three - and so on. The point is, as a study group you will be able to study for more information that one person can alone. So, you may like to all create your own mind maps, notes and questions and answers and then share them with each other (possibly by photocopying the work). This will put you well ahead of those people who do not create study groups and is a very powerful way to quickly become a test psychic.
By putting these simple yet very effective strategies into place you will be surprised at your ability to very quickly and easily become a test psychic - and predict what is going to be on your tests and exams. So, what are you waiting for?
A really effective way to prepare for your tests and exams is to become a test psychic and start predicting (with great accuracy) what the questions will be! A simple enough idea - but you're probably thinking it would be pretty hard to execute right? Well, the answer is actually yes and no. Let's take a look at the strategy of test question prediction.
Part 1 - Focus On What Is Important
First of all, you need to actually focus in on what you believe will be the most important information to know for the test. There will be several sources of information that will be used to create test questions (obviously the questions won't be made up from thin air - or so you'll be hoping!).
Your mission is to identify which sources will be more likely than others to be on the test. Here are some very likely sources:
1. Sections and chapters from your textbook that your teacher has covered in detail in class - we'd suggest ignoring anything you really just skimmed over in class.
2. Any handouts/worksheets/homework assignments that your teacher provides to you that does not form part of the textbook.
3. Any questions that your teacher asks the class to answer or raises in class to be individually answered could be a good indicator of a likely test question. Why would you waste precious class time on subjects the teacher knows aren't important? The answer is that you wouldn't - so pay attention.
Part 2 - Become Best Friends Forever With The Teacher (Not Literally)
Try to develop some sort of working relationship with the teacher if you can - they are here to help you remember?
1. Go straight to the best source of all - the teacher. See if you can find out what material is going to be covered on the test by asking the teacher leading questions about what you are studying. "I am focusing on Chapter 12 - that's a really important chapter isn't it?" See what you can find out (no need to be sneaky you're just doing an investigation here). This should help you narrow the field of potential questions.
2. Ask the teacher what format the questions will be in. True/false? Multiple choice? Short answer? Long answer essay style? Combination mix up? Obviously, the way in which a test is structured will impact on the way you study for it and what you need to have down pat. If it's long answer, you need to be ready to write like a maniac. If you know its multiple choice you need to know lots of stacks of facts. Simple really!
3. Ask the teacher for previous test or exam papers or source these for yourselves. If you can get hold of previous tests that your actual teacher has given to previous classes before, it may give you many clues as to the probable structure and difficulty of the upcoming tests you will be receiving.
Part 3 - Your Review Habits
1. Create a specific area in your workbook or have a set of notes that you use for listing possible test and exam questions. Every time you hear or see something that you believe may be on the next assessment simply jot it down. This means that you will have created a list of thoughts and ideas that you will be able to easily look over at a later time - often this will contain topics you had forgotten about!
2. Highlight or underline (in pencil if needs be) information in your textbooks that you are pretty almost fairly 100% certain will be tested later. That way, when you skim through your textbook at a later time the most important information has already been identified. This should be done in addition to a mind mapping strategy.
3. Create a study group. This means getting together with a group of buddies (or even people who you think will be able to help you with your study i.e. possibly not your friends!) and brainstorm together possible questions and answers to future tests and exams. Two heads are always better than one. Three are better than two, four are better than three - and so on. The point is, as a study group you will be able to study for more information that one person can alone. So, you may like to all create your own mind maps, notes and questions and answers and then share them with each other (possibly by photocopying the work). This will put you well ahead of those people who do not create study groups and is a very powerful way to quickly become a test psychic.
By putting these simple yet very effective strategies into place you will be surprised at your ability to very quickly and easily become a test psychic - and predict what is going to be on your tests and exams. So, what are you waiting for?
About the Author:
HelpMeToStudy.org is the premier online resource for learning new study skills, changing your study habits and discovering the best study tips available. We will help you change the way you think about study - and even better - we will show you how to study effectively: How To Study Effectively | Studying Tips
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