Test-taking strategies
EnglishDefinition
Test-taking strategies are techniques students use before and during exams to improve performance and manage time effectively. These include approaches for multiple-choice questions, essay prompts, time management, and reducing test anxiety.
How It Works
- Read all directions carefully before starting.
- Skim the entire test to budget your time across sections.
- Answer easier questions first to build confidence and secure points.
- For multiple choice, eliminate obviously wrong answers before guessing.
- For essay questions, spend 2-3 minutes outlining before writing.
- Review your answers if time permits, checking for careless errors.
Examples
- On a reading comprehension test, reading the questions first so you know what to look for in the passage
- Using process of elimination on a vocabulary question by ruling out answers with wrong connotations
- Underlining key words in an essay prompt like 'compare,' 'analyze,' or 'evaluate' to ensure you address the task
Study This Concept
Practice test-taking strategies with free review games in these units: