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How to Take Objective Tests

I. Write Your Name

II. Survey the Test
A. Glance at all the pages
1. How long is it?
2. Are you missing any pages?
3. What types of questions are there? (ie: multiple choice, matching, etc.)
B. At the top of the paper, write the halfway time and the halfway question number

III. Write Out Any Lists You Memorized onto the Exam Sheet

IV. Read the Directions CAREFULLY
A. Is there a penalty for guessing? (If not, answer ALL the questions)
B. Are all the questions weighted equally?
C. For multiple choice: is there one correct choice for each question?
D. For True/False: do you have to write explanations?
E. For short answer: do you have to write in complete sentences?
F. If you find the directions unclear, ASK!

V. Answer the Easy Questions First
A. Why? Because:
1. You won't mess any easy questions by running out of time
2. It builds confidence
3. Some questions answer other questions
4. You may spontaneously remember answers to hard questions later
B. Skip difficult questions and mark them with an "X" in the margin to return to them later
C. Answer questions you are unsure about and mark them with a "?" in the margin to return to them later.

VI. Answering Questions
A. Cross out both negatives of a double negative
B. Underline dogmatic terms
Note: Statements containing them are usually false because few things in the world meet the requirements of "always", "never" , etc.
C. True/False
1. If the statement contains "and", both clauses have to be true for the statement to be true.
2. If the statement contains "or", only one clause has to be true for the statement to be true.
D. Fill-in: If you blank out, write SOMETHING

E. Matching: read all the items before making any matches
F. Multiple Choice:
1. Try to recall the answers before reading the choices
2. If each item is a number of true/false questions in one
a. Cross out the letter of the obviously false choice
b. As you read the choices, circle the letter of the choices that seem likely to be the best
c. Read al the choices
3. Select the best choice; if two or more choices are correct, choose the most specific one
4. Do not pay any attention to how may of each choice you have marked

VII. Checking Your Answers
A. Use all the time allowed
B. Make sure:
1. AU questions are answered
2. AU choices are clearly marked
3. All OIX9 s" and "?'s" in the margins have been erased
4. On a computer scored answer sheet, make sure all the answer sheet numbers correspond to the exam question numbers

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