If you are going to face an exam whose material has not been studied well, you will certainly feel worried that you will not pass. Even if studying for exams ahead of time is the best strategy, you can still pass without studying. You can use a combination of various test-taking techniques, such as reading the questions carefully, answering the easy questions first, and using special strategies to answer multiple choice questions and true/false questions on exams. You also have to come to the test site in top shape, full, and relaxed!
Step
Method 1 of 5: Reading and Understanding the Exam
Step 1. Listen carefully to the teacher's instructions
Before starting to read the exam questions, look ahead (or where your teacher is standing) and listen to the instructions. Pay attention to what instructions the teacher emphasizes. He may emphasize something by repeating his words several times or making special notes on the board. You also need to take notes from the teacher's words that can help you do the exam more smoothly.
- For example, if your teacher mentions that there is no deduction for wrong answers, you will know that you have to answer all the questions on the exam paper.
- Ask if any instructions are not clear. Your teacher usually provides an opportunity to ask questions, but if he or she is silent, raise your hand!
Step 2. Read all the exam questions once before answering the questions
Reading through the questions is very important because you can see the information in the exam, start thinking about how to answer some questions, and identify questions you don't understand. Read all the exam questions once and make notes of any important things that come up.
For example, if you come across a question that is written strangely, write it down and show it to the teacher for an explanation
Step 3. Decide how much time you want to spend on each question
Depending on the duration of the work, you may not have much time. Don't waste time thinking about this. Just do a rough calculation.
- For example, if an exam has 50 multiple questions and you are given 75 minutes, you have about 1.5 minutes to work on each question.
- Make sure you provide extra time to work on the essay questions. For example, if you have 60 minutes to answer 30 multiple-choice questions and 2 essay questions, you could allocate 1 minute to answer each multiple choice question and 15 minutes to answer each essay question.
Step 4. Write down all the things you may have forgotten
Before starting to answer, you may need to write down the information needed to answer some questions as a precautionary measure so you don't forget.
For example, you can write down the necessary mathematical formulas, facts that can be included in the answers to essay questions, or the dates of some important events that you find in the multiple-choice section
Method 2 of 5: Answering Difficult Questions in the Exam
Step 1. Answer the easiest questions first and skip the rest
Start by answering a question you can answer and skip the rest of the questions. You can come back to it later. This will give you momentum and build your confidence to work on the more difficult questions on the exam. It can also increase your chances of passing by making sure you get as many points as you can.
- For example, if you know the answers to some difficult multiple-choice questions, answer them first and skip the questions you don't know.
- Return to the skipped questions when you've finished answering a question you know the answer to.
Step 2. Guess the answers to difficult questions if there is no penalty for wrong answers
If you are confused about working on a difficult question, you only need to guess the answer. However, make sure you don't get penalized if you answer incorrectly. If this happens, you should leave the question unanswered.
Penalty means that you will get a point deduction if you answer a question incorrectly. For example, if you get deducted points if you answer incorrectly, but don't get any score if you leave it blank, it's better to just leave your answer blank
Step 3. Circle the keywords in the difficult questions
If you find a question that cannot be answered, you can increase your chances of answering it by circling the keyword in it. Circle any words that seem important and see if this helps you understand and answer the question.
For example, if the question is “What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?” the keywords there are “difference”, “mitosis”, and “meiosis”. You should focus on these terms to determine how to answer the question
Step 4. Rewrite the difficult questions in your own words
If you find a question difficult to understand, try to rewrite the question in your own words. This way can provide clarity to the question, as well as the best way to answer it.
For example, if the question is “What was the greatest achievement of Louis Pasteur who is also named after him?” you could rewrite the question as “What was the most important thing that Luois Pasteur did to be named after him?”
Step 5. Review your answers and add details if you have time
When you've finished answering all the questions, you may still have some time left. If so, reread all the questions and review your answers. Focus on questions for which the answer is not necessarily correct or the answer is still lacking in detail. Add details and clarify your answer as much as possible.
Depending on the time you have available, you may need to set a review target. For example, if you still have 10 minutes, you can read all the answers on the exam paper. However, if you only have 2 minutes, choose a few questions that you really still don't know the answer to
Method 3 of 5: Doing Multiple Choice Questions
Step 1. Choose the most detailed answer
If the question is multiple choice, choose the longest and most specific answer. This answer is often the most appropriate response.
- For example, if some answers seem vague and short, but there is one long and detailed answer, that answer is usually the correct one.
- Sometimes, long and detailed answers are a trap to trick you. Use your own judgment to determine which answer is the most appropriate.
Step 2. Look for linguistic similarities between the question and the answer
The correct answer usually has the right language structure if it is combined with the question or has a language style similar to the question. Read the questions carefully, then read the answer choices to determine which sounds best.
- For example, if the question uses the past tense and there is only one answer that uses the past tense, that answer is probably the correct one.
- On the other hand, if a question has one term that is in an answer, it is probably the correct answer.
Step 3. Choose the middle number in the answer choices
If you are trying to find an answer to a numbered question, choose the number in the middle.
For example, if the answer choices are 1, 3, 12, and 26, 12 is probably the best answer because it's between 1 and 26
Step 4. Choose answer C or B if you are confused
If in doubt, choose the answer C or B in the multiple choice questions. C is the most common answer in multiple choice questions, while B is the second most common answer. Choose C if you are not sure which one to choose and choose B if the answer C seems wrong.
For example, if you come across a question that you don't know the answer to at all, choose C. However, if you think C's answer is wrong, but can't determine which one is correct, choose B
Step 5. Choose “all correct answers” if the option is available, but avoid “all wrong answers”
“All answers are wrong” is very rarely the correct answer, but “all answers are correct” is often correct. Using these rules will help you narrow down your choices when in doubt about answering a question.
For example, if you are not sure about the answer to a question and “all answers are correct” is in one of the answer options, select that answer. If “all answers are wrong” is in the answer options, you can eliminate those answers and focus on other options
Method 4 of 5: Choosing the Best Answer for True/False Questions
Step 1. Choose “false” if a statement contains an absolute qualifier
Statements containing absolute qualifiers are often wrong. Choose the “wrong” answer if you find it. Absolute qualifiers are words like:
- No
- Never
- There is not any
- Every
- All
- Always
- all
- Only
Step 2. Choose “true” for statements that do not have an extreme qualifier
If a statement has a qualifier that is not absolute and makes more sense, the statement is usually true. Non-absolute qualifiers are words like:
- Seldom
- Sometimes
- Often
- Most
- Lots
- Usually
- A number of
- A little
- Generally
- In general
Step 3. Choose “false” if some of the statements are false
The whole statement is wrong or there is only 1 wrong word or phrase does not matter. If there is an error in the statement, choose "false" as your answer.
For example, if a statement appears to be true, but one word is incorrect, the statement is likely false
Step 4. Pay attention to words that can change the meaning of a statement
A few words can change the meaning of a statement. So, it is very important to be aware of these words and see how they affect the problem. One word can change a "true" or "false" statement. Some words to watch out for are:
- So
- Because of that
- Because
- as a result
- Result
- therefore
- no/can't
- Will not
- Do not
Method 5 of 5: Improving Mental State for Exams
Step 1. Get enough sleep at night
Resting your body will increase your chances of passing the test, even if you haven't studied yet! You can think more clearly and will not make small mistakes because of fatigue. Get to bed on time last night before you face the test.
For example, if you usually go to bed at 22:00, you should be asleep by 22:00
Step 2. Make sure to have breakfast on the day of the exam
Facing an exam on an empty stomach is a bad thing because you will find it difficult to concentrate when you are hungry. Eat your breakfast in the morning to help your brain work and help you stay focused. Some great breakfast options are:
- A bowl of oatmeal with chopped fresh fruit, nuts and brown sugar
- Hard-boiled egg, 2 slices of whole wheat toast with butter, and banana
- Cheese, fruit salad and steamed sponge cake
Step 3. Use relaxation techniques to calm yourself down
Stress can cause you to sit still or panic while working on exam questions, and can affect your ability to complete them. Use relaxation techniques to calm your mind before taking the exam so you can do better on it. Some of the techniques you can try are:
- Do meditation
- Do yoga
- Take a deep breath
- Practice progressive muscle relaxation techniques
Step 4. Visualize yourself passing the exam
Positive visualizations can increase your chances of passing, as well as help overcome the anxiety that comes with doing it. Before coming to the test location, close your eyes and imagine yourself receiving test results with good grades. Spend a few minutes focusing on creating the visualization.
The more detailed visualizations you can create, the better! Focus on the test results that come to mind, your teacher's reaction, and how you feel when you receive them
Step 5. Don't use the overnight speeding system
Ideally, you should study for a few weeks or months before the exam, but this is not always easy to do. If you intended to study, but didn't make it, and now have to face an important exam, studying hard overnight probably won't help much. You are better off facing the test with the knowledge you have now.
If you don't do well on the exam, focus on studying for the next exam
Tips
- Make a study plan for the upcoming exam. This will help you divide your learning weight over the long term and get as much information as possible.
- Close the answer options and try to answer the question without looking at the options provided. This will help you narrow down your answers and prevent confusion due to the options provided.
- Look at old test questions to see patterns and see what kind of questions your teacher often asks. If you've never had a test question from the teacher, ask for a sample exam from last year.
