Keys to Effective Learning

Seventh Edition

Chapter 10
Test Taking I: Test
Preparation and Objective
Tests

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Habit for Success

• Risk
– Taking calculated risks allows you to test your limits
and take action. With the risk of every test comes the
opportunity to extend your knowledge and skill.

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• Connect this story to your life: It is human, and
common, to hang back in a “comfort zone” and avoid
taking risks. However, productive risk-taking can extend
your knowledge, your reach, and your skills in a way that
increases your ability to achieve your most valued goals.
Identify one risk you are in a position to take. How might
this risk extend you in a way that benefits you— and
maybe others around you? Plan out how you would take
this risk. Give it a try to see what happens.

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How Can Preparation Improve Test Performance?

GOAL OF A TEST:
TO SEE WHAT
YOU KNOW

If you are doing

Because you are the day-to-day
learning work of learning…

…attending class,
participating, doing
Then you are assignments…
preparing for
tests...

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Gather Information About the Test

Questions: What
Logistics: What
type and how
day and time?
many?

Test Type

Supplemental
Value: How much
Information: What
of final grade?
tools can you use?

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Determine What You Are Expected to Know

Course Review
Syllabus
Materials Sessions

Instructor Former
Old Tests
Comments Students

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What Materials to Study

Need to Sort
Prioritize
Know for Through
Materials
Test Materials

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Use Time Management Strategies

Consider material to
study, days available,
times that work

Schedule
study
sessions

Note
sessions in
your planner

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Use Goal-Setting Strategies

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Time Bound

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Use Study Strategies

Memory
SQ3R Techniques

Critical Master Note

Thinking Sets

Study Favorite
Learning Study
Preferences Strategies Strategies

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If You Must Cram…

Focus on Create Last-

Crucial Minute
Concepts Study Sheet

Arrive Early
to Review

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Prepare for Finals

Put exam
Know what to
dates in
study
planner

Plan out time Adjust non-

during reading school
period responsibilities
Final
Exams

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How Can You Work Through Test Anxiety?

Lack of
Preparation
Test Anxiety
Sources
Dislike of
Testing

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Coping with Test Anxiety

Reconceive
the failure
you think you
face

Build a Clearly define

realistic, a specific
positive, and goal for this
productive test
attitude

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Build a Positive Attitude

Know tests Take care of

don’t measure yourself
personal value

Seek positive
study See tests as
partners opportunities
to learn

Ways to
Get help think Keep goals
in mind
positive

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Address Anxiety at Test Time

Manage Environment

Use Positive Self Talk

Write Down Feelings

Practice Relaxation

Bring a Special Object

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What General Strategies Promote Test Success?

• Be sure to…
Choose the Right Seat Write Down Key Facts

Start with Big Picture Read Directions

Mark Up Questions Be Precise

Work from Easy to Hard Watch the Clock

Strategically Approach Difficult Use Specific Techniques for Math

Questions Tests

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Maintain Academic Integrity

Failing

Academic

Expulsion
Consequences
of Cheating

Impaired ability
Professional
to be hired

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How Can You Master Objective Test Questions?

• Objective questions require you to choose or write a

short answer, often making a selection from a limited
number of choices

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Objective Test Question Types

Multiple True or
Choice False

Fill in the
Matching
Blank

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How Can You Learn from Test Mistakes?

Rework Fill in
Ask Global Incorrect Knowledge
Questions
Questions Gaps

Rethink
Don’t Throw Study Talk to
Away Test Instructor
Strategies

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Habit in Action

• Albert Gonzales,
National Society of
Hispanic MBAs
– How did Albert risk
and extend?
– How can you?

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How Can You Solve Problems and Make
Decisions Effectively?
• Follow the path…

Analyze Generate Choose Evaluate

Identify a Put it into
the possible a its
situation action
situation solutions solution success

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Solving Problems

Generate
Use probing possible
Analyze
questions to solutions based
carefully on causes, not
define problems
effects

Consider how Evaluate your

possible solution and act
solutions affect on it in the
you and others future

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Making Decisions

Look at the Think about

given options— how your
then try to think decision affects
of more others

Look at the
Gather
long-term
perspectives
effects

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Plan for Solving Problems and Making
Decisions

Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:

Define Analyze Create

Step 4: Step 5: Step 6:

Evaluate Take Action Reevaluate

Step 7:
Take Action
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 Six thinking hats
• A car manufacturer has been
approached by a company offering a
new incentive programme for its
employees, they promise that the
programme will improve employee
engagement levels – should they
invest in the programme?

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• White Hat - The White hat is used at the beginning and end of a session.
Used at the beginning to concentrate on the facts or data available. Used
at the end of a session to question ideas derived from using the other hats.

• Green Hat - The green hat is used to encourage new and innovative
ideas. Thinking outside the box where anything should be considered. No
negative thinking or comment is allowed at this stage in the process.

• Yellow Hat - The yellow hat is the optimistic hat, used to consider the
possible merits of ideas which may have been generated by the green hat
process.

• Red Hat -This is the intuitive hat where feelings and emotions can be
expressed, such as fears and dislikes. These feelings do not need to be
justified they just identify gut feelings.

• Black Hat - The black hat is the negative but logical hat as it looks at
possible solutions or ideas to determine if they may or may not work.
Negativity without reason must be avoided as this is a red hat function.

• Blue Hat - The blue hat is metaphorically worn by the individual chairing a
meeting, controlling a team, or managing a situation. They will often
provide the ground rules in the form of an agenda, goals and scope

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Copyright

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