General Preparation

1. Keep up with day-to-day assignments. Review each week and begin intensified review one week before each exam.



2. Make a list of definitions, principles, theories, formulas, ideas, concepts, people and dates that apply to your course, and use it to study and review.



3. Ask yourself questions you would expect the teacher to ask, and be able to answer them.



4. Know whether the test will be essay or objective (or both), and review accordingly. An objective test stresses detailed factual knowledge, while an essay test stresses organization, relationships, and applications.



5. It is a good idea to look at any tests you took earlier in the term and analyze them for your weaknesses. If you have specific questions, ask the teacher.



6. Look upon the test as a challenge that will both measure what you know and help you learn. It is worth doing the best job you can.



7. Be reasonable in your self-expectations. No one should expect a perfect paper.



8. Get a good night’s sleep, and eat as you normally would. A change in your regular routine could be upsetting.



9. Assemble everything you’ll need (pencils, books, scratch paper, etc.) the night before, and make sure you arrive for the test on time. Nothing can rattle you more than being late and missing some vital instructions. On the other hand, you may wish to avoid arriving early and getting into last-minute discussions with other students about the test. This probably won’t help you very much and may even be confusing.

1. Know your material. Review both your textbook assignments and your lecture notes regularly. Organize material so that details are arranged under major headings, and principles and relationships are easily understood.



2. Follow directions. You may be asked to do only certain parts of a test: for example A or B. Pay attention to words and phrases like either, or, choose, one or more. Be sure that the symbols you use are the ones the faculty member has asked for (A, B, C, or D for multiple-choice questions, T-F for true-false, etc.) and that you follow other directions.



3. Know the scoring formula. Some questions may be given more weight than others. Find out if this is so on your test, and concentrate on the questions worth more points. Also find out if wrong answers are deducted from right answers. If they are, you are penalized for random guessing. Guessing can be valuable if it is based on partial elimination or a very strong hunch. If you are not penalized for guessing, guess freely, and answer all questions. If there is a penalty, guess only with caution, and leave some questions blank if you can’t narrow down the choices.



4. Budget your time. Look over the test and see how long it is. Decide where you should be half way through the allotted time. If you can, do the easier parts first. This will build your confidence and you will complete the questions you are sure of. Don’t spend a great deal of time with very difficult questions at the beginning of the test. You may be more inspired when you come back to them. Leave time at the end to go back over your paper to be sure you have followed directions and haven’t left anything out. Be careful about changing answers. Your first choices or first impressions are often the correct ones.

1. Analyze each question and determine exactly what you are expected to answer. Note particularly directions such as compare, contrast, describe, illustrate. Also check whether the answer is to be short (one paragraph) or long (given in pages or number of words). Note if you are to explain someone else’s theory or give your own interpretation.



2. Take a few minutes to think about the topic. More time spent in thinking will result in a better-organized, more readable paper.



3. Make a quick outline. Jot down in list or outline form all facts, phrases, and general ideas that you can remember about the particular topic. Look over the list and sort it into major and minor points. Then number them so that all items are in logical order. Underline ideas you will want to expand in your writing. New ideas can be inserted into the framework as they occur to you. The outline should be simple and brief; it is only a guide for your writing.



4. Write from the outline. Include all pertinent information but avoid padding. Use examples when you can, trying to include ones that come from your own study or experience in addition to those that are explained in the textbook. Use major points as headings if it helps in organizing your answer.



5. Try to include an introduction, main text and conclusion, as you would in a research paper, and try to provide appropriate transitions between paragraphs of the essay.



6. Write legibly, use correct grammar, and watch your spelling and punctuation.



7. As you write, leave space between paragraphs so you can add important ideas if they occur to you later.

Students often ask their teachers if writing counts on examinations in courses such as psychology or history. Faculty differ in their responses and in how they evaluate students' writing. You can be sure that your writing and use of English count in the broadest sense. Good writing skills help you communicate what you know, whether it is on an examination or in any other situation.

Writing not only counts, but it is required. You are required to take an English writing course within your first 12 semester hours of study with UMUC. You also need this writing course before you can enroll in upper-level classes. These requirements are based on the reality that good writing skills are essential for everyone both in college work and on the job.

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