Test Taking Skills ESL Lesson
Test taking is an essential skill, not just for academic evaluations but also for many aspects of life where we face structured assessments. Effective test-taking strategies help students showcase their knowledge and skills under pressure, often significantly impacting their academic and career trajectories. This course section aims to enhance your ability to navigate various types of tests efficiently, focusing on preparation techniques, time management, and psychological readiness. By mastering these skills, you can approach exams with confidence and competence, turning testing into an opportunity to excel.
Vocabulary
- Anxiety Feeling – very nervous and uncomfortable
- Discipline – control over your behavior
- Freeze up – be unable to move or think clearly because of fear
- Material – the content information in a book or test
- Second guess yourself – have doubts about a decision that felt right the first time.
Test taking is a skill you can learn. Do you freeze up when a teacher says it’s time for a test? Do you get so nervous that you make stupid mistakes? Unlearning test anxiety takes mental discipline. Study the following steps and your test scores will go up in all subjects!
1. Do your homework and go to class. This way you will know the material and won’t have as much reason to be afraid.
2. Sleep well the night before. Review the material in the afternoon, then relax in the evening. Eat a good breakfast. You need to be strong and refreshed to do your best.
3. Come prepared with paper, pen, pencil, eraser, a watch, and book or dictionary if they are allowed.
4. Read the instructions twice. Read the questions well before you answer.
5. Breathe. When you feel yourself start to get anxious, put your pencil down on the table, out of your hand, close your eyes, and count to 10. If you think you don’t have time, remember that if you’re anxious, you can’t think well and will make stupid mistakes. Only relaxed can you do your best.
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Practice Quiz on Test Taking Skills
To consolidate your understanding of test-taking skills, a practice quiz follows this section. This quiz comprises six questions designed to evaluate your grasp of effective preparation strategies, time management during tests, and methods for overcoming anxiety. This hands-on approach will help you apply the theoretical skills you’ve learned in practical scenarios, reinforcing your test-taking abilities.
Check Your Understanding – True or False.
Check your answers below.
1. Study every day, not just before a test.
True or False
2. You should stay up late studying the night before a big test.
True or False
3. Don’t bring anything. They always have a clock on the wall.
True or False
4. Read the instructions twice before you answer.
True or False
5. When you start getting anxious, keep going. Remember, you don’t have enough time to do everything.
True or False
6. If your answer doesn’t look good on second reading, change it.
True or False
Frequently Asked Questions about Test Taking Skills
Start by understanding the format of the test (multiple choice, essay, practical, etc.) and the topics covered. Use a variety of study methods, including summarizing notes, creating mind maps, and teaching the material to someone else. Regularly review your materials rather than cramming, and make sure to get a good night’s sleep before the test.
First, read through the entire test to understand the types and distribution of questions. Manage your time by allotting more time to questions that carry higher marks or are more complex. Always make sure to answer the questions you know first, then go back to tackle the more challenging ones.
Begin by preparing well ahead of time to build confidence. Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or mindfulness meditation before and during the test. Maintain a positive attitude, focusing on doing your best rather than fearing the outcome. Also, ensure you eat well and stay hydrated.
Don’t panic. Skip the question and move on to others, then return to it later with a fresh perspective. If you still don’t know, make an educated guess, especially if the test format does not penalize guessing. Using elimination methods on multiple-choice questions can also help narrow down the options.
Yes, if time allows. Reviewing can help you catch and correct mistakes and ensure that you have answered every question. Pay particular attention to the instructions to ensure you have followed them properly and check your answers for careless errors or misread questions.
Answer Key:
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- False