| You are about to find out the major reason why | | | | Don't rely on impulse. If you see a question or an |
| some people are very good test takers and why | | | | answer that instantly looks correct, be careful. |
| their test scores consistently exceed their actual | | | | Don't react to your first impression. Read and |
| knowledge of the test subject -- superior test | | | | think through each question and answer. Many |
| takers reason out the answers to difficult | | | | times test makers will set traps by putting in |
| questions. | | | | familiar sounding answers that are incorrect. This |
| Good test takers don't give up on questions when | | | | will catch people off guard who are in a hurry and |
| they don't know the answers. They look for clues | | | | jump to conclusions. |
| in the questions that lead them to probable | | | | Evaluate your answer by asking yourself if the |
| answers. They use a systematic technique called | | | | answer completely addresses the question. Don't |
| educated guessing. That's right educated guessing. | | | | let the examiner trick you into choosing the right |
| They don't throw mud on the wall to see what | | | | answer to a wrong question. |
| sticks. There is no shot in the dark guessing. I'm | | | | 4. Don't panic because the right answer doesn't |
| talking about a systematic technique for guessing | | | | jump out at you. |
| -- a formula for weeding out the bad answers | | | | The right answer is probably camouflaged by |
| and coming up with the probable right answer. | | | | words that are different than the ones you have |
| Let me set one thing straight, good test takers | | | | in mind. They also may be different than the ones |
| do study the material as hard or harder than | | | | in the study material. You expect certain words |
| everyone else. However, what makes them excel | | | | and phrases in the correct answer but the |
| is their ability to reason out correct answers | | | | examiner throws you a curve by rewording the |
| when they don't know the answers to the | | | | answer -- a situation that often causes test panic. |
| questions. | | | | Look for the correct answer by: |
| When confronted with difficult questions, search | | | | Rearranging the words in the answers, or |
| for test taker clues, then use these educated | | | | Putting the answers into your own words. |
| guessing techniques. | | | | 5. Use common sense and general knowledge. |
| 1. Ask yourself: | | | | Use common sense by keeping an open mind |
| What exactly is the question asking? | | | | when attacking the questions. Look at the |
| What are the key words and phrases that will | | | | question from different angles. Rely on your |
| lead me to the correct answer? | | | | problem solving ability. Treat each question as a |
| What problems need to be solved? | | | | new problem that you must solve. |
| Can I break the questions down into segments | | | | 6. Don't search for hidden meanings. |
| and make it easier to answer? | | | | Searching for hidden meanings by trying to read |
| 2. Reword the question to make it easier to | | | | between the lines will get you into trouble. In |
| understand. | | | | most cases test makers don't intend to play cat |
| Paint a picture in your mind. Exchange abstract | | | | and mouse games with you. Their intent is to see |
| words with concrete words. For instance, you | | | | if you know your stuff. |
| may want to substitute the concrete word, | | | | Making an educated guess. |
| powder, for the abstract word, talc. Why | | | | When you don't know an answer, always guess. |
| powder? Concrete words like powder can be | | | | Never leave questions unanswered unless you are |
| easily visualized. Abstract words like talc are | | | | penalized for wrong answers. If there's no |
| harder to paint in a mental picture and therefore | | | | penalty, always guess. On a multiple choice |
| more difficult to deal with. This technique makes | | | | question that provides four possible answers, you |
| the information easier to picture in your mind and | | | | have a 25 percent chance of guessing the correct |
| helps to jog your memory. | | | | answer even with a completely wild guess. This |
| 3. Think about each question and answer. | | | | beats zero percent when you don't answer at all. |