[Cusom28] Test-Taking Strategies & Skills

[CUSOM Academic Center for Excellence]

Class of 2028,

Thank you to all those who participated in today’s session:  Test-Taking Strategies & Skills!  While we did not record it, the slides from Dr. Hinkelman’s session are posted within CUSOM ACE Blackboard.  And, I am always happy to meet with you if you have any questions.

Also, here is a summary of some tips for ways of improving your performance on exams/quizzes (outside of preparation/refining study skills):


  1.  Get enough sleep so you can think clearly and work through difficult questions.
  2.  Do a “choosy” brain dump on your scratch paper at the beginning to help “anchor” your brain to content that it struggles to remember.
  3.  DON’T CHANGE YOUR ANSWER CHOICE!
     *   (One rare exception—is if you have an epiphany moment—that “ah ha!” and realize with 100% confidence that you are changing it from an incorrect to a correct answer—this happens rarely…at least for me 😊)
  4.  Let go of perfection—and focus on getting as many as you can.  (Spending too much time on a question you don’t know can take away time from questions you do know).
  5.  Slow down and break up challenging questions piece by piece (these are the ones with a lot of text):
     *   Read the Question (usually is the last sentence) first --> identify what is actually being asked
     *   Scan the Answer Choices --> know the general direction you are headed
     *   Then, break down the rest of the text/paragraph—taking note of any clues that are helpful. (Tip: pause at each comma “,” or period “.” in the paragraph to figure out if any information you just read helps you before moving to the next “,” or “.”.)
  6.  Use your scratch paper as needed to help your brain track more challenging questions.
  7.  Cut your losses QUICKLY.
     *   If you read a question—and your response is something to the affect of “EEEeesh!”, “I have no idea…”, etc., then eliminate any answer choices you can (if any) and randomly guess.  Choose something.  Flag the question.  And move on.
     *   If there is time at the end, you can come back to it (and working through other questions may even jog your memory.)  If there is not time, then at least you did not waste too much time.

Wishing you all the BEST,
Dr. Hinkelman

Amy Hinkelman, PhD | she/her/hers
[A button with "Hear my name" text for name playback in email signature]<https://www.name-coach.com/amy-hinkelman>
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Director of CUSOM Academic Center of Excellence
School of Osteopathic Medicine | Campbell University
Post Office Box 4280 | Buies Creek, North Carolina 27506
Levine 160| 910-814-5209 | medicine.campbell.edu
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