Alexis Burling - Strengthening Test Preparation Skills

Taking tests is tough. But dont let anxiety ruin your concentration or lower your score. Put your best foot forward by paying attention in class and starting your study routine early at home.

Other theories presented in this resource might appear unrelated but could be a springboard to a whole new approach to academics. You might ask yourself: Does it really matter that Im listening to music while studying? Does an average of eight hours of sleep and a well-balanced diet actually impact test performance? (Hint: In both cases, yes.)

Above all, the goal of this resource is to help you raise your test scoresand boost your confidence along the way. Not every suggestion will apply to your specific situation. But with step-by-step instructions and tips on everything from effective time management to learning how to bounce back after failure, the following chapters aim to provide you with the practical tools you need to become your best self at school.

Plus, solid SAT or ACT scores and good grades on your high school transcript can help you get into the technical school or college of your choice. For those of you who are interested in heading straight into the workforce, the easy-to-digest strategies discussed in this resource will also help you thrive on the job. Learning how to prepare for testsor any situation in which you might be asked to demonstrate your knowledge on a subject or ideais a key stop on the journey toward success.

CHAPTER

ONE

Know Thyself

I magine you are prepping for an exam with multiple-choice questions and an essay. Aside from a few sick days, you have gone to class. You have read and taken notes on the material and lectures. You have done the homework. Now its crunch time. Consider the following five statements:

Theres too much information to review. I dont know where to start.

Ive put in some time studying, but it doesnt matter. No matter how hard I try, I always do poorly.

I took notes but dont understand what I wrote down and am too afraid to ask for help.

I did the work but my memory is terrible. What subject is this test on again?

I think Ill ace the multiple-choice section. But the writing portion? Forget it. Its hard to string thoughts together and my essays usually read like gobbledygook.

Do any of these sound familiar? If so, youre not alone. Many students are not at their best going into a test. Some arent confident in their abilities. For others, the trouble starts earlierby not developing productive listening habits in class. But just because you might identify with one or more of the above statements does not mean youre a lost cause. All it takes is figuring out what your optimal learning style is. Then you can use that knowledge to your advantage when getting ready for an exam.

WHATS MY LEARNING STYLE?

There are many philosophies about how people take in, understand, and retain information. After all, every person learns differently. But one of the most widely accepted theories was developed in 1987 by a university professor in New Zealand named Neil Fleming. In a research paper entitled Not Another Inventory, Rather a Catalyst for Reflection, he described a new way of learning called VARK, which changed the way educators approached teaching.

According to Fleming, VARK consists of four key learning styles: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. Lets define these one at a time:

Visual learners use tools such as maps, graphs, charts, and images to help them comprehend and remember new information.

Auditory learners take in information best when theyre listening to lectures and audio recordings or participating in group discussions.

Professor Neil Flemings research suggests that visual and reading/writing learners process information best when it is clearly written down, something they can see with their own eyes.

Reading/Writing learners most enjoy anything having to do with words, whether its reading a textbook or taking notes.

Kinesthetic learners are all action. They might try to understand how something works by taking it apart and putting it back together.

FRAMING YOUR MIND

When it comes to teaching, there are many opinions about whether the concept of learning styles holds any merit. Some education experts, like biology professor Tanya Noel, claim there isnt enough proof that the theory works. There is ample evidence that teaching toward preferred learning styles does not seem to actually help people learn, Noel posted on her blog, The Nucleoid. Many teachers/professors and students waste time and energy on this, efforts they could be directing elsewhere.