How to Prepare for an Exam
As there are many ways to test people on knowledge, there areequally as many ways to prepare for an exam. People are different
and thrive in different preparatory methods. We've designed
several different ways for you to ace your exams.
1. Essay Exams
Essays can be some people's favorite or least favorite type
of exam. The good part of the essay exam is that you can
truly explain your knowledge of the subject matter in many
ways. If you forgot a single word, then it will not cause you
severe loss of points (as it would in a multiple choice test).
Usually, essay exams are difficult to grade because they can
be subjective. Therefore, people with better writing skills tend
to favor these types of exams, as they know how to
structure an essay. If you need help on writing essays, please
read our section on How to Write an Essay. The tips below
will help you prepare for an essay exam.
2. Multiple Choice
Multiple-choice exams are easy for some and death for
others. Some people can sail through on them without
studying at all. Others think too hard on each question and
miss the obvious answer sitting before them. The beauty of a
multiple-choice test is that all the information you will need is
given to you. The drawback of a multiple-choice test is that
the additional information given to you is designed to confuse
you. It takes a specific mindset to excel in this type of
testing. See below for tips on how to prepare for a multiple-
choice exam. These exams are like sports; they take a lot of
practice, but you can master them. True or False questions
may also fall into this category, where you will be given a fact
and have to choose one or the other.
3. Matching
Matching exams are rather student friendly exams. They are
generally given in high school, infrequently in college, and
almost never afterwards. They come in two formats: equal
questions and answers, and trick question and answers.
When there are equal sets of facts to match up, then you will
more than likely excel. However, many tests are designed to
truly test your knowledge and will place a few extra
categories on one side of the matching plane. When this
occurs, you must rely on your factual knowledge and not
simply your ability to filter out bad answers.
4. Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the Blank exams are also more prevalent in high school
and earlier. Occasionally you will find this type of exam in
college and beyond. If so, you are lucky, for you will
increasingly wish you may have this type of exam. In this
case, you must know the factual information in order to fit it
into the sentence. However, in these tests, you can rely on
your context clues of the sentence to see what works. If you
have a general enough basis of knowledge on a subject
matter, you will more than likely fill in the correct blank. True
or False questions may also fall into this category, where you
will be given a fact and have to choose one or the other.
5. Oral Exams
Oral Exams are generally held for graduate school. In law
school, students are questioned aloud in class often, and in
order to complete a PhD, doctoral students must pass their
\"Orals.\" These oral exams, also given in college and high
school, are stressful examinations. You are sitting in front of
professors who will ask you questions on the spot. You
cannot formulate ideas in your head, test them out on paper,
and erase. You must come up with ideas and speak fluidly
and succinctly. You will have little ways out of answering
questions you don't know, aside from honesty.
Of these six basic testing procedures, we will outline different ways
to prepare, depending on your time schedule, your patience, and
of course your type.
1. Essay Exams
Ask your teacher/professor for a few practice questions
Time yourself and write a sample essay or two a couple
days ahead of time
Look over old essay questions (if available)
2. Multiple Choice
Practice practice practice
Go over several old exams to get used to the format
Memorize facts using flashcards or group questionnaires
Do not cram (for you will inevitably forget information)
3. Matching
Memorize facts using flashcards
Group question-answer studying
Try your own matching tests, test yourself
4. Fill in the Blanks
Test yourself with self-made tests
Ask your teacher for old tests and practice on those
Study with flashcards of facts
Test friends in a study group
5. Oral Exams
First outline all you plan to say on paper
Practice it aloud to yourself
Practice in front of a mirror (to see body language, hand
gestures)
Practice aloud to an audience (of family or friends)
It is important to remember that not all people test alike. You may
prefer one type of test to another solely based on your ability to
study for it. Regardless of your favorite preparatory habits, you will
inevitably be tested in all five of these formats at some point in
your life. It is highly advisable to learn how to prepare for them all.
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