Scott Bruckner from the 90H department presents practical test-taking strategies for college students, specifically targeting multiple-choice exams. The workshop emphasizes the importance of pre-test planning, including a quick test preview and calculating time per question, to optimize pacing and reduce anxiety. The core methodology, termed the "Not Multiple Choice" or "Two-Handed" method, instructs students to cover answer choices and recall the answer independently before revealing the options. This technique aims to prevent manipulation by distractors and foster genuine recall. Bruckner advocates for a strategic approach of tackling easy questions first, allowing the brain a "mental warm-up" period, and returning to more challenging questions later. This iterative process, likened to a computer's background processing or an "old car" warming up, helps build confidence and often makes previously difficult questions more accessible. The strategies also cover how to approach "all of the above" and "except" questions, and stress the critical importance of accurate scantron bubbling. Ultimately, these methods are designed to help students, especially slower test-takers, maximize their scores by maintaining composure, improving focus, and efficiently navigating the exam under pressure.
Summarizing Test-Taking Strategies for College Exams
0:00 Introduction to Test-Taking Workshops: Scott Bruckner of the 90H department introduces upcoming workshops designed to help students improve as learners and test-takers.
0:08 Focus on Multiple-Choice Finals: The workshop specifically addresses strategies for college finals with multiple-choice questions, noting this is the most common test format in higher education.
0:21 Strategies for Studied Material: The presenter emphasizes that these strategies are for students who have already studied, aiming to help them effectively transfer their knowledge onto the test and start strong.
0:33 Quick Test Preview: Before beginning, students should take a few seconds to preview the entire test, noting the number of questions, total time, and different sections or question types (e.g., multiple-choice, true/false, matching).
0:50 Calculate Time Per Question: Divide the total test time by the number of questions (e.g., 60 minutes / 50 questions = 1.2 minutes per question) and note the halfway point for time and questions. This calculation helps students, especially slower test-takers, manage their pace and avoid rushing.
1:11 The "Not Multiple Choice" Method: This core strategy involves using your non-writing hand to cover the answer choices, reading the question, and trying to recall the answer from memory before looking at the options. This method has been shown to improve grades.
1:30 Four Possible Outcomes: When using this method, there are four results:
Easy: The answer comes to mind instantly and is present in the choices.
Bad: The answer comes to mind but is not listed as an option.
Challenging: You know you've seen the information but can't recall the specific answer immediately.
Impossible: You read the question and have no prior knowledge or idea of the answer.
2:11 Start with Strengths to Build Confidence: It's recommended to start with the easiest questions (where the answer pops right into mind) to build confidence and momentum, rather than starting at question one.
2:10 Brain as a Computer - Benefits of Skipping: Skipping challenging questions allows the brain to process information in the background, similar to recalling a forgotten name later. This "mental warm-up" often makes skipped questions seem easier when revisited.
2:41 Why Cover Choices (Avoid Distractors): Covering choices prevents "distractors" (incorrect but plausible answers) from confusing the student. By recalling the answer first, students avoid being misled by tricky options designed to resemble the correct answer.
For "all of the above" or "both A & B," if your initial recall matches one option, check if other options could also be correct before selecting.
For "except" questions, read the choices first to identify what is true, then eliminate to find the one that doesn't belong.
3:45 Critical Scantron Accuracy: Emphasizes the importance of carefully aligning question numbers on the test booklet with the scantron sheet, especially when skipping questions, to prevent mis-bubbling.
3:48 Overcoming a Slow Start - Personal Anecdote: The speaker shares an experience where he answered only 1 out of the first 11 questions on a test but ultimately scored 96% by applying these strategies. This illustrates that a slow start is normal and doesn't predict overall failure; the brain sometimes needs time to "kick into gear."
4:14 Reduce Anxiety, Maximize Points: The overarching goal of these strategies is to help students remain relaxed, prevent panic, and systematically work through the test to secure as many points as possible, ensuring easy marks are not lost.