STRATEGIES WHEN TAKING THE ACTUAL

EXAMINATION

          Before we discuss the strategies when taking the actual examination, let us first discuss some things that you might do before the actual examination.

Preparing for the examination:

1. Start studying, weeks or days before the actual examination. If you are studying for a board examination, you should start months before the actual examination.

2. Do not cram or stay up late reviewing or studying. Try to get a good night's sleep.

3. Do not rush around the morning looking for things you will need. Prepare all the things that you will need on the examination (examination permit, pen or pencil) just before you go to sleep.

4. Do not use alcohol or other substances that might affect your alertness on the following day.

On the day of examination.

1. Eat a substantial meal before the examination.
2. Leave ample time to arrive to your school.
3. Wear a wristwatch that is synchronized with your school's time.
4. Expect to be a little bit nervous. Don't get overly anxious because your ability to process the question and retrieve information from your brain cells might be impaired. Anxiety can also lead you to dwell on the consequences of the examination especially possible failure, rather than focusing on the information presented to you.

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Answering questions:

1. Carefully read each question and all of the choices. Read the question twice.
2. Mentally pick out any important words, phrases or modifying adjectives.
3. Are the questions an except for or all but type of questions? Be very careful with these types of questions that ask you to identify an answer, which is not a correct choice.
4. If the stem of the question is very long, some would prefer to read the choices first in order for them to better focus on the emphasis of the exam question. Since the introduction for a question is very long, this might help because you might be spending a lot of time in rereading the question.
5. After a careful and thorough reading, try to eliminate obvious wrong choices first. Narrow down the odds and then spend some time deciding which of the remaining choices best answers the question.
6. Eliminate answers that appear to be correct but do not fit the question being asked.
7. If two choices are similar but one is more detailed, then the more detailed answer is often the best choice.
8. Rule out choices that have numerically correct answers but incorrect units.
9. Be suspicious at choices that have "always" or "never". They are rarely correct.
10. Do not look for a particular pattern of answer that would cause you to change a choice you believe to be correct. It is very stupid (sorry for the word) for an instructor to make an exam with pattern. This does not test the student's capability.
11. Do not skip or fail to answer any question.
12. What if there is only 2 minutes left and you have not yet had a chance to answer 15 questions? Do not leave the answers blank. Quickly, answer each question even if you have not read the questions. Remember that there are no penalties for guessing or incorrect answers. Who knows, you might be lucky and get a few correct answers.
13. If you finish early you may leave but it is better to spend the remaining time going over questions in which you are not sure of your response.
14. And lastly, you should PRAY. It helps to calm you before the actual examination starts.

If you have suggestions or strategies that work in taking the actual examination do share it.

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                                                                       ^{source: media.nih.gov}                          

Strategies when taking the actual examination. C O N T E N T S  Preparing for the examination.  On the day of the examination.  Answering questions.  Suggestions or Comments.