Helpful Hints!
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“I didn’t pay attention to detail.”
“I made a lot of small/silly mistakes which added up.”
“I didn’t show all of my work.”
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“I missed a day of notes”
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“I was tired and wasn’t paying attention”
“I didn’t read the question fully.”
“I didn’t pay attention to what the question was asking.”
“I didn’t really check over the objective sheet.”
“I should have finished the study guide and looked over it.”
“I should have studied more/earlier”
“I didn’t go back and read the hints I wrote down in my notes.”
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“I’m pretty sure I didn’t write down everything Ms. Mercer told us to, which was definitely a mistake.”
“I need to write down more of the things Ms. Mercer says in class so I can look back in my notes to remember.”
“When Ms. Mercer mentions something in the middle of class, stop what you’re doing and write it down.”
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Make sure you read all of the directions and follow them!
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Practice showing work, rounding to the correct sig.figs, and writing units whenever doing a math problem.
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When studying, make sure to go back and practice the math problems. Look over and re-work some of the math worksheets/homework.
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When absent make sure you, not only get a copy of the notes but, have someone explain them to you so you understand what’s written.
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Walk around before the test or have a piece of fruit/ juice to make sure you’re awake and ready to go.
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Read the question twice before answering it; this makes sure you understand what it’s asking for and makes sure you don’t miss any details.
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Highlight (or circle) keywords.
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Start studying throughout the unit! Don’t wait until the last few days and try to cram in all of the information.
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Start the study guide the day you get it and complete small sections at a time before the test.
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Read over the objective sheet a few days (at least 3) in advance and make sure you can check off that you understand how to do each one.
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When going over your notes, read them out loud to help you memorize them. Make flashcards when possible.
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Re-write notes or make a poster to help review the material.
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Study with a partner or group and set-up a study schedule.
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Make sure notes contain enough detail but don’t overwhelm yourself! Spread notes out and make sure you label them with headings for each topic.
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Even in your notes, show all of your work! Use units and sig.figs in your notes. This helps you practice and get into the habit so you give enough detail/show enough work on the test.
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When making up the notes, make sure you get a copy of the notes from a reliable source. Also, after you write the notes down, ask Ms. Mercer to check that you have all of the information.
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Highlight or color code key points in your notes.
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Draw diagrams to help with concepts (when possible).
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Write notes in your own words so you can understand them when you go back to study!
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When the teacher says something, make sure you write it down! I suggest writing the key points on your objective sheet. This way they won’t get lost in your notes and you will have all of the key points on one sheet to study.
What went Wrong Studying/Test-taking Strategies Note-Taking Tips
When Taking the Test 5 Time-Management Tips to Improve Your Test-Taking Skills
Helpful Hints from Ms. Mercer
According to the American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Make sure you read all of the directions and follow them!
Highlight (or circle) key words
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Read the question twice before answering it; this makes sure you understand what it’s asking for and makes sure you don’t miss any details.
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Keep track of the time: Skip around the test! Do the questions you know for certain, then go back and work on the harder problems.
The clock will be your toughest opponent on test day. Here are some ways to beat the clock without beating yourself up:
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Plan Ahead
Knowing is half the battle. Practicing will help you feel more comfortable with the test format and gauge how long each section will take. If you find that you’re not finishing fast enough, identify and spend extra time studying for the sections that are slowing you down.
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Flip Through the Exam
On the day of, start by skimming through the exam to determine the general difficulty level of each section, spot any potential problem areas, and adjust your time-management strategy accordingly.
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Read Questions Critically
Slowing down when reading the questions may seem counterintuitive, but fully processing the question initially will help you in the long run. You’ll save time by avoiding constantly returning to the question to re-read, and possibly score higher by avoiding the misunderstandings that come out of rushing.
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Work on the Easy Questions First If you’re stumped, move on.
Taking a break from difficult questions may improve your chances of answering them correctly. Your subconscious will do the heavy lifting while you build your test-taking confidence by answering questions you can breeze through.