Test Taking
-- by Elizabeth Kamath, Hewitt evaluator (originally in the Hewitt High School Handbook and The Corum Deo)
Tests are a funny thing. As an educator, I think they're often a poor way to judge a person's knowledge and abilities and generally a rotten thing to do to someone. In my ideal educational world, there would be no tests. However, tests are a reality, and test-taking is a skill separate from any particular academic subject. It is a skill that many home-schoolers are lacking in because they've been fortunate enough not to have to endure an educational system which seems to add more tests every year. I've seen students write great papers, do fascinating, creative projects, then barely squeak by in tests on those same subjects.
Hewitt Tests
Hewitt has tests. We've been adding more recently (as some of you have probably noticed) but not because we believe in them as an educational tool. Rather, it's because we recognize the need for a student to be a good test-taker. It's true, some of you will never need to take another test after high-school, or at least very few. But college, the military, and many jobs have tests standing between them and you. Use this relatively benign and forgiving period in your life known as "high school" to improve your test-taking skills.
First, let me make one thing clear. ALL of our tests are closed-book EXCEPT the essay tests in the honors world history classes (i.e., Honors Ancient, Honors Medieval, Honors Renaissance/Reformation, and Honors Modern Age. The essay tests in Honors U.S. History are closed book). The reason for this is that the essay tests in those four classes cover a much broader field of knowledge than the other tests. Also, we're looking for a much greater depth in the answers. These essay tests may be taken open book, and you should restrict yourself to no more than five hours per question. If you are a special-needs student and feel you can not handle a closed-book test, please have a parent contact Bob Georgeff for special arrangements.
Now that we've cleared that up, I would like to discuss some test taking skills and strategies.
Types of tests
There are various types of tests. Most tests are either true/false, multiple choice, short answer, or essay. Some have combinations of these questions. For example, our health test is short answer; the U.S. history test is a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay; and our honors courses have essay tests.
Studying for Tests
When studying for tests understanding what items are typically on tests is a big help. History classes will often have questions on names of people and places and sometimes dates. However, it's more likely that chronology will be tested (What came after what?) than exact years. (There are exceptions to this, usually concerning very important dates like when Pearl Harbor was bombed.) You will often need to understand causes and effects of important events (What started World War I?). Lists are sometimes on tests (Name four points in the Bill of Rights. List the six steps of Bible reading.). Science tests frequently have questions concerning terminology.
Of primary importance is to get the big picture. This is especially true if you know you're going to be faced with an essay question. These will address large issues including causes and effects of wars, aspects of social or political changes, or examination of a person or group of people.
Extra Study Helps
Throughout your study during the quarter, write your own test for each chapter of the book after you finish reading it. About a week after you've read the last chapter for that quarter, take all the tests you've created. You should have spent enough time away from the book that you'll be able to tell what you really know. After you take the tests and see what you missed, you'll know what to review before taking our test. I used this technique for my neuro-psychology class and found it immensely helpful. (Jay Wile has helpfully included practice tests in his Apologia science courses.)
Make flash cards. For example, you could put the major idea on one side (the Civil War) and important facts about it on the other (dates, leaders, causes, some major battle sites).
Put as much information as possible into the papers and projects you do for the class. For example, if you're listing items for a time capsule for history, be very specific about names and dates (not just a Confederate uniform but General Stonewall Jackson's Confederate uniform with bullet holes received at Chancellorsville). This will help you learn more and won't hurt your grades.
Obviously, this advice isn't very applicable for math tests. The best advice I can give here is know the material. Really understand what you're doing in a lesson before you move on to the next.
Taking the Test
Don't let yourself get psyched out by a test. Tests are not a big deal. Having done poorly on them in the past does not mean you will always do poorly on them. Even if you end up doing poorly on this one as well, that isn't the end of the world. Keep things in perspective. If you tense up, you are less likely to perform at your best.
Learn the material, learn how to take tests, but don't let tests rattle or defeat you. Think of them as opportunities to prove what you've learned, both to yourself and your teacher.
