how to improve test-taking skills

Published Apr 22, 2015

234 Posts

Specializes in Critical care.

I would like to know if any of you have any strategies or resources that specifically address test-taking skills. I have two friends in my nursing program in danger of failing out this semester due to low scores in Med Surg 2. Having studied with them, discussed topics with them, and generally witnessed their efforts to take in material, I don't believe a lack of studying is a problem. They both do the work and don't take shortcuts.

The problem as I see it is that they are horrible test-takers. Both of them get testing anxiety (problem number one). It goes beyond this, however, because even outside of testing environments they have trouble deciphering the "testing language" of questions and getting to the root of problems, causing them to get the wrong answers even when they generally know the information.

One of them could also use some help in reading for comprehension. Again, I have no idea how to help this, but she will literally read the same paragraph as me and come up empty-handed, whereas I will extract information and learn from it. Again, it's not something I know how to help with but I do want to help, as a friend!

Does anyone know any resources that could help them? They are in pretty desperate situations (one has to get an 85% on the final to pass and the other I'm not sure of) and I just don't know how to help them. Anyone?