Share your best test taking tips

MQ Edna · Sep 17, 2003

Let's see. Assuming we're talking multiple choice and true false, generally avoid answers that contain the words "all", "none", "never", "always". Carefully use the process of elimination to get to the correct answer. Physically strike out the incorrect answers. If the test is timed, look at the total number of questions to get an idea of how much time to spend on each one. If "all of the above" is an option, there is a good chance it's the correct answer, particularly if none of the answers contain the words I mentioned above.

I'm a good test taker. I think these strategies have helped me.

Kathy

det01 · Sep 17, 2003

Think about the question - but do not read too much into it. Remember that the Nursing Test World is a Perfect Medical World. You have time for everything, there is plenty of staff, and the pt are cooperative. (Unless otherwise stated).

NEVER NEVER NEVER ask "What if?"

Do not compare any experiences that you or anyone you know have had to the question. Your notes and your book are the answer.

Look for characteristics of the patient that are stated in the question. How old is the person? What is wrong with the patient? Does the pt have any other problems? These characteristics can help you choose the BEST answer...remember that age and othetr factors can affect what you would do.

If you are given a choice about what is most emminet....safety factors usually win. (Not always though - but most of the time)

Look at the answers. Sometimes two of them may be saying the same thing in different words. If this is not an "all of the above" question - you can pretty much immediatly rule those answers out.

In our class it is always helpful to remember that the answer should be in telegraphic style (If it is an assessment question) At least that helped me on one question today.

At least these "test taking skills" help me. We have a high grading scale and I am on the border line between an A and a B.

I hope they help you!

TeresaRN2b · Sep 17, 2003

Great tips! Thanks, keep 'em coming

Teresa

PJMommy · Sep 18, 2003

Underline key words in the question. Key words might be the patient's age, the condition, words like "except"/"always". Other important parts of the question are words like "teaching plan" versus "discharge instructions". Look for these key points in the question.

Eliminate the obvious incorrect answers. If the right answer is not immediately apparent, skip it and come back. I cannot tell you the number of times I've skipped questions, completed the test and came back to the skipped problem only to see it in a whole different light and immediately know the right answer.

Read EVERY possible answer because more than one may be correct and you want the BEST answer.

I also find that if you get multiple choice answers like:

A - apple and orange

B - banana and apple

C - mango and orange

D - apple and orange

the answer tends to be D...because it is the only answer that has both "parts" more than once in the answers (orange is a choice in two answers and apple is a choice in two answers so the correct answer tends to be both orange and apple). I think they do this because most people can remember one or the other but not both and want make sure you remember both... Does that make any sense whatsoever??? :)

angelac1978 · Sep 18, 2003

I am a fast test-taker as well. I am usually the first one done with tests and quizzes. I would maybe disagree with what your husband said that if you are the first one done, its too fast. Someone has to be the first one done! For me, I either know the question or I don't. If its multiple choice, I fly through them. Sitting and stewing over a question that haven't the foggiest clue on doesn't help me a bit. Also, if I sit and read the questions for too long, I end up over-thinking them and second guessing my first answer.

My advice if you are taking a multiple choice test: first read the question but don't look at the answers. Try and think of the answer in your head first, then look at the list of answers that are given and usually the correct answer will jump out at you. Also, remember, very good advice from my high school Spanish teacher: first thought, correct thought.

Most importantly, relax, take a deep breath, and don't over-think the questions. Good luck on your future tests!

A

Ruylupez · Sep 18, 2003

I have some things I do during tests that have really helped me.

1) After reading a multiple choice question strike out the answers that you know are incorrect. This may let you find the correct answer through the process of elimination and if not it lets you concentrate only on the ones that are most likely to be correct.

2) If possible, after finishing the test I try to go back and take it again with my answers from the first time through hidden, then I compare the results. This helps me to catch any of those "I knew that one but misread the question" mistakes.

3) Remember an unanswered question is always wrong, if your not sure take your best guess and run with it. Maybe you will get something.

4) Look for answers within the exam. Many times instructors will give information while phrasing a question. Other times they will ask similar questions at different points in an exam to see if you truly have mastered something or if you just got a lucky guess in on a multiple choice question. Because of this sometimes the information from one question will help you to answer another question in the exam. Keep a mental note of any thing your not sure of and if you see it in another question later in the exam compare the questions to see if you get a clue.

5) Relax Nothing hurts more during an exam than to let yourself get all worked up and nervous over it.

This is a lot easier to do if your actually prepared for the exam

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 18, 2003

Our tests are the fill-in-the-bubble ScanTrons, but there's about 10-15 questions that are the "name 3 kinds/symptoms of this/that". I ALWAYS do those first.

SanFranSRNA · Sep 19, 2003

Don't go back and change your answer

Always trust your first instinct...

I changed answer and got them wrong all the times

Rena RN 2003, RN · Sep 19, 2003

how to answer BEST questions:

you can almost always narrow it down to 2 possibly correct answers but which one is the BEST?

let's say you have a patient with a chest tube. let's say the tube disconnects. what would be the BEST thing to do?

a. call the unit clerk and ask what to do

b. clamp the tube

c. ignore it an it will go away

d. place the end of the tube into a container of sterile water

okay, you know a and c are out cause that would just be silly. but "b" and "d" are both possibilities. you have to look at one answer at a time. let's pretend that you pick B. if the only thing you ever did was "clamp the tube" would that be the BEST outcome. maybe. now let's look at D. if the only thing you ever did was place the tube in a container of sterile water, would that be the BEST thing to do? now, compare your 2 answers and decide which one is the best outcome. the answer would be D because even though clamping a chest tube may be needed immediately, the best outcome would be to place that tube into the water.

#2: make sure you know what you are answering.

is the question asking for an assessment? an implementation? if you are given 4 answers and 2 of them are "things to do" (implementations) or assessments, you can discard at least 2 of them by knowing what you are answering to begin with.

#3: the dreaded what would you do FIRST question.

always, always, always assess FIRST. before you ever do anything, assess the situation. so if the questions says that billy bob came into the ED with a head lac, what would you do first? let's say your answer options are:

a. give him some tylenol cause that's gotta hurt

b. numb him up, he'll feel much better

c. inspect the wound with metal tweezers to make sure there's nothing in there

d. ask about how the injury happened, what had been done at home, how billy bob feels

since the question didn't state that any assessment had been done, you can rule out "a" and "b" because those are implementations. "c" may look like an assessment but it's not the best assessment to do initially given the fact that "d" gets a brief history so that you would know what you would be looking for with those tweezers.

and most of all, relax. getting uptight before an exam will only increase BP and that's not necessarily a good thing. :chuckle