|
|
|
Preparing for and Writing Standardized Tests
SOURCES OF PREPARATORY HELP
Self-Study
The majority of people prepare for their standardized tests through self study. Consider this option if one or more of the following
apply to you:
- Your current level of test-taking skills are fairly high.
- You are a self-disciplined, self-motivated student.
- Time or financial restraints preclude the option of classroom program.
A wealth of materials in many media is available to guide you in preparing for the exam. Develop a plan to organize, guide, and discipline your work.
Books
There are two kinds of books available for test preparation: official publications from the test makers and commercial preparation guides. The former are
books published by groups like American College Testing, Inc., and the College Board, the organizations that create and conduct the official exams.
Commercial preparation guides are books, like Kaplan and Peterson’s, written by independent groups and offer test-taking strategies and techniques and
practice tests. Both kinds of books are valuable. In fact, they are complementary and a good combination of official and independent books will round your
preparation scheme.
Computer Software
If you have access to a personal computer, consider using one of the many software packages available to supplement your study and practice program. By
comparison with a book, software has certain advantages. Many students who use computers daily are comfortable with the mouse, keyboard, and monitor, and
they enjoy the rapid interactivity that software offers. The relatively large capacity of a CD-ROM means that a large amount of information can be stored
in a tiny disk, which is easier to carry around than a book. When you take a sample test on your computer, it can be instantly and accurately evaluated by
the machine.
Online Sources
The Internet is quickly becoming a major source of test-preparation materials. A variety of options are available: sites that offer a few timed practice
tests for a small fee and sites which offer entire test-prep programs that provide online courses for significantly higher fees. Before registering with one
of the more expensive sites, make sure you actually need that much preparation and that you'll be dedicated enough to use it on a daily basis.
Exploring Other Options
If you feel that you will need more in-depth test prep, there are other options. Keep in mind, however, that they will be significantly more expensive
than studying on your own. Generally speaking, four kinds of coaching courses are available.
- Individual Tutoring: In this kind of course, you work one-on-one with an individual teacher, at times and places you mutually choose.
- BrainMass Online Teaching Assistance: BrainMass is a global community of graduate-level students, teachers and professionals. By offering 24/7 access to expert knowledge, BrainMass is helping students from around the world understand academic concepts across 42 fields of study. The service is committed to providing ethical and affordable assistance to students at all educational levels.
- School-Based Programs: Many high schools, colleges, and career schools now offer test-preparation courses for their students, either during the school day or at some special time. If your school offers such a course, definitely consider attending it.
- Local Commercial Courses: Local commercial courses are often offered by individuals who have worked as tutors and have subsequently expanded their businesses to include classroom courses. A local commercial course differs from individual tutoring in that it involves group study, a fixed class schedule, and a pre-arranged curriculum, usually covering all areas of the exam. Before you sign up for the class, though, check with your local Better Business Bureau as to whether any significant number of complaints have been filed against the business in recent years.
- National Commercial Courses: The national courses are big businesses operating in standardized fashion throughout the country, offering consistent and quality services. These programs, however, tend to be more expensive. Evaluate all your options and considerations before you sign up for this type of course.
Adapted from http://www.petersons.com
TIPS FOR TAKING TESTS
Above courses may or may not be enough for you to get a high score on these tests. There are no "tricks" which can be used as a substitute for hard work.
Keeping following tips in mind before and during the test will definitely help:
- Work Out a Plan: Plan how you will use your time during the exam; quickly look over the entire test and divide up your available time as appropriate to the number and type of questions that you find.
- Timing Yourself: Even though time is strictly limited on the exams, working too quickly can damage your score. If you read questions too quickly, looking only for the gist of what each is asking, you might be surprised to find that you have missed questions because you either misread the problems or overlooked subtle points.
- Order of Difficulty: Most standardized tests list problems in ascending order of difficulty. Therefore, when trying to decide which questions to skip, skip the last ones.
- Skipping and Guessing: Test takers should skip the questions that are particularly hard. Often students become obsessed with a particular problem and waste valuable time trying to solve it. To get a top score, learn to cut your losses and move on.
- Keep Track of Where You are in a Section: Obvious answer choices early in a set may be correct. Obvious choices near the end of a set are often booby traps.
- Be Careful Filling in the Answer Grid: Make sure you're filling in your answers next to the correct question numbers.
- Keep Your Cool: Take your time, don't panic, and you will do much better.
- Utilize the Spare Time: If you have any time left over, edit, check, and proofread your answers. Eliminate the errors made due to carelessness.
Adapted from http://www.kaplan.com
|
