High School Study Skills
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Note Taking
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Learning from Tests
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Learning From Tests
After the Test
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Make some notes for yourself on what gave you trouble as soon as you can after completing the test.
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When the test is returned, correct all errors and learn the corrected answers.
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Keep each test, if your teacher allows, and use it to study for the semester exam.
Analyze the Test
On multiple choice tests, there are three ways of making a mistake:
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The type 1 error is a careless mistake. There are a number of ways this type of error occurs. Maybe you added instead of subtracted, you mismarked the answer as B when you meant C, or maybe you wrote the answer for number 7 on the number 8 blank.
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A type 2 error occurs when some skill or piece of knowledge is missing. This type of error is an indication that you did not study the right material, or you did not learn the information well enough. Either way, the best way to combat this error is to expand and extend your use of study cards.
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Type 3 errors occur when you choose incorrectly. This often occurs on multiple-choice tests when you have narrowed your choices down to two possibilities. It helps to be able to track the thought processes of the teacher who designed the test. Some questions are designed to be distracting, or to trick students to get off track. In the case of a type 3 error, your job is to analyze why the teacher counted one answer as correct and the other incorrect. The most direct way to do this is to ask the teacher, not necessarily to understand the answer, but to be able to predict their thought processes the next time you encounter one of their tricky questions.
Test Taking Record
Follow the instructions for completing the test taking record to record information from every test, whether you received an A or an F.
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Print the test taking record and record the name of the tested subject.
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In the second column, determine the kind of question you missed (e.g., true/false, multiple-choice, essay).
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In the third column, record the type of error you made. Types of error include careless mistakes, misunderstanding the question, not knowing the answer, overlooking the question, and any other type of error that caused the response to receive no credit.
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In the fourth column, record the solution for correcting the error. This is a crucial step in learning from the test--if you do nothing about your errors, you will continue to make the same mistakes. Record what you plan to do to keep from making the same type of error on future tests. Possible solutions include making more study cards, reviewing notes more often, taking better notes, improving attendance, completing reading assignments, being more attentive in class, allowing more time for review, practicing a certain type of question, and many others.
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There are two separate columns under grade. In the first of these columns, record the grade you received on the test. In the second column, give yourself a grade from 1 -10 on how well you followed the test-taking strategy. You may arrive at this score by dividing your test strategy into five steps and giving yourself a score of 0-2 for each one. For instance, if you previewed the test, determining the number of each type of question, you earn 2 points for that part of the strategy. If you read the instructions and followed them carefully, you earn 2 more points. If you developed and followed a schedule, you again earn 2 points. If you followed the triage method, you earn 2 more points. And if you reviewed the test. a final 2 points are possible.
CalPoly's Academic Skill Center tips on what to
do after a test
12 reasons to review a returned test from MTSU's study skills help page