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Home > My School Work > Studying > How should I study for different formats of tests?

How should I study for different formats of tests?

If you have a test coming up, remember that there are studying techniques that can help you get the most out of your study sessions. Your professor or TA can tell you about the type of questions you should be expecting on your test.

Click on the types of questions below to see related tips to help you study.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

One question and only one correct answer.

  • Do not rely solely on memorization. Actively engage in the material by making connections between course concepts.
  • Pay attention to the details, relationships and differences between concepts.
  • Using practice questions, cover up the answers and try answering the questions on your own
LONG ANSWER/ESSAY

Analyze or solve a question or statement (four or more paragraphs).

  • Understand all the course content and how different concepts connect to each other.
  • Try explaining the concepts to someone else to make sure that you understand the connections.
  • Practice writing long answer questions.
  • Visit the Centre for Learning Strategy Support or a writing centre to learn to write better.
  • Practice creating thesis statements and essay structures.
TRUE/FALSE

Verify if statement is true or false.

  • Study all the course sections instead of focusing on a few sections.
  • Do not rely solely on memorization, actively engage in the material by making connections between course concepts.
  • Pay attention to the details, relationships and differences between concepts.
  • Using practice questions, cover up the answers and try answering the questions on your own
SHORT ANSWER

Written answer or analysis (one to two paragraphs).

  • Study all the course content in a way that you understand the connections between different principles and theories.
  • Focus on the why and how.
  • Use practice tests to practice answering short answer questions.
  • Time yourself to make sure you can answer the question in the time you will be allotted during the test.
  • Practice creating thesis statements and outlines for short answers.
PROBLEM-SOLVING/COMPUTATIONAL

Solve a problem or perform calculations.

  • Study out of sequence.
  • Use practice tests to practice solving the problems in full.
  • Do not memorize solutions. Instead, learn the strategy behind the solution and practice it using different problems.
TAKE HOME

Take the test to work on at home over a defined time period. Take-home tests are more in depth than in-class tests and may include long and short answer questions.

  • Study all the assigned course materials and familiarize yourself with the key themes.
  • Make note of major themes, concepts and examples as you may have to refer to them later.
  • Familiarize yourself with where definitions and other important information is located so you can find it easily for the test.
  • Practice creating thesis statements and essay outlines.

General Tips to Study for Tests

  • Start studying well in advance of your test date.
  • Do practice tests to see how comfortable you are with the test materials. You can find past tests and exams at ASSU and the Library.
  • Test yourself after studying each chapter, module or section.
  • Use visual aids like flashcards to help you memorize content.
  • Discuss challenging sections with your classmates and study together if possible.
  • Consider registering for the Starting Point program. This program will connect you with workshops to improve your studying skills.

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Check out these links for more tips on studying for tests and exams:

  • Exam Preparation Guide
  • Test and Exam Preparation
  • Studying, Concentration and Memory

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