The document provides tips for preparing for and taking exams, including studying using different learning modes like reading, listening, reciting, and writing. It recommends setting a study schedule, using flashcards to memorize important information, and rewarding yourself for studying. On the exam day, it suggests arriving early and relaxing before the test. During the test, it advises answering easy questions first, marking hard questions to return to, using logical strategies to eliminate incorrect answers, and being careful of trick words. It also recommends double checking answers and changing answers if unsure.

1. Preparing for an Exam Midwest Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Institute

2. Study Remember what was successful for you Break it down into smaller chunks Set a regular schedule Make some studying convenient Review – Don’t think you know it because you read it once

3. Study Use different modes of learning Read Listen Recite Write

4. Study Use different modes of learning Read Set aside time to concentrate on reading material. Have a book or short materials with you Review Ask yourself questions about what you read the last time

5. Study Use different modes of learning Listen To lectures Tapes Tape yourself reading aloud Use study groups to present to each other

6. Study Use different modes of learning Recite This is the strongest way to move information from short term to long term memory Teach others Recite topics in your own words You can do this ANYWHERE!!!

7. Study Use different modes of learning Write Like reciting, this burns material into long term memory Keep a notebook Make flashcards Make diagrams

8. Study Memorize – Especially things that will very likely be on the exam Formulas Arrhythmia definitions Sleep stage definitions Etc. Flash cards work well for this.

9. Reward yourself Pay yourself for studying Stick $1 in a jar for every hour your study each week. You get to blow it on yourself the week after the exam. Treat yourself if you’ve done your homework Get family or friends to make up rewards for you. Keep a log and track in 10 minute chunks so you’ll be motivated to take every little opportunity to review or recite

10. The Day of the Exam Psych yourself up-BE CONFIDENT!

11. In the morning: Set an alarm with enough time to get to the exam without worrying, then set it 1/2 to 3/4 hour earlier. Have the proper materials: #2 pencils with erasers (take 3) Exam admission ticket Proper Identification (signed, photo ID) A watch

12. Relax immediately before the test, perhaps with the newspaper and a cup of coffee Stay relaxed and confident. Don’t let yourself become anxious. Remind yourself that you are well prepared and are going to do well. Eat something light to give you energy and to keep your stomach from annoying you as well as others. Do:

13. Get to the exam room early enough to: Get a good seat. Blackboard is in view. Clock is in view. Lighting is okay. Distracting people are not near you. Away from the busy area of the room. (doors, aisles) Relax for a minute before starting. Practice slow, abdominal breathing. Do:

14. Talk to other students before a test; anxiety is contagious. Study the last hour before the test. Have conversations about the subject matter. (It can throw you off balance.) Don’t

15. Performance anxiety Some is a good thing Too much is distracting If you feel anxious before or during a test, take several slow, deep breaths to relax

16. How to take objective tests. General Survey the test. Read the directions carefully. Glance at all the pages How long is it? Are you missing any pages?

17. How to take objective tests. General Once the test has started, take a minute to jot down memorized formulas. At the top of the paper write the half way time.

18. Make efficient use of your time. Check periodically to see if you are keeping up. For example, when half of your time is up make sure you are half way through your test. Get through the test once by not spending too much time on any question. Do not waste time agonizing over questions that you are having trouble with. Use the x’s and ? marks strategy

19. Answer easy questions first. Because: You won’t miss any easy questions by running out of time. It builds confidence. Later questions sometimes help answer earlier hard ones. You may spontaneously remember answers to hard questions later.

20. If you find a question especially difficult, confusing or you are drawing a blank, quickly take your best guess and mark the question for return with an “X” in the margin. Answer questions that you’re somewhat sure about (but not completely sure) and mark them with a “?” in the margin. X’s and ? marks

21. Use a logical strategy Anticipate the answer before you look at the choices. Each question is a number of True-False questions in one. Cross out the letter of obviously false or implausible choices. As you’re reading the choices circle the letter of choices that seem likely to be the best. Read all choices carefully! For each question

22. Select the best choice. If two or more choices are correct, choose the most specific one. e.g., “A triangle has three sides, “is better than “a triangle has more than two sides.” For each question

23. Other pointers Do not pay attention to how many “A’s”, “B’s”, “C’s”, D’s” you have marked. Do not worry about how many of one answer you have in a row (for example, if there are 4 “B” answers in a row, don’t think “the next answer can’t be a “B”.) The questions are shuffled by computer. Don’t waste time obsessing over filling in the little circles. You’re not graded on the art.

24. Read over all of the options. (Do I think this is important?) Look over answer giveaways. By answering one question, you may be able to deduce the answer to another question. If you must guess, keep in mind the following tips for multiple choice tests: Sometimes lengthy or highly specific answers will be the correct answer. Other pointers

25. Guessing If you must guess, keep in mind the following tips for multiple choice tests: Sometimes lengthy or highly specific answers will be the correct answer. Other pointers

26. Be aware of words like, “always”, “never”, “only”, “must”, and “completely”. Underline dogmatic terms. Statements containing them are usually false because few things in the world meet the requirements of , “always”, “never”, “only”, “must”, and “completely”. These are extreme words. Cross out negatives of a double negatives. Other pointers

27. Other pointers Be careful of statements with two clauses. If the statement contains “and”, both clauses have to be true for the statement to be true. If the statement contains “or”, only one clause has to be true for the statement to be true.

28. Try not to read into the test. Sometimes people read into a question, think that some items are trick questions, or too easy. Instead of it being too easy, it may be that you studied effectively and remember the material well. Other pointers

29. Other pointers Be alert for multiple ideas or concepts within the same true/false statement. All parts of the statement must be true or the entire statement is false.

30. Be alert for grammatical inconsistencies between the question stem and the answer choices on multiple-choice questions. A choice is almost always wrong if it and the stem do not make a grammatically correct sentence. Other pointers

31. Other pointers “ All of the above” answers are often correct. If you know two of the three of options are correct, “all of the above” is a strong possibility.

32. The poplar belief is that “your first hunch is your best hunch.” This popular belief is wrong. Research has shown that changes from a wrong answer to a right answer outnumber changes that go from a right answer to a wrong answer by a margin of approximately 3 to 1. Research has also shown that changing answers improves scores! To Change or Not to Change an Answer

33. Checking your answers. Use all the time allowed. Answer sheet numbers correspond to exam question numbers. All questions are answered (there is no penalty for guessing) Never leave a question blank! All choices are clearly marked. Clean-up

34. Clean-up All “X’s” and “?’s” on the answer sheet have been checked First, work on unanswered questions with “X”. Second, rework questions with a “?”. Third, rework the rest of the questions.

35. More General Pointers Regard a lapse of memory as perfectly normal; do not let it throw you into a panic. If you block on an answering one question, leave it for a while and return to it later. Be careful not to give any impression of cheating. Do not be disturbed about other students finishing before you.

36. Use time wisely. Do not waste time agonizing over questions that you are having trouble with. Go on to the next question, then go back to the ones you skipped if there is time.