This document provides guidance on preparing for different types of test questions. It discusses multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. For each question type, it describes how the question is constructed, what the professor is looking for, how to effectively answer it, and how to study for that question. Additional tips are provided, such as asking the professor about test format, practicing with sample tests and flashcards, and using study tools like quiz-making apps and websites. The overall aim is to help students understand different test question styles and develop effective preparation strategies.

2. Objectives of the Workshop
At the end of this workshop you will:
0Know the different types of test
questions.
0Know how to answer the different
questions effectively.
0Identify different strategies for test
preparation.

3. Major types of Test Questions:
0Multiple Choice
0Short Answer
0Essay

4. Questions you should be asking:
1. How is the question constructed?
2. What is the professor looking for?
3. How do you effectively answer the
question?
4. How do you study for that question?

5. Multiple Choice Questions
1. How is the question constructed?
0 Usually there is a question with four
answer choices.
0 Two answer choices are definitely
wrong.
0 Two answer choices are close to the
answer.
0 Only one is the BEST answer.

6. Multiple Choice Questions
2. What is the professor looking for?
0 General understanding of the book
and concepts.
0 Able to see the differences between
concepts.
0 Understanding of terminology.
0 Able to apply terms to examples.

7. Multiple Choice Questions
3. How do you effectively answer the question?
0 Mark out the two wrong answers.
0 Re-read the question to determine what it is asking.
0 Be aware of negatively-worded questions
(Example: which is NOT an animal? A. bunny, B.
puppy, C. rat, D. robot)
0 Remember you are looking for the BEST answer.
0 Go with your first instinct.
0 Don’t over think the questions (easier said than
done!)
0 If you can, plug the answer choice into the question
to see if it makes sense.

8. Multiple Choice Questions
4. How do you study for that question?
0 Make sure you have a good
understanding of the concepts, terms,
and procedures in the class.
0 Know the differences and similarities
in terminology.

9. Short Answer Questions
1. How is the question constructed?
0 A single question looking for a short
response, generally over a single
concept or term..
0 Sometimes asks for definitions of
terms or steps in a process.

10. Short Answer Questions
2. What is the professor looking for?
0 A short example, explanation, or
definition. Usually not longer than a
paragraph.
0 Proof that you attended class and did
the required reading.

11. Short Answer Questions
3. How do you effectively answer the
question?
0 Create a solid paragraph:
0
0
0
0
Opening sentence that rewords the question
with a short answer.
Second sentence should explain the answer.
Third sentence should be an example
(sometimes pulled from the class).
Last sentence should wrap the answer up and
conclude your answer.

12. Short Answer Questions
4. How do you study for that question?
0 Review examples and explanations
given in class.
0 Keep track of your alternative
examples and run them by the
professor to insure they are correct.
0 Know how to use terminology
correctly in a sentence.

13. Essay Questions
1. How is the question constructed?
0 A question that usually requires you
to compare/contrast, give
examples, explain, justify, or
agree/disagree with a classroom
concept.

14. Essay Questions
2. What is the professor looking for?
0 Your ability to use terminology
correctly in a sentence.
0 Know how to
compare/contrast, explain, give
examples of, and justify classroom
concepts.
0 Your ability to move from point-topoint coherently. No rambling!

15. Essay Questions
3. How do you effectively answer the
question?
0 Use terminology!
0 Construct a 5 paragraph essay format
for clarity.

16. Essay Questions
0 Introduction Paragraph: Reword the
question, give an example, preview your
three points answering the question.
0 Body Paragraphs: Three
reasons/examples to answer the
question.
0 Conclusion: Reword the question again,
refer back to your example, and then
review your three reasons/examples.

17. Essay Questions
4. How do you study for that question?
0 Review your terminology and the
examples in class. Use as much of the
terminology as you can when
answering the question.
0 Practice answering essay questions
and have a study buddy review them.

18. Strategies for Test Preparation
1. Ask the professor for types of questions on
the test. Don’t get caught up on “how many”.
2. Practice!
0 Make yourself a practice test.
0 Practice essay questions
0 Find quizzes/assessments in your book or
in extra resource material.
0 Find internet tests over the same subject
(be careful that your internet source is
credible!)

19. Strategies for Test Preparation
3. Flash Cards!
0 Test yourself
0 Make flash cards as you move through the
material so you are studying as you go
(rather than all of your studying
happening right before the test).
0 Test with a friend and discuss answers.

20. Technology for Test Preparation:
1. Flash Card Apps:
0 Flashcards+
2. Quizlet.com (Create practice tests/flash
cards)
3. Khan Academy

21. Questions?
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