Test-taking Strategies?

[Sammy1024]

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I feel that one of the things bringing down my score is my test taking capabilities. I feel that people who are far better test takers are able to figure out answers even if they don't have a lot of content knowledge.

I was wondering there's things that people do to help them pick the correct answer?

I'm saying that content isn't a large issue for me because whenever I do the discrete questions I get most of them write or even a 100%, so it's probably my test taking skills that are poor.

Just wondering if anyone had suggestions.

 

[DenTony11235]

Well one thing I've been really practicing is achieving complete mental meditation on the problems at hand when I'm taking practice tests.

I do this by practicing proper form. Sitting up straight, face forward into te computer, not moving a single muscle except those in my eyes, just staring at problems like I'm undead. No playing with my hair or slouching or any of that. It makes a difference, trust me. No "extra" sensory input into your brain.

 

[Sammy1024]

Has that helped your score? All my life i've heard that certain people are "better test takers" and i've always tried to accomplish that as well but i'm "not a good test taker" even though i'll know more than the "better test taker".

I'm just trying to figure out what makes someone a "better test taker" and try to incorporate it, BUT if the sensory thing has really been helpful, I will definitely try it today!

 

[nctw]

I'm just trying to figure out what makes someone a "better test taker" and try to incorporate it, BUT if the sensory thing has really been helpful, I will definitely try it today!

Yeah, this is frustrating. I think it's impossible for one to know all topics perfectly, yet some people are better at "guessing" than others. I know when I review FLs, when I miss a question, 90% of the time, the correct answer was the other option (usually narrowing them down to 2). It's really annoying, but I guess it shows I might not know the stuff as well as I'd like to.

 

[Sammy1024]

That's the worst!! Story of my life. It's like okay down to 2, which one to pick and then you miss a point because of bad guessing.

 

[ConceptUser]

I'm going to give you an example on how to think. Hopefully it helps you out.

This question was on the last exam I took. It did have a related passage but to me, the passage did not help. I answered this question with the basic information and educated guesses.

If the reaction tube described in the passage is 2 cm in diameter and an initial helium–metal mixture displays ideal gas behavior, which of the following expressions gives the number of moles of He in the tube at 1.1 torr and 298 K? (Note: R = 0.082 L atm K–1 mol–1.)
A) [(1.1)(π)(1)^2(0.98)]/[(1000)(760)(0.082)(298)]
B) [(1.1)(π)(1)(73)^2(0.98)]/[(1000)(760)(0.082)(298)]
C) [(1.1)(π)(2)^2(73)(0.98)(4.0)]/[(1000)(760)(0.082)(298)]
D) [(1.1)(π)(1)^2(73)(0.98)]/[(1000)(760)(0.082)(298)]

This is how I thought and I got it right. The question is telling me that there is something with a DIAMETER of 2cm and most of the answers are showing PI r^2 so I know the answer should include (1)^2PI....area....that removes answers C and B.

Now we have A and D left. Considering B,C,D all include the "(73)" so the answer should have "73" in it. So D was the best answer choice.

What slipped my mind was the question talked about a "reaction tube" which means we were figuring out the area of a tube and the length would of been 73 so its answer choice D.

I do this kind of thinking to the questions I can't figure out where to start.....this is a PV=nRT question but that didn't click till after I answered it. Hope it helped.

Do it with this:
Which of the following expressions gives the percent mass of hafnium (Hf) in an initial mixture of He–Hf at 0.5 torr?
A)[(0.93)(4.0)(100)]/[(0.07)(178.5) + (0.93)(4.0)]
B)[(90.07)(72)(100)]/[(0.07)(972) + (0.93)(2)]
C)[(0.07)(178.5)(100)]/[(0.07)(178.5)+(0.93)(4.0)]
D)[(0.07)(200.6)(100)]/[(0.07)(200.6) + (0.93)(4.0)]

 

[Sammy1024]

Is there something that tells me what 178.5 or 200.6 is? Just by looking at it I can eliminate A and B because they don't really have anything in common with C or D and the AAMC people would probably want to give similar answers to make it difficult.


But seeing that 178.5 in A makes me lean towards C?

 

[ConceptUser]

Is there something that tells me what 178.5 or 200.6 is? Just by looking at it I can eliminate A and B because they don't really have anything in common with C or D and the AAMC people would probably want to give similar answers to make it difficult.


But seeing that 178.5 in A makes me lean towards C?

yeah it is C. I don't recommend doing this to all your question but for the ones you don't know it is a good option rather than just guessing.

 

[Sammy1024]

I had been implementing the first half of what you did but the second half really helps. I would always be like now what, I have 2 options left! Thank you so much! :]]]

 

[csx]

couldn't follow any of this. Can anybody explain the rationale better?