Motivation and Learning Strategies for College Success : A Self-management Approach

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TAKING EXAMS 261

associated with the item. The following is an example of such a ques-

tion from a psychology course:

In the lefthand column are terms associated with different psy-

chologists. For each term, choose a name from the righthand column

and place the letter identifying it on the line preceding the number of

the term. Each letter is used only once.

1. Self-actualization a. Binet


2. Mastery learning b. Bloom


3. Operant conditioning c. Gagné
   4. Assimilation d. Maslow


4. Learning hierarchy e. Piaget
   f. Skinner

The following are strategies for answering matching questions:

• Make sure you understand the directions for matching the items
  on the two lists. For example, determine whether you can use
  an answer more than once.


• First match the terms you know and cross them off the list
  before considering other terms on the list.


• Work from one side only. Crossing off items in both columns
  can be confusing.


• Eliminate any items on the answer list that clearly are not
  related to any of the terms.


• Draw a line through all terms that you have matched so you
  do not use any term more than once.

Strategies for Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

A completion, or fill-in-the-blank, item confronts students with a

statement for which they must supply the missing word or phrase.

This type of item emphasizes recall of previously learned material

rather than recognition. An example of this type of item follows:

The Civil War began in.

The following are strategies for responding to fill-in-the-blank test

items:

• Read the questions carefully and look for clue words (e.g., as,
  an, the, and, these), especially just before the blanks. Make your
  response grammatically correct.


• Be sure the answer makes sense.


• Do not leave any blanks. If you cannot think of the exact word,
  write a synonym for the word or phrase. You might receive
  partial credit for your response.