Post-Test Strategies
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As a quick review of the test you have just completed, let us now look at some of the
points of the exam experience. The best way to review your performance on an
exam is to consider the whole event as steps in a process.
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The first step to review is the pre-test preparation. How well did you prepare? Did
you spend some time regularly reviewing or did you leave all review until the last
minute? Did you go over your notes by using the cue words to remind you of the
details? Or did you just read over the whole notes page? Did you listen again to the
lectures or did you rely on your notes? Did you work on vocabulary building
weekly, or leave it all until the day before the test? The process of review that you
have been learning is the systematic, regular review. It is the one that guarantees the
most success.
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If you were completely prepared with the knowledge for the content of your test,
how was your physical preparation? Did you get enough sleep the night before?
Did you get some exercise every day this month? Have you been eating properly -
more fruit and vegetables and less sugar and fats? Have you had time to manage
stress and work out your emotional problems? All of these points have helped make
you either stronger or weaker and your performance on the test will show your
strength or weakness.
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The second step in the test task is to review your actions during the test. Did you
arrive a few minutes early to get settled and get your equipment organised? Did
you have everything you needed - a pen, a pencil, an eraser, and some tissue? Did
you turn off your phone, and did you place all books and papers in a safe and
distant place? Did you look at any of the other students during the test? Did your
eyes wander?
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Did you look through the whole test to be sure of what was required? Did you do
the test in order of your preference? Did you keep track of the time? Did you panic
when you didn’t understand a question? Did you make use of any of the other
questions on the test to help you with vocab or ideas?
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The third step of the test-taking process is what you do now. Today you will get
your test back. First, look at each answer you wrote and see how you could have
done better. Try to get an idea of what a perfect answer would be. See if the
professor has an answer key or if you can share answers with another student whose
answers scored higher. It is important here to note the quality of the answer, not the
number of points it got. Analyse the question, look at a good answer, compare it to
yours and see what is missing.
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The final step is the future: what are you going to do now in preparation and
planning for the next test? This is your chance to change some behaviour, to make a
better attempt and to gain a higher score on the next test. What are you going to do?