8 of 26

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

out the answer. Short answer are slightly more difficult because you either nail the answer or you don't. Essay questions allow you a little room to roam around and hope you either get enough in to answer the question, or enough to wear out the person grading it so they give you credit anyway. If you have problems with short answer, answer any essay questions first. Sometimes, the thought invested in answering those will spawn processes that help you recall the short answer.

Matching is a tough one because on a well-written test, the answers won't match one-to-one with the questions. Again, just go through the list of questions and answer any that you are sure about. Then, reverse the process. Go through the answers and match them backwards to the questions. After this, give the left overs your best guess.

Most math teachers will give partial credit for effort that looks like you at least recognized the type of problem. If you see how to answer the questions, answer them. Then, go back and double check your arithmetic. Adding 2 and 2 to get 5 happens too often to ignore. This will cost you 1 or more points that you may need for the problems you actually didn't get.

Try to define any variables that you see in the problem if it is a word problem. Put them into the correct formula if you can recall it. Then crank through to the answer. Even if you went in the wrong direction, you will likely get something above a zero for you effort. Every point counts. Never leave a problem blank unless you ran out of time before you got to it.

Learn more about this author, Allen Teal.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Test taking dos and don'ts?
We want to hear your view. Write now!