Testing Strategies, Test anxiety

[FenderNed]

I always go back over things and often change answers. I find I have so much anxiety when I start an exam that I'm not really comprehending the questions like I should.

One of my biggest anxieties is not being able to read and answer every question within the time allowed. So I go through quickly and answer them all, feel more relaxed, then go back through again. It's only on the second pass that I find I can really concentrate on the wording of the questions and finding the right answer on multiple choice.

I use a strategy similar to this. Unlike some, I never leave an answer blank. I mark it for review and if it's one that I really want to tackle later such as a complicated math question or something I know that is not coming to me, I'll use my pencil to mark the question number on the scrap paper.

Once I go back and review, I am much more relaxed and can actually think about why I chose the answer. Sometimes, while reviewing a question, I'll see something in the question and answer that don't match. To illustrate what I mean, I'll use a really silly analogy. Let's say the question is looking for "who" and I answered with something that desribes a principle. The question and answer just don't match. Once you are able to review, you can spot these inconsistencies.

As for changing my answer... I took advise from others. I never changed an answer unless I had a compelling reason to do so.

The bottom line is that everyone has a unique style that works for them. I've tried other strategies and while they are sound, they just didn't work for me. In the end, I became better at testing and was able to pass all attempted exams.