exam_strategies

Objectives:

Through working through this module, you should be able to:

• Define your current approach to taking exams.
• Recognize strenghts and weaknesses in your current approach.
• Define new strategic skills that you can apply to your current approach.

Introduction:

Medical school exams can be stressful events. Arming yourself with strategic tools to assist you as you complete these exams can help lessen stress and allow you to progress through an exam with your mind clear to focus on the questions in front of you rather than focussing on other distractors.

Before you begin working through the materials, please take a moment to complete the pre-tests on the next page. These self-assessments will help you identify your current approach to taking exams and will indicate areas in which you may want to focus on seeking out new strategies. On the final page of this module, you will have the option to email your scores to the Teaching and Learning Center. This will initiate a follow-up appointment to discuss your results and potential strategies.

Systematic Approach to Taking a Test:

 Pacing Self Assessment:

Test Anxiety Self Assessment:

Concentration Self Assessment:

 Computer Based Testing Self-Assessment:

Systematic Approach

 You can make the most of your test-taking experience if you take time before exams to plan a systematic response to the test. By moving methodically through the test, you will be more focused and efficient. For your initial time through the exam,

• Complete exam questions in sequence
• For questions narrowed down to 50/50 or not remembering, make notes, select an answer and check for review (don't let the number of checked-for-review be a distractions, you will come back to question later)
• For long vignettes, read last two sentences and answer options (this will give you a framework for what you will want to extract from the stem); then read the entire question.

(Take a break) - deep breaths, relaxation techniques, walk down the hall (take a break earlier if you are losing focus during exam)

Second time through:

• Go through checked for review questions only (reverse the order: end to beginning)
• For 50/50 items, use note box or scrap paper to identify key components; map to stem to identify "most true" options

Third time:

• Go through remaining check for review; verify that an answer has been entered for all questions

This section provides some tips and strategies that you can use to work through different question types:

Multiple Choice Questions

The multiple choice formats include:

• stimulus-response questions (given a key item in the stem, you select the right association for the answer)
• two or three-step questions (stem requires you to make a series of correct decisions in order to select the proper answer from the presented alternatives)
• clinical vignettes (patient cases): the first and last lines are critical. The first line sets up the question and gives key demographic information about the patient. The last line give the actual question to be answered and must correspond to our ansewr choice. Be sure to look at the case as a whole (watch our for distractors)
• Use the true-false technique: construct a statement using the stem and one answer option. Eliminate answer options that you know to be false.

Matching Questions

These questions present a long list of answer options and a series of questions related to those options. Answer options can generally be used once, multiple times or not at all. It is important to read the directions carefully regarding usage of answers.

• Read question thoroughly
• Read through option list
• Options are often closely related, you must choose most likely answer
• Read each option carefully and eliminate those that are clearly incorrect
• Of the remaining options, select the one that is most correct

Locked Grouping Questions

This format uses question groupings that build on one another, and the answer to one question may be provided in a later question; however, you must proceed sequentially in answsering the group of questions and once an answer is selected it is "locked in" and you cannot go back and change your previous answer(s). (Occasionally, some groupings will be unlocked - a message will indicate as such as you try to move about in the question group.)

• Treat each question in the grouping separately
• Don't let anxiety regarding one question in the grouping distract you from completing the sequence effectively

Free Text Questions

These question are rare on SSOM exams, but you may encounter them in PCM or on clerkship exams. Recall, not recognition.

• Understand exactly what the question is asking
• Identify keys points to be included in your answer (use scratch paper if needed)
• Provide a carefully constructed answer using the question stem as the introduction, then follow with key points
• Re-read your answer before you submit it to confirm that it is clear and complete

Multimedia Questions

Images, video or audio clips, graphs/charts will be attached to a multiple choice question. Read the question before you view/listen to the media attachment. Viewing the media with the question in mind will help narrow your focus.

Pacing Yourself During an Exam

 Before even walking into an exam room, try to get as many details about the exam as possible:

• How many questions are on the exam?
• How much time do we have to take the exam?
• What types of questions should I expect?
• Identify your timing checkpoints (quarter, half, three-quarter) before entering the exam

Using this information, determine how much time you can spend on each question.For example, you have a three hour exam with 90 questions. This allows approximately 2 minutes per question. For your first round, anticipate 90 seconds/question (2 hours, 15 minutes). This allows 45 minutes for your second time through the exam. Adjusting your time/question on your first run through the exam allows you time for two cycles through the questions.

Before exam day, practice your pacing utilizing questions from text or review book. Set a timer to the same time you will have to complete the exam on exam day. Use practice sets to assess if you need to adjust your pacing (slower/faster) to be most effective on the exam.

As you work through the exam:

• Move systematically through each question.
• Do not spend time on difficult questions on your first run-through of an exam; spending too much time on one question will leave less time to work through all of the questions.

Mark the difficult questions for review so that you have a visual indicator that you want to return to the question. Sometimes, your memory will be jogged later in the exam and the answers will come to you.

Test Anxiety

Test anxiety may impact exam takers before, during, or following an exam.   As you prepare for your exam, remember to find out as much information about the exam as possible.   Anxiety feeds on the unknown; therefore, the more you know about the test and the more you know about your own anxieties and how to conquer them, the less test anxiety can control you.  

If you identify that anxiety interferes with your performance during exams,   the following strategies will be helpful:

• Get to the exam on time; avoid talking to other students about the exam
• Before starting take a few deep breaths, write down key notes on scratch paper before you begin reading questions
• Note your test taking time; budget time and identify check points to make sure your timing is on target
• Read all questions carefully; utilize a systematic approach to test taking and questions
• Focus only on the exam; use ear plugs and block out other test takers
• Don't let yourself be distracted by topics you have not mastered. You have a big-picture context; use that information to problem-solve throught the difficult questions.   Keep in mind that you are not expected to answer every question correctly to pass the test.  
• If anxiety starts to build, take a few seconds to calm yourself down: stretch in your chair, take a few slow deep breaths.
• When needed, use positive self talk, visualization or progressive muscle relaxation techniques.   Even thirty seconds can help bring down your symptoms of stress.
• If you go blank, skip the question, check for review and go on.   When you return to the question, use action to fight anxiety.   Start noting thoughts in your text box or scrap paper.   Once you start writing, you are more likely to find ideas taking shape in your head and start working toward problem solving on your actual response
• Do not panic if others finish early, there's no reward for getting done first

Concentration

 It is important to maintain your usual routine as far as sleeping, eating and exercing in the weeks leading up to an exam. Altering any of these routines can cause you to not be at your best on test day.

• Over-doing caffeine and staying up all night before an exam can leave you exhausted on the day of the exam, and your concentration may suffer as a result. Additionally, if you are used to an exercise schedule, and suddenly stop your routine in the days leading up to the exam, your concentration may suffer. Altering any of these behaviors may cause you to not feel physically well on the day of the exam, thereby affecting your concentration.
• On exam day, plan to arrive in the exam room 5-10 minutes early; do not arrive late as this may disrupt your focus.
• Avoid discussing exam-related issues with peers.
• If you are distracted by your surroundings, do what you can to block out distrations:
• Use ear plugs to drown out noise.
• Ask to be moved to a location with fewer distractions - i.e. away from a window if that is a distractor for you.
• Move to a different computer if you are experiencing any computer issues during an online exam.

• Use available tools during an exam to focus on keys elements of each questions - mouse to highlight key words, type in text box or make notes on scrap paper

Online Exams @ SSOM

Computer-based tests are similar to traditional paper and pencil tests in many ways.

• Difference between online exams and paper-based exams
• One question at a time
• Multi-media - image, video, audio

• Visual cues - check marks

• Features of online exams
• Notes
• Check for review
• Cross out options
• Clock
• Phrases/feedback

• Be mentally prepared for a computer-based test. If possible, familiarize yourself with the test environment and setup. Additionally, know what to do in the event of a technical malfunction (mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc.). If there is a hardware malfunction during a test, what should you do? Before the exam begins, have a plan of how you will address this issue should it arise during the exam. During course and clerkship exams at Stritch, there are usually 1-2 spare computers in each exam room to accommodate mid-exam technical difficulties. If you have any questions about your options, ask the proctor for assistance. If you move computers during the test be sure to let the proctor know why so the issue can be documented and the computer repaired.

Submit Quiz Results

Please enter your name in the space below to send your results to the Teaching and Learning Center. This will initiate a follow-up appointment to discuss your results and potential strategies.