Subjective, Objective, and Standardized Tests

Subjective Tests

Subjective tests include essay, short-answer, vocabulary, and take-home tests. Some students become very anxious of these exams because they feel their writing skills are not up to par. The strategies described below may reduce some of that anxiety by better preparing students for subjective questions.

Predict Questions

Students who attempt to predict essay questions before the test tend to do better because they have already prepared the material and organized it in an effective manner. They are less likely to be caught off-guard during the exam. Each practice question should stress the main ideas related to one topic, and should provide the opportunity to include supporting facts and details. Make questions broad enough to encompass many alternatives.

The following sources may be used to make up practice questions: lecture notes, old tests, section headings in the textbook, goals and objectives listed on the syllabus, study group members, review questions in the textbook, and review questions in student workbooks accompanying the text.

If you don't see your predicted questions on the test, don't despair. Chances are the material you did prepare can be reworked and reorganized to answer the test questions. Remember that predicting questions is a skill that comes with practice; you will get better as you learn more about the instructor and about testing in general.

Organize Ideas

Simply answering your predicted questions is not enough. The ideas must be organized into a coherent structure. Doing this during test preparation helps register the information in memory and aids in recalling the information during the test. It also saves that time spent organizing ideas during the exam.

The organizational method chosen depends on the nature of the information and one's personal learning preferences. Try outlines or visual aids, for example. The answers need not, and perhaps should not, be written out in complete sentences. Instead, use key words and key phrases to reduce the amount of information to be remembered.

Each part of the organizational structure should cover one main idea; these will make up the individual paragraphs in your answer on the exam. Arrange ideas numerically, topically, or sequentially. Think of transitions among major ideas. Be sure to include all major ideas stressed in lectures and readings.

Study guides for subjective tests are most effective when written in topical form.

Periodic Reviews of Answers

Periodically review the answers recorded for the practice questions. Speaking aloud while reading over answers helps keep your attention and store the information in memory. Record answers on audio cassettes and listen to them periodically.

Memory Techniques

Memory strategies stressing the relationships among major ideas are preferred for subjective test preparation. Try rehearsal, association, and retention strategies.

Study Groups

Study groups may be used to predict and answer questions, to organize information, to complete readings, to share notes, to evaluate understanding of the information, and to share memory strategies.

Spelling

If you anticipate problems with spelling, ask the instructor if a spelling aid may be used during the test. Such arrangements should be made prior to exam day. If a spelling aid is not permitted, list the major terms and practice spelling them.

Writing Skills

If you are deficit in writing skills, the instructor may permit the use of a scribe for the test or may permit you to compose his/her answers on a computer or word processor. Again, make such arrangements prior to exam day. Otherwise, practice organizing and writing answers to practice questions.

Prepare Physically and Mentally

Subjective questions require clear thinking more so than objective tests. Part of your preparation, therefore, should include adequate sleep, good nutrition, and exercise. Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine, all-nighters, and stressful situations. Exercise to release anxieties or use relaxation techniques.

Objective Tests

Objective tests include multiple choice, true-false, matching, and fill-in questions. They tend to focus more on specific facts than on general ideas and concepts.

Predict Questions

Students who attempt to predict objective questions before the test tend to do better because they have already prepared the material and organized it in an effective manner. They are less likely to be caught off-guard during the exam. Subjective practice questions should emphasize specific details and relationships among them.

The following sources may be used to make up practice questions: lecture notes, old tests, visual aid captions in the book, study group members, review questions in the textbook, and review questions in student workbooks accompanying the text.

If you don't see your predicted questions on the test, don't lose control. Chances are the material you did prepare will provide clues for eliminating implausible answers and selecting the correct answers. Remember that predicting questions is a skill that comes with practice; you will get better as you learn more about the instructor and about testing in general.

Organize Information

Organizing information when preparing for objective tests helps register the information in memory, aids in recalling the information during the test, and helps students distinguish correct and incorrect choices in objective questions.

The organizational method chosen depends on the nature of the information and one's personal learning preferences. Matrices, flash cards, and visual aids are good choices for objective tests. Study guides are most effective when written in categorical form. Focus on people, dates, events, lists, and key words of definitions.

Periodic Review of Answers

Periodically review the practice questions and answers. Speaking aloud while reviewing helps to keep your attention and store the information in memory. Record questions and answers on audio cassettes and listen to them periodically.

Memory Techniques

Memory strategies stressing lists, definitions, and details are preferred for subjective test preparation. Try visual association, visual elaboration, peg words, grouping, rhymes, and mnemonics.

Study Groups

Study groups may be used to predict and answer questions, to organize information, to complete readings, to share notes, to evaluate understanding of the information, and to share memory strategies.

Prepare Mentally and Physically

Objective tests require that one keep straight various pieces of specific information like facts and figures. Part of your preparation, therefore, should include adequate sleep, good nutrition, and exercise. Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine, all-nighters, and stressful situations. Exercise to release anxieties or use relaxation techniques.

Standardized Tests

There are two main strategies for standardized test preparation.

Use Study Guides

Professionally written study guides may be purchased to prepare for most standardized tests, including ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and LMAT. Typically, these study guides include general strategies for taking standardized tests as well as content-specific strategies for math, reading, and other sections of the tests. They help one to know what to expect on the tests. They also provide sample questions in most cases.

Practice

Some practicing may be done by the student. Reading comprehension questions, for example, can be made up without having to buy study guides. This procedure is explained and exemplified in the Reading Comprehension page.