Sunday, March 24, 2013

Test Taking Tips

I ask that you decide to agree/disagree with each statement -- thumbs up/down or ask question before moving on - helps encourage engagement (yes, even if you are reading this alone). 

Your brain can process 120-150 WPM (output) and 350-500 WPM (input) - That's 3X in vs. out
- it takes focus
Treat test preparation like a job that pays well (and it will).
- if you don't agree or believe it, not relevant, it's testable (and you may need it some day)
*thumbs up/down
Study as if you were preparing to teach others and the quality of their learning would affect you monetarily (positive) or in terms of liability (negative)
- we learn by teaching (and preparing to do so
*thumbs up/down
Catch yourself when you are "just" reading (or listening) and not learning -- go back further than you think but not all the way back
*thumbs up/down

Read/review in different positions and places
- stand, sit, prone on stomach, etc to adjust view (memory and alertness trigger)
        - practice this now -- everyone sit (chair and floor if able) and stand/lean against chair/wall
- study in living room, dining room, car, spouse's car, front porch, tree house, beach
- review information on paper (handwritten and typed) on computer, smart phone, tablet (may allow added tax deduction -- consult your CPA)
- study at different times of day (your best time, unusual time)
- allow your subconscious some leeway (dreams, ideas in the middle of the night)
*thumbs up/down

Associate topic/answer with the physical/visual slide -- personalize (minimally) slides/handouts with notes, doodles, etc.
- spend part of review time (after in-depth study) just visualizing the slides/notes
- for lecturers/lecture notes, when presenter
        - adds explanation, makes joke, comment, tells story
        - (presenters not there to teach, but to help you remember - paradigm)
- brief note on slide to remind you of the meat of the slide (vs. the garnish from presenter)
- like juggling many cases/issues by using mental "folders" (helps when questions jump back/forth with topics)
*thumbs up/down

Focus on what is taught/written/industry standard, not what done (if different)
*thumbs up/down

(You) Record the slides/notes/review material. Use 15 minute blocks to record and review/listen, with approx 5 minutes in between.
       - Audio
        - Video
- Play at home, in "reading" room, in car, while walking (not in traffic), just before sleeping
- speed it up sometimes (we process up to 150 WPM out, 500 in - 3X)
- work at (and a little above) your normal pace - we think at 500-600 WPM, so little concern for explosion/implosion
*thumbs up/down

Reverse/reposition the information (make topic the answer and answer the topic)
*thumbs up/down

Study groups - in person, on phone, by chat (if you type relatively fast), AND online
*thumbs up/down

- speaking of different media/memory triggers, has everyone practiced adjusting view?
*thumbs up/down

PRE-TEST
Sleep well
Eat well
Relax - deep breaths 
POST-TEST
PRE-TEST
Sleep well
Eat well
Relax - deep breaths 

What do you think?