How to Prepare for different Exams

As there are many ways to test people on knowledge, there are equally as many ways to prepare for an exam। People are different and thrive in different preparatory methods. We've designed several different ways for you to ace your exams.

Essay Exams

Essays can be some people's favorite or least favorite type of exam। The good part of the essay exam is that you can truly explain your knowledge of the subject matter in many ways. If you forgot a single word, then it will not cause you severe loss of points (as it would in a multiple choice test). Usually, essay exams are difficult to grade because they can be subjective. Therefore, people with better writing skills tend to favor these types of exams, as they know how to structure an essay. If you need help on writing essays, please read our section on How to Write an Essay. The tips below will help you prepare for an essay exam.

Multiple Choice

Multiple-choice exams are easy for some and death for others. Some people can sail through on them without studying at all. Others think too hard on each question and miss the obvious answer sitting before them. The beauty of a multiple-choice test is that all the information you will need is given to you. The drawback of a multiple-choice test is that the additional information given to you is designed to confuse you. It takes a specific mindset to excel in this type of testing. See below for tips on how to prepare for a multiple-choice exam. These exams are like sports; they take a lot of practice, but you can master them. True or False questions may also fall into this category, where you will be given a fact and have to choose one or the other.
Matching

Matching exams are rather student friendly exams. They are generally given in high school, infrequently in college, and almost never afterwards. They come in two formats: equal questions and answers, and trick question and answers. When there are equal sets of facts to match up, then you will more than likely excel. However, many tests are designed to truly test your knowledge and will place a few extra categories on one side of the matching plane. When this occurs, you must rely on your factual knowledge and not simply your ability to filter out bad answers.

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blank exams are also more prevalent in high school and earlier. Occasionally you will find this type of exam in college and beyond. If so, you are lucky, for you will increasingly wish you may have this type of exam. In this case, you must know the factual information in order to fit it into the sentence. However, in these tests, you can rely on your context clues of the sentence to see what works. If you have a general enough basis of knowledge on a subject matter, you will more than likely fill in the correct blank. True or False questions may also fall into this category, where you will be given a fact and have to choose one or the other.

Oral Exams

Oral Exams are generally held for graduate school. In law school, students are questioned aloud in class often, and in order to complete a PhD, doctoral students must pass their "Orals." These oral exams, also given in college and high school, are stressful examinations. You are sitting in front of professors who will ask you questions on the spot. You cannot formulate ideas in your head, test them out on paper, and erase. You must come up with ideas and speak fluidly and succinctly. You will have little ways out of answering questions you don't know, aside from honesty.

Of these six basic testing procedures, we will outline different ways to prepare, depending on your time schedule, your patience, and of course your type.
Essay Exams
Ask your teacher/professor for a few practice questions
Time yourself and write a sample essay or two a couple days ahead of time
Look over old essay questions (if available)
Multiple Choice
Practice practice practice
Go over several old exams to get used to the format
Memorize facts using flashcards or group questionnaires
Do not cram (for you will inevitably forget information)
Matching
Memorize facts using flashcards
Group question-answer studying
Try your own matching tests, test yourself
Fill in the Blanks
Test yourself with self-made tests
Ask your teacher for old tests and practice on those
Study with flashcards of facts
Test friends in a study group
Oral Exams
First outline all you plan to say on paper
Practice it aloud to yourself
Practice in front of a mirror (to see body language, hand gestures)
Practice aloud to an audience (of family or friends)

It is important to remember that not all people test alike. You may prefer one type of test to another solely based on your ability to study for it. Regardless of your favorite preparatory habits, you will inevitably be tested in all five of these formats at some point in your life. It is highly advisable to learn how to prepare for them all.

Expert tips to prepare for exams

Final exam time can often be stressful and nerve wracking. While some stress can actually be a positive motivator, being too nervous or tense can be problematic, especially if it interferes with your test taking performance. With less than two weeks left in the semester, it’s time to focus on what you can do to get yourself through this demanding time.
Here’s some advice to help make the end-of-the-semester experience less stressful. These tips are offered by Dolores Cimini, PhD, director of Middle Earth, UAlbany’s Peer Counseling service.

Deal with your anxiety:

Try to determine the source of your test anxiety. If it stems from a lack of preparation on your part, your anxiety is considered a rational response. However, if you believe that you are prepared for the test, but are still panicking or overreacting, this may be an irrational response. Either way, it can be very helpful to know how to work with their effects.

Prepare for those tests and assignments:
This is the best way to minimize anxiety. Here are a few tips for preparing for an exam:

• Avoid cramming for a test. Cramming can produce high levels of anxiety and is not helpful in trying to learn a large amount of material.

• Instead of trying to memorize all of the intricate details from an entire semester’s worth of notes and readings, try combining everything and learning the larger, main concepts first.

• When studying, try to create questions that could possibly be asked on the test. Try integrating ideas from lectures, notes, books and other readings.

• If it is impossible for you to cover all of the material for the test, choose one portion that you know you will be able to cover and present well.

Change your attitude:
It can help to change the way you think about taking tests. A test will not predict your future success or determine your self worth. Changing your attitude can actually help you enjoy studying and learning. Here are some ways you can work on changing your attitude:

• Remind yourself that it is only a test and there will be others.

• Reward yourself when the test is over.

• Think of yourself in a positive way. Think of all the hard work you have done already or think of what you do know.

• Plan ways to improve next semester

Don’t forget the basics:
Don’t forget about yourself and what you need. This means thinking of yourself as a total person, not just as a test taker.

• Maintain proper nutrition and exercise, and continue some of your social or recreational activities. It is ok to take a break once in a while.

• Make sure you get plenty of sleep. You can’t function at your best if you are tired.

• Do something relaxing when you feel adequately prepared.

Again, try to do something relaxing before the test. Cramming minutes before can produce anxiety. Get to the test early. This way, you can pick out your seat away from anxiety-ridden classmates and other distractions. Now, you’re ready to take the test…Good luck!