Read each question carefully.

• Make sure that you read it over a few times.
• Ask yourself, “What is this question really asking?”

Circle key words.

• Whether you use your pen, pencil, or a highlighter, circle the key words.
• Look for numbers, words like ‘why’, ‘how’, ‘what’, etc.
• Cross out extra information. Sometimes additional information is in the question to ‘throw you off’.

Cover the answers. 

• Take a blank piece of paper and hide the answers before looking at them.
• Try and GUESS the answer before you read the choices. 
• If your ‘guess’ is there, it is likely that this is the correct answer.

Make sure that you read ALL of the answers. 

• Do this even if you find the one that you think is correct.
• Too often, students think that they first answer they see is the right answer. Often times, there is more than one right answer.  Your job is to figure out which answer is better than the others.
• Cross out answers that you are 100% sure are wrong.

If you are not sure which answer is correct, cross out those answers that you know are definitely wrong. 

This way, if you have to guess, you’ve increased your odds of answering correctly if some answers have already been eliminated.  

• Look for clue words or numbers.
• Watch for grammatical clues.
• Noun/verb agreement in the stem and answer
• A/an stem provides clues to the answer
• Plurals

‘All of the above’ answers are usually (but not always) correct. 

• If you recognize that at least two answers are correct, select ‘all of the above’.

When ‘guessing’ on a number answer, consider the middle range numbers. 

• You can usually eliminate the very high and very low numbers.

Look at the remaining answers and select the one that is best.

• If you’re still unsure, use intelligent guessing.

If you are not sure which of the remaining answers is the correct one, draw a star or a question mark beside the question. 

• This will remind you to come back and answer the question after.
• It’s a good idea to write a note on the front page of your test …. Check for starred answers. This serves as a reminder, before you hand your test in, to go back and complete those answers that you didn’t fill in.
• Studies have shown that when we are stuck on something – we don’t know the answer – our subconscious mind continues to think about the question.  Often times, the answer will simply ‘come to you’.

Think about each question as it relates to other questions on the test.

• Sometimes, if you are lucky, questions on a test provide information that can help you with other questions.

Don’t go back and change your answers unless you have a good reason for doing so. 

• Studies have shown that the first answer selected is often the right one.
• Never change the first answer you have selected unless you are 100% certain that it is wrong.