By Amad Ali/reporter
More than 30 NE students with various learning differences and challenges learned ways to confront test anxiety as well as valuable test-taking skills Nov. 9.
Kimberly Eason, an academic advisor on NE Campus, gave students tips and insights for successful test taking.
She said the most important way to relieve test anxiety is to be prepared, get some exercise, get a good night’s sleep and make sure to have something to eat in the morning. She also said to relax and approach the test with confidence.
“The purpose of a test is to prove what you’ve learned. Just try to relax,” she said.
Eason also gave students tips to improve their test-taking skills such as budgeting their time while taking a test.
Purging information by writing down some memorized formulas or mnemonic devices while it is fresh on the mind helps save time and confusion when the mind is cluttered, Eason said.
Students should skip questions they do not know and save them for later so they avoid becoming frustrated, she said.
Students also should ask instructors to clarify information if they are unsure about something, Eason said.
“If you have multiple answers on your mind, tell your instructor. They may help steer you in the right direction,” she said.
Students should never leave a question blank, she said.
“A guess made with common sense is better than a blank answer,” she said.
Eason also helped students with specific portions of tests, such as true or false, multiple choice and essay questions. She said if students are unsure between true or false, they should pick true. While not always correct, she said true was statistically correct more times than false.
For multiple-choice questions, Eason told students to eliminate answers they know are wrong and to stick with their instincts.
As for essays, students were told to focus on facts and avoid opinions. Eason said to focus on one main idea per paragraph and to make an outline to help organize their thoughts.
“While these tips are helpful, nothing substitutes for preparation,” she said.
Eason has been an academic advisor on NE Campus for three years. She has spoken multiple times on the subject of test taking and has made many other speeches on advising at the state and national level.
“I thought test taking was something students needed more help with, and I just wanted to get that information out there,” she said.
NE student Kendall Hanson received useful information.
“Even though I just came for extra credit, the speaker gave a lot of tips that I think will help me be a better test taker,” Hanson said.
NE student Emmanuel Kaddu Busagwa came to the speech to familiarize himself with test taking in America.
“English is my second language. This helped me understand how to take tests here,” he said.
Jacob Ortiz, a NE student who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, came to the speech to learn some helpful test-taking tips.
“ADHD makes it hard for me to focus on tests. Hopefully, I can use these tips to do better in my classes,” he said.
