Anticipating Test

      As I am a communication design major student, I usually have projects rather than exams. So, I am not used to prepare exam. In this week, I had an exam. I was confused and nervous about preparation for exam. Fortunately, CLS 105 class went over about preparation for exam. Dr. Blumin gave us lecture about how to prepare exam, anticipating test, exam review, and exam analysis. It helped me a lot to prepare exam. Now, I am going to write how I applied information that Dr. Blumin taught and how I successfully prepared exam. 

     Actually, I have never been anticipated a test question before. I usually read lecture note and textbook and discussed with friends. I thought they are the best ways to study exam. However, anticipating or guessing a test question is a quite helpful way to prepare exam. If I know questions that are similar to test questions, exam will be much easier. 

     First, I read syllabus information carefully. In the syllabus, there is the course structure, specifically focus and patterns. Through the course structure, I can determine whether my anticipation questions should be factual or my questions should be emphasizing terminology. Course schedule is also important part in the syllabus. When I read the course schedule, I could realize that I have to place great weight on specific parts. In the course schedule, I can see the number of classes devoted to a specific topic. That means, the more lectures on a particular topic the more important topic is. Therefore, I need to anticipate on specific topics. 

                                                  Reading syllabus carefully.

     Second, I made some study aids. In preparing the history of illustration exam, I have to memorize lots of illustrators, dates, and historical events. I made flash cards. Flash cards are easy to bring, so I can see the flashcards while I am eating and chatting with friends. I can save time if I use flash cards. This study aid is helpful especially, when I have to memorize many things in a short time. This time, I used a graphic organizer. My T.A. recommended this study aid. It was my first time using a graphic organizer. It was extremely helpful. It helps to illustrate the relationship between details and main ideas. As a result, I generated test questions because I could identify major ideas and their details easily. 

Making a graphic organizer. 

     Third, I created several questions. I gathered information from textbook, note taking, syllabus, study aids, and previous exams and then, I anticipated several questions. On a piece of paper, I wrote the anticipating questions. Professor was busy for his seminar, so, I showed them to T.A. He gave me some feedback for the questions that I made. He determined whether I made good questions or I need to add more information on some questions. Before I talked with T.A., I wondered that I am on right track. T.A.’s feedback was so helpful to me for preparing exam.  

Making several anticipating questions. 

     Fourth, I used a previous exam. Although professor told us that there are 40 multiple choice questions and 3 short essay questions, I was still confused about the type of questions. Reading the previous exam was good to expect the type of questions. This step is the most helpful to preparing exam. I could understand completely the type of information and upcoming questions. I learned in this step that my test preparation should emphasize the same material covered a formal exam. 

     One day before I took an exam, I wondered that my anticipated test questions will be on the exam. Based on the previous exam, I made same number questions and type of questions with previous exam. Fortunately, there were many similar questions that I anticipated on the exam. I think, this time, my exam preparation was more successful than other times. I realize that exam preparation is not just studying hard but strategic studying. Through this experience, I learned that I have to read syllabus carefully, read previous exam, get some feedback from professor or T.A., and use study aid for successful exam preparation. I am also using this method for my next exam. It looks little complicated but it is the most helpful and effective way to prepare exam.