Education
[Introduction] Welcome to the LD State of Mind, a podcast about learning together and making a difference for college students. Join us as we discuss tips and useful information with our peers and experts in the area of learning variability’s. [Patrick] Good morning and welcome to this episode of LD State of Mind. Our guest speaker today is Mrs. James, of the East Carolina University STEPP Program. Over the next few episodes we will be exploring a topic no one likes, but everyone needs help on, test taking. And the tips and tricks you might have been missing out on. In today’s episode we will be discussing multiple-choice tests. What to look for, and how to prepare yourself to do the best you can. So Morgan, if you could give a little bit of background/personal information of why you are our guest today. [Morgan] Sure, first, thanks for having me. I am the instructional specialist for the STEPP Program at East Carolina University and I work with students that have learning differences in either reading, writing, or math. I teach them learning strategies and academic routines to help them be successful in their college classes. [Patrick] Awesome, and I know from experience she is amazing at it. She was my teacher for two year and has helped me so much today in all my test taking skills. So, Morgan, today we’re talking about multiple-choice test and the good and bad about them. Do you think you could give us a little reflection back from when you were taking multiple-choice tests? What you liked and didn’t really like about the topic? [Morgan] Sure, well I’m still a grad student or I’m a grad student again since I’m working on my doctorate. So, I’m still taking tests. There’s a lot of anxiety, I think, going into a test. And I think it’s actually totally normal for myself, and actually any student to have test anxiety. But I even in the past, thinking back to undergrad. I remember I was always thinking in my mind, “Take your time, don’t rush”. As I was going through the test I would say that in my head. I never cared if I was the last one to finish a test. You know I guess I didn’t really have that competitive… [Patrick] Yea, I understand that… [Morgan] That competitive spirit maybe died with me when I was in there taking the test. And I know that some students do care about things like that. I tried to use positive self talk to amp my self up for the test, before hand. Ultimately when I’m actively taking the test, I go with my gut. I try to advice students to do that, too. And I know that doesn’t sound real scientific, but I learned early on that your first instinct is usually the right one. [Patrick] So, should I not go back and read over the test again? [Morgan] Well, of course you should go back and read over the test. But only change your answer if you are absolutely sure. You know, that you’ve either seen the answer somewhere else on the test or you’re absolutely sure that you got it wrong. [Patrick] Or you’re getting a gut feeling that it’s wrong, so you’ve got to change it. [Morgan] (Laughter) Sure, I guess, yea. [Patrick] Awesome. So, in multiple-choice testing by the sound of it, you’re not writing any essays. You have in front of you, the answers and the question; what are some advantages to this type of testing, compared to the other forms? [Morgan] Sure, well you kind of mentioned one. You have all the answers in front of you; you just have to pick the right one, ultimately. But, multiple-choice tests give you an opportunity to guess and/or eliminate answer choices that you know are wrong. Which gives you more of a chance to pick the right answer. Also, sometimes you’re able to sift through the test and find similar questions and answers somewhere else on the test. Whether it’s been rephrased or restated somewhere and in doing that you can narrow down your choices again to see you know if the questions been repeated somewhere to, you know, help you answer the questions.