CHAPTER 4
Strategies to Raise Your Score
This chapter presents some general test-taking strategies that apply to all or most of the tests required for nursing school admission. These strategies can help you gain valuable points when you take your test. At the end of the chapter, you will also find some useful tips that can help you on test day.
GENERAL TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES
Take Advantage of the Multiple-Choice Format
With the exception of a few math questions for which you type your numerical answer, all of the questions on the nursing school entrance exams are in multiple-choice format, which you have undoubtedly seen many times before. Therefore, for every question, the correct answer is right in front of you. All you have to do is pick it out from among three incorrect choices, called distracters. Consequently, you can use the process of elimination to rule out incorrect answer choices. The more answers you rule out, the easier it is to make the right choice.
Answer Every Question
On these exams, there is no penalty for choosing a wrong answer. Therefore, if you do not know the answer to a question, you have nothing to lose by guessing. Make sure that you answer every question. If you are taking one of the paper-and-pencil exams and find that you are running out of time, make sure to enter an answer for the questions that you have not tackled. With luck, you may be able to pick up a few extra points, even if your guesses are totally random.
Answer All of the Easy Problems First, Then Tackle the Hard Ones
Keep in mind that these tests all have specific time limits. There is not much time to spend trying to figure out the answers to harder problems, so skip them and come back to them later. There are three reasons why you should do this:
1. Every question counts the same in the scoring of the exam. That means that you are better off spending time answering the easier questions, where you are sure to pick up points.
2. Later in the test, you might come to a question or a set of answer choices that jogs your memory and helps you go back and answer the question you skipped.
3. By answering the easier questions, you will build your confidence and get into a helpful test-taking rhythm. Then, when you go back to a question you skipped, you may find that it is not as hard as you first thought.
Note that some computerized tests, notably the Evolve Reach (HESI) A2, do not permit movement back and forth. On those tests, you will not be able to return to questions you have skipped. Your strategy will need to change. Make sure you are familiar with the format and rules for the test you are about to take.
Make Educated Guesses
What differentiates great test takers from merely good ones is the ability to guess in a way that maximizes the chance of guessing correctly. The way to do this is to use the process of elimination. Before you guess, try to eliminate one or more of the answer choices. That way, you can make an educated guess, and you have a better chance of picking the correct answer. Odds of one out of two or one out of three are better than one out of four!
Go with Your Gut
In those cases where you are not 100 percent sure of the answer you are choosing, it is often best to go with your gut feeling and stick with your first answer. If you decide to change that answer and pick another one, you may well pick the wrong answer because you have over-thought the problem. More often than not, if you know something about the subject, your first answer is likely to be the correct one.
Be Wary of Answer Choices That Look Familiar But Are Not Correct
Sometimes in the set of answer choices, there will be one or more wrong answers that include familiar expressions or phrases. You might be tempted to pick one of these choices if you are working quickly or not paying complete attention. That is why it is important to think through each question thoroughly and carefully to make sure that you pick the correct answer choice.
TIPS FOR TEST DAY
Stay Calm
Once test day comes, you are as prepared as you are ever going to be, so there is no point in panicking. Use your energy to make sure that you are extra careful in answering questions and marking your answer choices.
Watch the Time
Make sure that you are on track to answer all of the questions within the time allowed. With so many questions to answer in a short time period, you are not going to have a lot of time to spare. Check yourself at 10- or 15-minute intervals using your watch or timer. Do not spend too much time on any one question. If you find yourself stuck for more than a minute or two on a question, then you should move on.
Do Not Panic if Time Runs Out
If you pace yourself and keep track of your progress, you should not run out of time. If you do, however, do not panic. Because there is no guessing penalty and you have nothing to lose by doing so, enter answers to all the remaining questions. If you are able to make educated guesses, you will probably be able to improve your score. However, even random guesses may help you pick up a few points. Guessing well is a skill that comes with practice, so incorporate it into your preparation program.
Use Extra Time to Check Your Work
If you have time left over at the end of a paper-and-pencil test, go back and check your work. On a computer-based test, go back and check any questions you flagged. Make sure that you have marked your answer sheet correctly. Check any calculations you may have made to make sure that they are correct. Resist the urge to second-guess too many of your answers, however, because this may lead you to change an already correct answer to a wrong one.