Proven Principles of Testmanship – passing Ike’s Tests

Study Shortcuts for Comprehension & Retention:

Always Read the Book’s Preface/Introduction. It gives you an important ‘big picture’ of the author’s intent.
Always Skim the Book’s Table of Contents. It gives you an important ‘big picture’ when studying. Skimming the Index
is also very valuable for a preview of words that the author considers important information. This only takes a
few minutes, but shortens the learning time because your brain already has the ‘hooks’ to receive the information.
Read or Skim the Book itself. If you own the book & workbook then Highlight only key ideas with a yellow highlighter. If
you don’t own the book, you’re stuck with taking reading notes and jotting page numbers. A general understanding
of content with Common Sense will answer many test questions. Underline any items that you want to. When
reviewing/studying, skim those highlights/underlines plus review the diagrams. Yes, skip stuff you already know.
“Jargon” is an important part of any vocation, and hence any training course. Instructors love to test ‘definitions’ of terms.
Study/Review the Diagrams & Figures. These explanatory & valuable diagrams are a shortcut to good Comprehension!
Make a Formulas Summary Sheet, Memorize & review them regularly.
Make up your own General Summary Statements that cover many questions or principles of the subject in your own words.
Involve as many ‘senses’ in your study as possible – sight, sound, writing, graphing, drawing, doing. Read stuff aloud.
It’s tempting, but if you want to actually learn the material and make a good grade, never skip the exercises. It ain’t a novel.

Review Practice Test Questions (at the back of the chapter, book, or workbook):
Fill-in Questions
When you are studying the questions, underline a very few key words in the question that determine exactly what is
being asked. Also in your study, note any confusing parts or “gotcha’s” in the questions.
Write in the short answer key words. Don’t write in full answers. Use a yellow highlighter on just the answer.
Review just the question’s underlined key words & the answer’s highlighted key words. Speeds up review.
Test Question Example: “Statistics can feature in fallacious reasoning by not being further supported .”
Multiple Choice - the objective is to 'recognize' the correct answer. When studying practice quizzes:
Underline the few key words in the question that determine exactly what is being asked. (same as ‘fill-in’).
Highlight only the correct answer’s main key word - Ideally, word(s) that are only in the correct answer.
Only look at the RIGHT answer - never peek at wrong answers. You don’t want any memory of wrong answers.
"All of the Above" is correct if at least two are correct, but is not correct if one is clearly wrong. Choose the most
likely of the remaining answers, or what you think you ‘recognize’. Longest answer is usually correct.
Review just the question’s underlined key words & the answer’s highlighted key words. Speeds up your review.
True/False - False questions cause the most trouble
Highlight the answer key word(s) and what makes it True or False - Always, Never, and wrong words or numbers.
Write in the CORRECT words or numbers for study so that you’ll recognize the wrong part of the question.
Review just the highlight key words and your written in corrections. Speeds up your review.
Problems & Charts & Graphs
Underline the few key words in the question for what is specifically asked. This is very important.
Write Out any formula (if applicable)
Check all of the chart notes and special instructions (gotcha’s). This is very important.
Plug and Chug. For graphs, be very precise using an acetate ‘guide’. A fat pencil can cause an error.
Use “the smell test” (if something doesn’t seem right, review your answer/recalculate)
Danger! Question writers know the common mistakes, assumptions, and “conventional wisdom”, and they will have an
answer that matches yours. See ‘gotcha’ above. You always wondered where those ‘wrong’ answers came from.
Reviewing:
Review the questions “out loud” (locked in your study). Hearing the right content really speeds retention!
For difficult questions make a pencil √ checkmark for those you’ve had continuing trouble with. Memorize difficult answers.
After the 2nd or 3rd time, Review only the questions with a pencil √ checkmark where you’ve had trouble. Erase the √
checkmark once you have that question down pat. You won’t review as often if you have to review it all.
Review your Formulas & Summary Statements regularly.
Work one example of each type problem. Work another example next review time.
Taking the Test:
Just before the test, review Formulas & Summary Statements, and review only the questions you’ve had trouble with (√).
During the Test:
Immediately write down your Formulas page from memory.
Remember that you don’t need 100% to pass the test. If you’re baffled, move on. Don’t sweat it!
If you are unsure of an answer, sometimes another question answers it.
Sometimes a memorized answer is better than understanding everything. I didn’t say that.
Stay to the end and crosscheck answers and calculations. No prizes for the first failure out the door.
The first answer you choose is ‘generally’ right. Only change one if you misread the question or missed a ‘gotcha’.
During the test, whisper just loud enough to be heard, “Geez these are tricky questions!” It’ll spook the others!