TEST TAKING STRATEGIES

  • Divide your study time into shorter periods.
  • Don't pile all your studies into a session or two.
  • Maintain regular but short study periods and be consistent.
  • Plan how long you are going to study and when you're going to study.
  • Schedule specific times throughout the week.
  • Stick to your study schedule.
Know what you need to accomplish during each study session (number of test items to complete, topics you will cover, etc.).
Your routine may change if unforeseen events occur, however, resume your routine after the event passes.
  • Do not allow distractions to cause you to lose focus (TV, family, too quiet, too loud, etc.).
  • Find a place where you will not be interrupted (quiet place at home or library).
  • Study groups should be structured.
  • Group members should come prepared 
  • Completing the most difficult subject first will make it much easier to complete the rest of your work.
  • Most difficult subjects require more effort and mental energy. 
  • Starting with the most difficult subject will greatly improve the effectiveness of your study sessions.

Anatomy of a Test Item
                                                                 Item: the entire question and answer
                                                                  Stem: the actual question, what is being asked
                                                                  Options: possible responses
                                                                  Correct answer: umm, the correct answer
                                                                  Distractors: incorrect answers

Strategic words focus your attention on a specific or critical point to consider when answering the question. Some Strategic words may indicate that all of the options are correct, and that it will be necessary to prioritize in order to select the correct option. As you read the question, look for the Strategic words. Strategic words will make a difference regarding how you will answer the question.

Commonly Used Strategic Words
Best
Initial
Early or late
Most appropriate or least appropriate
First
Most likely or least likely
Immediately

Prioritization Strategic Words
Best
Most appropriate or least appropriate
Critical
Most important
Essential
Most likely or least likely
First
Next
Highest priority
Primary
Immediate
Vital
Initial

Example Test Item
As a nurse, which of the following is your highest priority of providing care?
Answers, in order of priority:
#4. a. The patient needs a dressing change
#1. b. The patient needs suctioning
#2. c. The patient is in pain
#3. d. The patient is incontinent

 B is the correct answer because it is the # 1 priority (highest).
One of the first things you should do when reading a test question is identify whether the question is inquiring about a positive outcome or negative outcome,  this will increase the likelihood of answering the question correctly.  

Primarily, questions are written as positive events, therefore, the question, ask for a correct option.  Words that are commonly used in Positive events questions 
  • Immediately
  • Most Appropriate
  • Understands
  • Has been achieved
  • Adequately tolerated
  • Initial nursing action
  • Most likely
  • Best action
  • The first action
Occasionally the question is written as a negative, therefore, look out for question that ask for an incorrect option.  Words that are commonly used in Negative events questions 
  • Need further teaching
  • Does not understand
  • Except for
  • Is not 
  • Will never
  • The least
  • Need to avoid
  • Is contraindicated
  • All except

Read all of the data in the question
  • Reread the data provided.
  • Avoid “skimming over” data presented.
  • Focus on the subject of the question.
  • Look for strategic words.
  • Determine whether the question identifies a positive or negative event query.
  • Use nursing knowledge and clinical learning experience to answer correctly.
  • Identify a relationship between the subject of the question and the data provided.
  • Visualize the situation in the question and think about what applies.
  • Form a mental image of the situation. 
Reading into the question means that you are considering issues beyond the information presented in the question.  Do not imagine anything beyond what is actually being described in the question.

Tips
  • Identifying the ingredients of a question
  • Look for strategic words
  • Identifying the subject (what the question is asking)
  • Avoiding the “What if?” syndrome
 


Use the process of elimination to identify the correct option.  

Follow these steps to eliminate similar options when answering a questions.

  1. Look for similar options
  2.  If any of the options include the same idea, then they are incorrect and can be eliminated.
  3. The answer to the question is the option that is different
Remember that there is only one correct option!
When a question requires prioritization, all options may be correct, but you need to determine the correct order of action.

Test-taking strategies that you can use to assist in answering these questions correctly:

Use the Priority Classification System
  • High Priority: a client need that is life threatening or if untreated could result in harm to the client
  • Intermediate (Middle) Priority: a non-emergency and non–life-threatening client need that does not require immediate attention
  • Low Priority: a client need that is not directly related to the client’s illness or prognosis, is not urgent, and does not require immediate attention
Determine if the circumstances requires 
  • ABCs—airway, breathing, and circulation
  • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory
  • Steps of the nursing process
Note the strategic words that indicate the need to prioritize in order of importance
  • Best                                                                       
  • Critical 
  • Most important
  • Essential                                                                
  • First 
  • Highest priority                                                    
  • Immediate                                                             
  • Vital
  •  Initial
  • Vital
  • Primary
  • Next

Use nursing knowledge to answer the questions

  • If the question identifies a medical diagnosis, make a relationship between the medication and the diagnosis; for example, determining that cyclophosphamide is an antineoplastic medication if the question refers to a client with breast cancer.
  • Determine the classification of the medication being addressed to determine a medication action and/or side effects.  Use medical terminology skills to answer the question; for example, diltiazem (Cardizem) is a cardiac medication.
  •  Recognize the common side effects associated with each medication classification and then relate the appropriate nursing interventions to each side effect; for example, if a side effect is hypertension, then the associated nursing intervention would be to monitor the blood pressure.
  • Learn medications that belong to a classification by commonalities in their medication names; for example, medications that are xanthine bronchodilators end with –line (e.g., theophylline).
  • Look at the medication name and use medical terminology to determine the medication action; for example, Lopressor lowers (lo) the blood pressure (pressor).
  • If the question requires a medication calculation, remember that a calculator is available on the computer; talk yourself through each step to be sure the answer makes sense, and recheck the calculation before answering the question, particularly if the answer seems like an unusual dosage.
  • Generally, the client should not take an antacid with medication because the antacid will affect the absorption of the medication.
  • Enteric-coated and sustained-release tablets should not be crushed; additionally, capsules should not be opened.
  • The client should never adjust or change a medication dose or abruptly stop taking a medication.
  • The nurse never adjusts or changes the client’s medication dosage and never discontinues a medication.
  • The client needs to avoid taking any over-the-counter medications or any other medications such as herbal preparations unless they are approved for use by the health care provider.
  • The client needs to avoid consuming alcohol.
  • Medications are never administered if the prescription is difficult to read, is unclear, or identifies a medication dose that is not a normal one.
You might be asked a question that requires deciding how to delegate a task or assign clients to other health care providers.  Determine what task to delegate by following the delegation guidelines.

Delegation Guidelines:  
  • Match the client’s needs with scope of practice for the health care provider giving care.
  • Noninvasive interventions such as vital signs, skin care, ROM exercises, ambulation, can be assigned to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).
  • A licensed practical/vocational (LPN/LVP) nurse can perform the tasks of a UAP.
  • An LPN/LVP nurse can perform invasive tasks such as dressings, suctioning, urinary catheterization, and medication administration orally and SQ/IM injections.
  • The registered nurse can perform the tasks that a licensed practical/vocational nurse can perform.
  • The registered nurse is responsible for: assessment, planning care, analyzing client data, implementing and evaluating client care.
  • The registered nurse supervising care, initiating teaching, and administering medications intravenously.
Always read the data carefully in the question
  • Determine exactly what the question is asking (the subject of the question).
  • Identify strategic words.
  • Note whether the question contains a positive or negative event query.
  • Use nursing knowledge and clinical learning experiences.
  • Think about the pathophysiology associated with the disorder, if a disorder is presented in the question.
  • Visualize the situation in the question and think about what applies.
  • Form a mental image of the situation.



  • A guessing strategy is useful to the extent that it beats random guessing.
  • The longer answer on multiple choice tests is usually the correct one, as the test makers typically need to use more words to ensure the correct answer cannot be disputed.
  • Research shows answers "none of the above" or "all of the above" were correct 52% of the time. Choosing one of these answers gives you a 90% improvement over random guessing.
  •  Knowledge trumps outguessing, cross out answers you know are wrong based on the facts first.
  •  Answer choices that are incongruent with the rest are usually wrong.



Do not change your answer unless you are 100% certain you are making the correct selection.

Research shows that when students chose to stick to an original answer they were correct more often than not!


If you feel confident that you have prepared thoroughly, you will feel more confident walking into the test.
  • Get adequate rest (9–10 hours per night).
  • It will not be  beneficial to stay up late rereading study material the night before an exam.


  • Eat a nutritious breakfast before the exam.
  • Pack smart snacks for ongoing energy.
  • Eat foods that offer a steady stream of nutrients, rather than a sugar high followed by a crash.



  • Feeling rushed will only amp up the anxiety. 
  • Pack everything you need for the exam the night before.
  • Set the alarm, so you can get out the door on time.




  • Visualize your happy place.
  • Create a chant to cheer yourself like "I can do this" or "I've worked hard and I deserve it."
  • Think of your happy place and recite you chant  right before the exam begins.





  • It doesn’t matter what others are doing.
  • Pay attention to your own exam and pace.
  • Tune out what is happening in the room.






  • Mentally allocate how much time you’ll spend on each question.
  • The exam can be anywhere from 75 to 145 items, regardless of the number of items, the time limit is five hours.
  • Realizing that time is almost up and there are lots of test questions left can make it hard  in those final minutes.






  • Read all the answers before choosing. 
  • Slowing your pace can help you stay focused.






  • Deep breathing can slow down a beating heart or a racing mind, so practice these techniques at home. 
  • The very act of concentrating on breathing can control anxious feelings.
  • Some test-taking anxiety is normal.