Writing Math Tests

General Test Taking Tips

  • Relax
    • Meditate
    • Take deep breaths
    • Drink water (not caffeinated drinks)
    • Go to the bathroom
    • Eat food so you are not hungry
  • Don’t overthink it – your first instinct is more likely to be right
  • Don’t rush
  • Read the whole test before beginning to write?
  • Read each question twice before answering it?
  • Ask the teacher for help/hints
  • Keep working – skip questions where you are stuck
  • Use scrap paper
    • Can do the test a second time on scrap paper to double-check your answers
  • Look over your answers
    • Estimate what the answer should be
    • Read the question followed by your answer – does it make sense?
    • Is your answer reasonable?

Calculators

  • Only use it if you cannot do the math in your head
  • Estimate the answer before you calculate
  • Get your own calculator that you know how to use well
  • Use a calculator that stores the question, so you can double-check for typos

Multiple Choice Questions

  • If you don’t know, guess
    • Rule out obviously wrong answers
    • Avoid patterns in the answers?
  • Work backwards – plug possible answers into the question to see which one works

Short Answer Questions and Problems

  • Show your work
  • Read the question slowly for comprehension
    • Underline the nouns (objects)
    • Double underline the numbers
    • Ask the teacher about any words or expressions you do not understand
  • Techniques
    • Draw a figure or table to demonstrate the problem
      • List all values in a table
      • Draw a tree diagram of values
    • Guess and test
    • Brute force
  • Figure out how to write the question as a math equation
  • Write the answer as a sentence