Sooner or later, most students are to take some form of English examinations. Often the

Sooner or later, most students are to take some form of English examinations. Often the more successful students are better prepared. However, sometimes students who do well have better test taking skills. These abilities really have nothing to do with understanding English better. They are skills that make taking the test easier, and therefore provide better results.

Here are some very important—and often ignored—guidelines to taking a test successfully.

Do not insist on completing each question before going to the next. This is extremely important. Remember one question may only be worth one point! You will become nervous when you fail to find out its answer, making you lose your concentration and leading to worse results. However, answering the questions you are sure you know results in your being more relaxed and feeling more confident.

Go through the test a second time working out the answers to more difficult questions. Sometimes questions asked are answered in later questions asking for different things.

Usually(but not always) a strong first impulse(冲动) means we know the answer and we don’t really have to think about it too much. Going back to think about it usually makes you unsure and often causes a mistake. This is very common, so be very careful!

If you don’t know the answer, write something. If you are answering a 4 possibility multiple choice question you will still have a 25% chance of being correct!

Taking a test is as much for you as is for your teacher, so never cheat. If you cheat, you don’t help yourself in the long run.

【小题1】In the first paragraph, the writer stresses the importance of ______.

       A. better preparations for exams.                   B. better understanding of English.

C. better skills at taking exams.                  D. better results of taking exams.

【小题2】When taking an exam, you are advised ______.

A. to first answer the questions which are easier to you.

B. to depend on your first impulse to answer the questions.            

C. to search the test paper for all the answers to the questions.           

D. to give up the questions whose answers you don’t know.

【小题3】It is common that many students______.

       A. pay much attention to their testing skills.

B. often give up a difficult test halfway.

C. often get higher results by cheating.

D. don’t believe in their first impulse.

【小题4】What would be the best title of the passage?

       A. Effective Studying Methods.                  B. Effective Test Taking Skills.

C. Getting Better Exam Results.                  D. Being Successful Students.

CADB