Practice tests: the right way and the wrong way to review them
Taking the practice test is the easy half. The other half is the review, and that is where many study hours are lost without you noticing. In 5 minutes you will see the 3 wrong ways to review that make you miss the very same question again on exam day, and the 4 steps to learn more from every practice test you already take.
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The 3 wrong ways to review a practice test
- 1Looking at the score first. The score makes you happy or frustrated, and you stop looking at each question.
- 2Counting a lucky guess as a hit. In practice, a guess adds a point. On exam day, luck does not come with you.
- 3Reading the explanation and thinking “oh, right”. Recognising the answer is not the same as reaching it on your own. On exam day, nobody shows you the explanation.
An example with numbers
You got 52 out of 80 questions right. But 9 of those were lucky guesses. Your score without guesses is 43. Adding the 28 misses and the 9 guesses gives 37 questions that actually need review, not 28 (plus checking any hit marked unsure).
What is in the guide
- 1Before you open the answer key, mark each answer: sure, unsure or guess.
- 2For each miss and each guess, write down the real reason: didn't know, forgot, misread or ran out of time (and check unsure hits too).
- 3Write the rule in your own words on a separate sheet, without copying the explanation.
- 4Two days later, redo only those questions without looking at anything. A question only leaves the list when you get it right and are sure.
What this is not
It is not a question bank. It does not promise to pass the exam for you. It works with the practice test you already take, for any board or exam: licensing, certification, entrance or civil service exams.
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