Teaching Test-Taking Strategies: Importance and Techniques

Abstract

Test-taking strategies are cognitive abilities to deal with any testing situation well independently of the knowledge of the test content. Examples are managing time effectively, surveying all questions before responding, dealing with difficult questions, dealing with multiple-choice questions, and underlying keywords questions. This paper has two goals. First, reviewing and discussing the direct and indirect importance of teaching test-taking strategies on students' performance: Directly, these strategies help students increase their scores on tests through the effective use of their time, effort, and test conditions. Indirectly, using appropriate test-taking strategies affects other factors such as reducing test anxiety and improving attitudes toward tests; second, suggesting teaching techniques to help teachers, educators, and test developers systematically teach test-taking strategies: More than 50 techniques for teaching the main test-taking strategies have been introduced in question formatting. These techniques could be taught with any content or materials and at any school level.