Student Success Center
Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services
Student Academic Resource Center
We teach the tools that are indispensable to learning
Common Testt Takiing Err rrorrs
There are several errors that college students commonly make that lower test scores. Examine
the list below to see which errors may be lowering your test scores. On the back of this page,
see what “A” students do to avoid these errors.
1. Did not follow the directions
2. Didn’t calculate how much time to spend on each question to have time to do all of them.
3. Did not read questions carefully.
4. Did not go back and check over answers.
5. Accidentally marked the wrong item or box.
6. Changed an answer from correct to incorrect after.
7. Remembered going over the material but could not recall it.
8. Did not understand a question and didn’t get clarification from the instructor.
9. Wrote lots of words but didn’t answer the question.
10. An answer was disorganized.
11. Hard writing was illegible.
12. Made careless errors.
13. Did not support points with evidence, facts, statistics, research or proof.
14. Did not know the subject matter well.
Correct:
The number 1 test-taking technique is KNOWING THE MATERIAL WELL.
Student Success Center
Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services
What can you do about each error?
1. Did not follow the directions for the test. Always read test directions before beginning to answer
questions. Instructors may change directions from test to test and sometimes they include omitters.
Omitters are directions that say something like “only do the 1st five questions” or “only to the even
numbered questions”.
2. Didn’t calculate how much time to spend on each question to have time to do all of them. Di-
vide the number of questions into the number of minutes you have to take the test. Be sure to allow
more time for essay answers and problem solving.
3. Did not