Suggestion 198. Hand out study and review questions before the exam

IF YOU WANT TO:

• Give exams permitting students to show understanding

• Give exams requiring synthesis of parts of the course

• Motivate students to do their best work

• Help relieve student anxiety about tests

Handing out study and review questions before the midterm and final.

Several excellent teachers report that they always hand out study and review questions before exams in their undergraduate courses. A professor of Near Eastern studies says, "This helps relieve test anxiety, especially in a lower division course where students are less sure what to expect.

"I organize my study questions so that it is apparent not only what is most important, but how the parts of the course fit together. I think this helps students synthesize the material which is what most of my actual exam questions require them to do."

A social science professor hands out a list of 20-25 possible essay exam questions, from which the actual exam questions will be selected. "I find this greatly aids the students' review of the course," he says. "If they prepare to answer each question, they will have done a major review and there is no reason they should not do exceptionally well in the exam. Of course, there are always students who prefer to play Russian roulette, preparing for only a few of the questions. Still, I get no complaints about the fairness of the tests, and I think it helps most of the students really do their best."

Limitations on Use of Suggestion

  Discipline:  None
Course Level:  None
 Course Size:  None
        Mode:  None

Copyright 1983 by the Regents of the University of California

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