NURSING TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES
So you wanna ace a nursing test. OR, you want to ace ANY TEST? Well, in my school, you had to get above a 92% for it to be considered an A and above a 75 for it considered to be passing. We had students dropping like flies, especially out of NUR112 (the dreaded course) which combined pediatrics, medical-surgical, and maternity nursing. However, I do have some time-tested ways to improve your grades and will be posting tips and tricks throughout this week and next. And, they will help you even if you are not in nursing school and taking a tough college major or even just a tough course.
I'll give you a little background. I was accepted into the nursing program clinical portion before I was done all my prerequisites because my grades were high enough to get in. Our school was based off a point system. For each prerequisite you completed like science, math, sociology, you got a point. You would get more points for taking the course one time and passing, getting higher grades etc. So, anyway, I got into the program and still had a couple courses to go which was unheard of. Most people had to finish their courses first before their points were high enough. Long story short: I ended up having to take Microbiology and Nur112 at the same time. Nur112 in our school is the dreaded nursing course that usually determines who will stay in and who will drop out for good. I had to survive in these courses because I wasn't able to move on in the program if I didn't pass either one. After getting two F's in both my courses' first-test, I developed some test taking strategies to help me survive and they worked!! My grades improved from F's to A's for the second test. Here's the first one:
1.) STUDYING IN GROUPS ONLY WORKS IF YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE IS PREPARED
Studying in groups can be very effective before a test. It provides encouragement, allows the people in the group to see which areas they need to work on possibly before the test, and provides a little socialization and relaxation. Here's how to work in groups effectively.
*****A. Don't go over someone's house that has little kids or anyone's house for that matter. It provides waaaay too many distractions and you will never get anything done. Meet at a library or quiet place. Or better yet, a place with free wi-fi.
*****B. Keep the number in the group to 4 maximum. Why? The smaller, the better. Having too many people in a group spells trouble. Take it from me: You will most likely leave feeling more anxiety than you went with because chances are, you won't get anything done, unless by some miracle all group members are prepared, organized and serious. Even then, its still hard to learn with 50,000 people asking questions, and brining their own style of studying to the table. I had one study buddy for 3 semesters after that first F, and we had some of the best grades in the class, which leads me to my next point.
*****C. If you do end up studying in a group, make it clear that everyone should prepare in advance. This means looking over/memorizing the material and reviewing concepts so that you could explain it to someone else. Be prepared to make the most of out of your group work.
*****D. Have group organization. Usually a group of people that are in the same clinical or class or sit near each other will simultaneously decide to meet. This is where you should chime in and say, "How about we all prepare 10-15 practice test questions on different concepts to ask the other group members. Usually, the others will be up for doing this. NOTE: If you are asked to join in on a group, you could say, "Is there anything you want me to prepare. Are we doing test-questions, etc." If the person who asked you seems to have no clue, then you may not want to waste your time.
*****E. Be prepared to bail quickly. Bring a cell phone or come with a time-frame in mind when you walk through the door. Even if its fake. Say something like, "I actually can only stay for about 45 min before I have to go." That way, you can leave without feeling guilty if it totally doesn't work out, or you can stay if it goes well.
*****F. If you do decide the group is wasting your time, LEAVE AND DON'T LOOK BACK. Hey, you have some studying to do and need to be prepared. If you aren't prepared for the test, you may resent the people that wasted your time. As a future nurse, you have to stand up for yourself, so be prepared and WILLING to say, "I have to go."
3.)FIND A REGULAR STUDY BUDDY
Work very hard to find a study buddy. Yes, just one. You can even ask your study buddy up-front if they want to work together to improve grades on the test. However, the study buddy must meet certain qualifications, which we will get to later. If you find a study buddy, here's how it will help you: If you miss class, or daydream throughout the class, chances are the study buddy was listening when you were dozing off and vice versa. That way, when you get together and compare notes, you may be able to write down some key points that will be on the test that your buddy heard. Also, maybe your buddy understands something you don't and can explain it to you. Also, you have a backup friend that will help you out when needed. Sharing books, resources, and gossip related to the classroom can be EXTREMELY helpful. Also, if you are going to be late, you can call that buddy and they will inform your instructor or maybe try to help bail you out. Oh, and here's the best part: You can share/vent your clinical experiences with your study buddy. It really is a true lifesaver when under all that stress to have a partner in crime. Especially if there is a really nasty instructor.
KEEP POSTED FOR MORE INFORMATION WEEKLY!!!!!
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