Test Analysis Worksheet

	Potentially Related Factors	Assessment Needed	Possible Interventions
I. Lack of knowledge of subject	Poor retention of information	Did you spend adequate time in study and review?	Have you built in review time in your schedule? Did you set up a pre-exam study review schedule? Did you make use of summary sheets, maps, flash cards, etc., for drilling on important information?
	Inadequate lecture notes	Was the information needed to answer the questions given in lecture or in textbook? If it was given in lecture, check to see if the information is adequately recorded in your notes.	Set up note-sharing with a peer tutor Share notes with others in a study group Get help in improving note-taking skills Record lectures with a tape recorder and then complete notes from the tape after class
	Failure to understand concept well enough to apply knowledge correctly	Pinpoint what you did not understand	Study with the goal of understanding Compare textbook with other sources in order to clarify concepts Seek help from instructors Set up tutoring with the goal of discussing important concepts including possible applications Discuss concepts with other students in a study group Check your summary sheets or maps to see if they were prepared to show relationships
II. Inadequate English Language Skills
Reading comprehension	Failure to understand the meaning of the question(s) and/or answer options	Did you restate or explain the question or answer options before answering the questions?	Seek clarification from the instructor to be sure the question or option is understood correctly Seek help with reading comprehension skills
Vocabulary	Inadequate vocabulary to understand the meaning of question(s) or answer option(s)	Check to see if you can explain the meaning of the word(s) which caused the difficulty	Look up all unfamiliar words in a dictionary or glossary when studying Make a list of all new vocabulary encountered
			Make flash cards of all new vocabulary words with their meanings. Drill with these flash cards. Use the words in sentences. Practice pronouncing the words.
Reading speed	Lack of time to complete all items on examination or unwise use of time	Did you answer all items? Were items left undone or unfinished due to lack of time?	Did you budget test time? Did you follow the steps in our test-taking plan? Did you spend an inordinate amount of time on some of the questions? Discuss with instructor(s) whether it is possible to have extra time to complete exams Get help to improve reading rate.
III. Exam Panic:
Unable to concentrate during the exam	Questions or answer options not read carefully enough	Were you able to answer the questions correctly immediately after the exam or now during the exam analysis?	Practice good exam techniques so that you have a specific routine to follow in answering every exam question: A. Concentrate on what the question is asking: – Underline key works – Jot down own answer before looking at the answer options B. Consider each option carefully: – Underline key words – Mark each option as true, false, or? C. Choose answer using information you have learned during the course
“Easy” questions answered incorrectly	Good exam techniques not used on “easy” questions as well as “hard” questions		Use good techniques on every question—not just those that are difficult
Mental block – can’t remember what has been learned when taking exam	Material not learned thoroughly enough		Use a relaxation technique while exam papers are being passed out Immerse yourself in the exam; attack it with good test-taking techniques
	Lack of confidence in ability to do well on exam Unable to break exam panic cycle and relax after the first couple of minutes into the exam		Locate an easy question and answer it first Over learn while studying Drill with flash cards on important concepts and related materials to build confidence in knowledge of material
IV. Poor Exam Skills:
Did not know what question asked	Question read carelessly or too quickly. Key words not noted	Reread missed question, and then without looking at your former answer or the correct answer, answer it again. Is the second answer different? What caused the change?	Read each question carefully Underline key words Attempt to answer question; jot down “pool of answers” before looking at answer options. This will ensure that you understand what is being asked
Did not consider each option carefully	Made snap decision on an answer choice without thinking through each option		Underline key words in options Compare your “pool” of possible answers with answer options on exam Mark each option as true, false, or?
	Attractively worded distracter chosen because of lack of self-confidence or because correct option seemed “too easy”		Choose answer you have marked true above one marked? Use knowledge you have learned in course—do not choose something unfamiliar just because it “sounds good”
Changed answer from right to wrong	Too much read into the question	How many answers did you change? Calculate the percentage of questions changed from right to wrong	Never change an answer unless you know why the first choice was wrong and/or why the second choice is right. Never change an answer just because of uncertainty or lack of confidence in your knowledge. First impressions are usually right. Later on you may “read” too much into the question
Difficulty with “except” questions		Did you have difficulty with “except” questions?	Disregard the word “except” Mark each option as true, false, or ? Choose the answer that is different from the others Reread stem (including “except”) with answer option chosen to be sure your answer makes sense
Failure to use time wisely-did not answer all of questions-failed to answer question even though correct answer known	Too much time used on different question(s) with not enough time left to answer all question	Were all questions answered? Did you know the correct answer to questions not answered on the exam?	Answer question easiest for you first in order to build up confidence and get the most credit for what you know Answer moderately difficult questions next Leave most difficult questions until last Give more time to questions worth more points Make use of all information in the test, look for memory joggers, as you work through the test
Did not answer question adequately (essay or short answer questions)			Outline all key points before writing answer for an essay question
“Forgot” to answer question(s)	Carelessness or lack of concentration		Do not be in a hurry to leave Take time to recheck paper to be sure all questions have been answered
Marked wrong answer “by mistake”	Carelessness or lack of concentration		Take time to check paper for clerical errors Reread each question with the option you have chosen to be sure you have marked the answer you intended