Disability Rights - Purdue University Office of the Dean of Students

Test-Taking Strategies

Cross out incorrect options.
Watch out for absolute terms (always, never, only). Absolute terms are usually wrong.
Look for options that are more complete (all of the above, both a and c). These are usually correct.
Eliminate unfamiliar-looking terms.
Eliminate jokes and insults.
When options are a series of numbers, eliminate the highest and lowest.
The correct answer is often one of two similar looking options.

Each part of the statement must be true, or it is false.
Watch out for absolute terms (always, never, only). These are usually false.
Watch out for double-negatives “not” plus a negative (prefix – un, dis). Cross out both negatives and then read the statement.
Assume the statement is true unless you can determine it is false.
Statements tend to be false because an incorrect reason is given or no reason is given at all.

Cross out both term and the explanation – visually eliminate the amount of information that must be read.
Begin with the column that has the most words (usually the right column), read the first item, then match with a shorter term from the other column.