Research Debunks Common Standardized Test Taking Strategies
Research Debunks Common Standardized Test Taking Strategies by Alex Mallory
“When in doubt, choose C.”
“You can make up anything on the essay.”
“Don’t read the passages and go straight to the questions.”
Students’ theories about standardized testing shortcuts are as numerous as they are incorrect, but they are usually easy to debunk with a little scrutiny. Recent cognitive psychology research, however, indicates that many of the most commonly used (and commonly taught) learning techniques and testing strategies are not as useful as conventional wisdom says. But it’s not all bad news — these studies also present alternatives to replace these inefficient methods.
In a recent study titled “Improving Students’ Learning with Effective Learning Techniques,” John Dunlosky et al. test the utility of several common tactics used to absorb verbal information, primarily concerned with reading