What Will Be On the Test?

Some teachers get really irked when students ask what will be on the test, because they expect students to study all the material that's been covered in class. That is understandable.

Still, one of your best approaches to preparing for tests is to play the role of mind reader and to try to figure out what will be covered. There are a few ways to go about this.

First of all, you could ask your teacher to give you an idea of what material to focus on the most while preparing for test day. Some teachers expect you to ask! Just don't expect a complete preview of test questions.

Secondly, you should go over the material and look at it from a teacher's point of view. Ask yourself what you would consider most important to put on an exam. You'll be surprised how helpful it can be to play the role of the teacher as you prepare for a test.

Finally, it's fair to ask the teacher what kind of questions will be on the exam. It's good to know ahead of time whether you should prepare for an essay test, a multiple choice, or a fill-in-the-blank.

The bottom line is that you should do a little detective work to try to figure out what will be covered on your test, so that you can focus your efforts productively. But do not expect the teacher to give you the questions and answers ahead of time!