Test-Taking Tactics
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“Knowing is not enough; we must apply.”
-- Goethe
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Anatomy of a multiple-choice question
O Scenario: Background information, objective data or subjective data
O Stem: The statement that asks the question
O The correct answer O Those pesky incorrect
answers
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Try not to read into the question
OAvoid getting into “what if…” territory
OPay attention to only the information in the question
OPay special attention to words that clue you into what the question is asking
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Test-taking ideas
ODecide what the stem askingOTry to answer it in your own
words before checking the options
OEliminate the options that don’t answer what the stem is specifically asking
OUsually you can reduce plausible answers to just two
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Do not use
!
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Assessment
Diagnosis
PlanningImplementati
on
Evaluation
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Assessment
OWords suggesting the question is asking you to focus on assessment: assess, inspect, identify, verify, observe, question, check, determine, notify, inform, stressors, responses, signs and symptoms, verbal and nonverbal, clinical findings, sources, perceptions
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Diagnosis
OWords suggesting the question is asking you to focus on diagnosis: nursing diagnosis, organize, categorize, cluster, reexamine, reflect, interpret, formulate, pattern, problem, significant, statement, contribute, relevant, valid, decision, analyze
ORelates to frameworks such as Maslow’s hierarchy
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Planning
OWords suggesting the question is focused on planning: achieve, desired, plan, effective, desired result, determine, goal, priority, develop, formulate, establish, design, prevent, strategy, select, anticipate, modify, collaborate, arrange, coordinate, expect, outcome
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Implementation
OWords suggesting the question is focused on implementation: dependent, independent, change, assist, counsel, teach, instruct, implement, give, supervise, perform, procedure, treatment, strategy, facilitate, provide, inform, refer, technique, delegate
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Evaluation
Words suggesting the question is focused on evaluation: evaluate, expected, met, desired, compared, succeeded, achieved, failed, modified, reassess, ineffective, response.
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Pick out negatives or absolutes
ONegatives: not, except, never, violate, needs further education, needs more teaching, contraindicated, unacceptable, avoid, unrelated
OOr absolutes: just, always, never, all, every, none, only, must
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Find words that set a priority
OThese are words that modify what’s being asked:OFirst, initial, best, priority,
safest, most, most important, most likely, lost appropriate, immediate, essential, nest, least appropriate, least likely
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Clues
OOppositesOPlausible optionsOFacts in seriesODenying or minimizing patients’
feelings or concerns or needs
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Who’s the central person?
OThe central person is the one receiving the care
OOther folks in the stem may be there to distract you
OTo answer, focus on the patient
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Critical thinking
O Identify the key conceptOTry not to read into the questionOStudy the rationales
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“Having a sense of salience – being able to recognize what is more or less important in a clinical situation – is the beginning point for clinical reasoning within a situation.”
-- Patricia Benner
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As Goethe said…
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply.”
