We've all heard a teacher say, "Don't forget to check your work!" But let's be real, who wants to re-read a whole test or exam after putting so much effort into it? And if you're like most students, you might be thinking, "How do I even do that?"
Here are three super simple tips to help you improve your results and confidence through checking.
TIP 1: Read the Question with your Pen!
When we read, we usually scan the words and sentences to get the gist of what's being said. But that can be a problem when it comes to exam questions.
You might miss important information.
You may not notice key instructions.
You could assume you know what's being asked based on questions you've practised.
The result? An incorrect or partially correct answer.
To avoid this, try reading the question with a pen in your hand and mark important parts of the question. You can even develop a quick code to help you focus on the critical parts of the question. Here's what you can do:
Highlight the question word (describing how you must answer the question).
Underline the words that tell you what you need to write about (the content of the question).
Circle any words with specific instructions or mark indicators (like (2 x 3) or (3 x 2) - this will remind you how many answers you must write - the first number - and how many points must be in each answer - the second number).
Draw a squiggly line under the number of marks so that you know how detailed your answer must be.
Here are some questions for different subjects that have been marked up.
TIP 2: The 2-Second Double-check
This tip is all about doing an immediate, instant check after finishing certain tasks. Here are a few situations where this tip can prevent you from making silly mistakes which may mean you write down the wrong letter or cause you to go down a long difficult problem-solving path you didn't need to (particularly in Maths and the Sciences):
When answering multiple choice questions, check that you marked the answer you wanted. It helps if you look at the letter you’ve written down and then use your pen or finger to check that same letter on your test or exam paper.
The same goes for match the column type questions. Often, if you’ve drawn lines or scribbled notes on your exam paper, you may misread the number or letter.
In Maths and the Sciences, make sure you copied the formula correctly and filled in the right information. It is very easy to
copy a formula incorrectly,
fill in the wrong information,
forget the operation signs or put in the wrong ones, or
put the information in the wrong place.
If you take just two seconds to quickly scan that you’ve got the formula correct and that you’ve selected all the right numbers, you can save yourself many, many moments of frustration and of course, time!
TIP 3: Do a 3-Point Check
If you finish your test or exam before the time is up, do a quick 3-point check to make sure you're good to go:
1. Check your numbering:
Did you number your answers the same way as in the question paper?
Did you answer using the right form (letter, number, word)?
2. Make sure you answered all questions:
Did you miss any questions by accident?
Did you answer all parts of a question?
Did you answer the actual question or just show your calculations?
Did you write enough to get all the marks?
3. Watch out for obvious spelling or language errors:
Sometimes we rush and forget the last letters of a word.
Most of us have a number of words we stumble over when it comes to spelling. Make a list of words you commonly misspell so you can look out for them.
By practicing these strategies every time you do a piece of work, you will develop the habit of checking your work effectively. And the more you practice these checks, the easier and faster they'll become so that you can feel more confident during tests and exams.
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