Cheat on the Exams! (Top Test-taking Stategies any Testtaker Should Have)

Cheat on the exams!

First and foremost, I would like to tell you, that if you're looking for leakage on the NLE or any examinations, it just seems impossible. It has happened once, but will definitely not happen again.  :)

These exams are given to test our knowledge on something, right? After months of review, usually sleepless nights, we might take the exam afterwards, and be shocked that a topic is something that you don't remember or something you didn't tackle at all, right?

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Well, don't fret. It's not only you who experienced it but all of us have. And because of these, we learn from our mistakes. We try to learn some tricks on how to guess the answers to the questions given, hence we develop test taking strategies in taking these examinations. With these tricks, we surely can cheat those people who try to cheat on us! :)

The strategies below are some things that I (and maybe others) have formulated, as well as applied in our test-taking. Come read and be somewhat informed of the innovations (yeah!) in the strategies in taking an examination.  But first, let's consider this question as a reference for all the tips. Also try to answer, if you want to.

I. Which of the following is an example of a natural light?

a. flashlight

b. moonlight

c. fluorescent light

d. Twilight

II. Which of the following is true about the formula E=mc^2?

a. It is used for measuring the volume of one solution.

b. It is used to measure the speed of a moving car.

c. It is a formula in Physics used to measure the resting energy of an object, by determining its mass, as well as by supplying the constant c, which is the speed of light.

d. It is used to measure the temperature of an object.

III. Which is a beneficial function of plants?

a. They do not filter the air that we breathe.

b. They greatly help in respiration, by converting carbon dioxide to oxygen.

c. They do not shade us from the damaging rays of the sun.

d. They greatly help in respiration, by converting oxygen to carbon dioxide.

IV. Which drug can relieve fever?

a. sponge bath

b. paracetamol (Tempra)

c. cefuroxime (Cefux)

d. loperamide (Diatabs)

NOTE: These tricks may apply to some questions only.

0. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS! This is the topmost tip I can give you, folks. One mistake can lead to hundreds. So, be aware of the instructions. Especially the time, so that you can strategize on which questions to skip, or which to give more time to.

1. Follow your instincts. They say that the first answer that you think of is the correct one. Over-analysis can only lead you to paralysis, as they say. Looking at question 4, it asks for a drug, not an intervention. And taking it from experience, you can say that you took paracetamol for fever before, right? So that is the correct answer.

Over-analysis is like this. Looking at the choices, an over-analyzer can do these statements in his mind.

"The question asks for a drug, but this can be a trick, as nursing graduates, we must not look for drugs, as they can only be prescribed by the physicians. Sponge bath is non-invasive and can maximize the nursing function.. But no, no, no! The answer must be a drug, but I can't decide if it's paracetamol or cefuroxime. I eliminate loperamide, because it's anti-diarrheal. Paracetamol is a drug in reducing fever. Yes, it's paracetamol. But no, no, no! Just leaving the cause of the fever won't stop the fever. So, antibiotics like cefuroxime can combat fever. No infection -> no triggering of the temperature-regulation -> no fever. So, I go for cefuroxime. But hey, diarrhea can cause hyperthermia, as water loss can also lead to increase in temperature - a dehydrated person cannot produce sweat, which can reduce temperature. But hey, I'm a nurse, so I choose A."

The thing above just led to a wrong answer. Proves that over-analysis can be deadly.

2. Do the elimination. If you can see my examination papers way back in college, you can see that there are a lot of marks in every question. This is what everyone calls elimination. Try to eliminate the ones not related to the question, and increase your chances to get the correct one. To show it clearly, look at our reference question. If we analyze the question, it looks for a natural light, hence, eliminating A and C, which are artificial lights. This leaves us with B and D, with 50% chance of getting it correctly. As obvious as it may seem, we can eliminate D, thus leaving us with B.

However, some exams do not allow test takers to put marks in their questionnaire, but a single, unnoticeable in the choices do not hurt, right? :D

3. The B and C theorem. There are theories pointing out that examiners have the tendency to put the correct answer in A and D, which are the extremes. These may be attributed to the fact that they want to confuse the examinees more, as putting the correct answers in the extremes may give them the chance of getting it correctly.

4. Look for the obvious. Looking at our reference questions, as well as tip #1, we can always see obvious answers whenever they give the question.

5. Look for the negatives and positives. There are also questions that may rely on the use of words that may negate or agree with the choice being given. Basing it in question III, some negative words may make the choice wrong. Usually, they use the words "do not, hardly, not, etc." that makes the statement negative. Moreover, words like "greatly, highly, positively, and such" can make a choice correct. But reminder, some things may also seem like correct if we've done vice versa.

6. The longest statements have the high possibility of being correct. Choices which give an explanation, a formula, or procedure on doing it has a high chance of being correct. The examiners, of course, wants the choice to be correct one by adding a little bit of details to the answer. Considering questions II and III, the longest choices are the correct ones.

7. The Opposing Forces. There are choices in which two of those are negating each other. This gives you the chance to eliminate the other two which do not oppose. As we can see in question III, choices B and D are two opposing questions. This leaves us with 50% chances of getting it correctly. However, it may differ from other questions.

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Not-so-productive tricks (these tricks are designed to just randomly guess, if you have done the above things and still can't decide.)

8. The eenie-minie-mo. I used to do this eenie-minie-mo before, but it may obviously fall on a C, if you have four choices. To avoid this bias, this is what I do. I read the questions while pointing at the choices. I move one choice with a syllable of the question. To explain it clearly, let's take question I.

Eliminating both A and C, we have B and D. Now, reading the question, "Which-of-the-fol-lo-wing-is-an-e-xam-ple-of-a-na-tu-ral-light?", you can point it out at letter B, which is the correct answer. (I'm really ashamed of this strategy right now.)

9. The pin-the-tail approach. If you really can't decide, just put your pencil on top of the choices, do a random pattern with your pen in the air, and in a jiffy, direct it towards the choices. The one in the end of the pen can be your answer. If still in doubt, try doing tip #7, between the choice acquired from this technique and the one you think is the correct answer.

Oh yeah, PIN IT!
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10. ...or just go again with your instinct. As it is said in tip #1, the first choice can always be correct.

There you go folks. If you're looking for test-taking strategies for NLE, these tips and tricks are what helped me take the licensure examinations. I admit that even after reading and reading and reading before the exams, there came a point which I didn't even have an idea of what the answer is. I gave these tips just when you're really not sure of what to answer, OK? The best way is still to study, and don't literally cheat - yes, you may, but if you're caught, you may not take that exams in the future. Moreover, remember that there's no such thing as leakage in the Nurse Licensure Examinations. Good luck on your exams!

Is there a "cheat" that you can add for the future examinees? Post them below.