TIPS WHEN TAKING YOUR EXAMS:

When you take your exams, you need to give it your all. SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, and ATTITUDE plays a vital
role in your success. Skills includes your test taking strategy. A technique that you use to analyze the
question and see the whole picture. Skills include your ability to see through the weaknesses of the
question and the choices itself. Just like your nursing procedures, skills need to be honed, practice makes
perfect. There is an art in everything that we do, so as the questions that you will try to answer. There is
also an art in answering your exams.

DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS IN ANSWERING YOUR EXAMS.

As early as now, you should practice using your test taking strategy. It is a technique which is developed
with adequate knowledge, good critical thinking skills, analysis, and a lot of common sense. Here is how
you can improve your test taking strategy.

1. UNDERSTAND WHAT THE QUESTION IS TRYING TO ASK.

a. Start by rephrasing the question. You can use your own dialect just to make sure that you
understand the question.
Example: 2. The nurse is preparing to take vital sign in an alert client admitted to the hospital
with dehydration secondary to vomiting and diarrhea. What is the best method used to assess
the client’s temperature?
Rephrase: The question is asking about the best method to use in assessing the temperature
of the patient who is vomiting and has diarrhea.
b. Find the key word. Underline or encircle it. It is your key to success.
Example: The nurse is preparing to take vital sign in an alert client admitted to the hospital
with dehydration secondary to vomiting and diarrhea. What is the best method used to assess
the client’s temperature?
c. Think of the possible answer: USE YOUR COMMON SENSE
Example: The nurse is preparing to take vital sign in an alert client admitted to the hospital
with dehydration secondary to vomiting and diarrhea. What is the best method used to assess
the client’s temperature?

Analysis: Temperature could not be taken orally and through anus because the patient is
vomiting and has diarrhea. Possible answers can be through axilla or tympanic.

d. Beware of the words, EXCEPT, INITIAL, BOTH, PRIORITY, APPROPRIATE

1.) EXCEPT- find the statement in the choices which is the opposite of other statements
2.) INITIAL- usually for interventions, it includes procedures which would not make the nurse
tired. In short, it is simple.
3.) PRIORITY- always choose the conditions which may endanger the life of the patient, of
nursing actions that would save the life of the patient from immediate danger
4.) APPROPRIATE- choose the most applicable answer:
2. CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER
There are different strategies in choosing the best answer, you can apply a single strategy or
multiple strategy each time.
1. Elimination- In multiple choice, there are 4 different types of choices. Those are the
choices which are Obviously wrong, is not related, correct statement but does not
answer the question and an option which answers the questions. The best choice is the
latter.
Example: wrong: Where did you go? I bought bread.
Correct: Where did you go? In the convenient store.
Lesson: choices may be logically correct but if it does not answer the question it is not the
best choice!
2. 50-50- eliminate the choices which are obviously wrong, and the choices which are not
related. Then analyze the options once again, choose the option which answers the
question.
3. General to General, specific to specific- When the question is asking you for a general
answer, choose the option which gives you a general answer.
Example: In which municipality do you live? In these options, name of barangay, purok,
or street will not be applicable.
4. Umbrella effect: Choose the option which covers all the other options.
5. Grammar. Choices which are grammatically wrong when added to the key words of the
question are usually incorrect.
6. Eliminate choices with absolute words: NEVER, ONLY, ALL
7. Do not pass your responsibility to others unless the question asks you to especially when
the questions states:
“What is the NURSES initial response”
a. Refer the client to the dietitian
b. Notify the physician
c. Inform the head nurse
d. Assess the patient
This is by the virtue of common sense.

8. Batibot effect: Choices which are obviously different from the others are most likely
correct.
a. Refer the client to the dietitian- others
b. Notify the physician- others
c. Inform the head nurse- others
d. Assess the patient- you

9. Therapeutic Communication.
Rule no. 1. Let the PATIENT express their feelings.
Avoid being judgmental
Do not belittle the client
Do not steal the patients right to EXPRESS their feelings
Do not decide for the patient. Let them decide for themselves.
Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you.