How to Survive a Pop Quiz
Some professors like to torment their students with surprise quizzes and in-class assignments. Even if you’ve been paying attention, it can be difficult to take a quiz you had no idea was coming.
Here are some tips to give you a chance at passing a test you’re not prepared for.
How to Survive a Pop Quiz
Multiple Choice
- If two answers are extremely similar, it’s usually one of these two
- Correct answers rarely have spelling or grammatical errors
- For numbers, you’re safest choosing a number in the middle
- Watch out for absolute answers, such as “always” and “never”
- Often “all of the above” or “none of the above” is correct
True or False
Some professors like hiding trick questions in true or false exams, so be extra careful when reading the questions. You only have two choices, which mean that you have 50% chance of getting the correct answer.
- Lookout for small contradictions or inaccuracies. If one detail is false, the answer is false.
- Take note of qualifiers in the sentence like most, all, sometimes, never or rarely. They sometimes drive the question false depending on the question presented.
- Watch out for absolutes – things usually aren’t “always” or “never”
How do you handle a surprise exam that you have never prepared for?
