The math test went well. I was pleased with the amount of studying I did. I’m not sure how they will score the three constructed response questions that are worth 33%. I worry that I should have been more wordy in my answers. But I knew how do all of them, with the exception of one part of one question. This has not been the case in the practice sessions.
I finished all of the 40 multiple choice questions. If a question was confusing to me, I skipped it to go back later and do it. I was not sure I would finish every question and I wanted to do the easier ones I had more chances of getting right first. When I got to the end, there were only eight that I didn’t do the first time around. Of those eight, seven I fiddled with and came up with an answer that seemed like a good guess. The remaining one, I had no idea and I went with “C”.
I thought I developed a particularly good time management strategy. I spent 5 minutes reading over the test at the beginning. That calmed my fears a lot as everything looked familiar. Then I spent 10 minutes on the first constructed response and 15 minutes on multiple choice. I alternated those until I had finished the constructed response. When there were 30 minutes remaining, I took a look at where I was and strategized. I think this back and forth effort helped me not only finish everything, but also not worry that I was going to run out of time before I had even attempted large sections of the test.
The other thing that was nice was that almost every time when I came up with an answer it was one of the choices on the multiple choice. When I was studying I would often puzzle my way through a problem only to find that my answer wasn’t there. It was a bit defeating. This time, even if I figured wrong, I was at least validated by the answer being present.
So overall, I think I did well. I’m not sure it is enough to pass, but even if it isn’t I have now taken the test and know what to expect if I take it again next time.
I came home, and alternately napped and read Dennis Lehane’s new book which is very, very good.
Sounds great! I was pretty sure it would go that way! How long do they keep you in agony about the score? -S
PS- check what you did after the test…a minor error there.
A mere four weeks! Imagine how long it would be if computers couldn’t check the bubbles!
Nice work on the test… I cringe at the thought of any kind of test like that. I get the worst test anxiety – it sounds like you rocked it! I just had a flash back to a post card you sent me once that said this (I don’t remember the exact words but I know I still have it somewhere as it was pinned up in my college dorm room) – it said, “Newsflash #534 No one really cares what your GPA was!” That got me through many anxious test taking days. So tell me – how much more “torture” until you hold a math teaching credential in your hand??? My advice on all this newly acquired (ah hem see my post about my biology teaching anxiety) Use It or Lose It my friend!!!
Good job!
Only six more classes after this one. But I’m hoping to get my certification back this spring.
I still have that postcard – you gave it to me too (in my special Patty jewelry box). -S