Objective tests measure both your understanding of course materials and your ability to remember facts and figures. Often these tests are designed to make you think independently, so don't count on recognizing the right answer. It is better to prepare yourself for high level critical reasoning and making fine discriminations to determine the best answer. The widespread objective test questions are multiple-choice, true-false, and matching items. To do well on these questions you should not only master the information but also interpret the testmaker's intentions. If you can do the following things, it means that you have mastered the information.

1. Recall specific terms, facts, names, and other key words; become proficient in the language of the course.
2. Distinguish the ways in which ideas, facts, theories, or other observations differ from each other and categorize ideas, facts, theories, or other observations according to the ways these are similar.
3. Answer the questions and solve the problems in the text and create your own questions or problems.

Preparing for Objective Tests
1. Review notes and text(s) - list the major concepts that have been covered.
2. Highlight topics that were stressed. Note why they were stressed.
3. Think vocabulary. Each field of study has its own vocabulary, so identify words and terms used to represent specific concepts (i.e., the word "paradigm" in a social science course), and treat them as you would a foreign language. You can make flash cards for frequent drills, and try to use these words whenever you work with course-related materials.
4. Compare and contrast. Sometimes objective questions can be used to test your ability to distinguish concepts, ideas, theories, events, facts from each other. Construct charts, diagrams, tables or lists to summarize relationships.
5. Recite for precision. Examine your retention of the information by recalling it often. Try to use odd moments, in addition to 15-20 minute review sessions, to say or write out complete ideas and facts. It is very significant to verbalize the recalled information completely and in a detailed manner so that you will have a precise idea of your mastery of the material.