[Anonymous]

Does anyone else get confused by the way the test questions get phrased?

Sometimes I will take a small, highly manageable section of Becker, like maybe four pages, and I will go through it with a fine tooth comb. When I am done, I will be able to explain what Becker wrote, and so I feel confident in going to the MCQs. Then I’ll go to the related MCQ’s, and sometimes – not always, but definitely sometimes – the questions (or parts of them) sound like they are written in a different language. The result is, it’s sometimes hard to apply what I learned from the lecture.

One Becker Prof told me this difference is a deliberate effort on behalf of the instructional designers, but I tend to think Becker’s explanations can also be very clear, so I’m not exactly sure what is causing the problem. If it isn’t the lecture, then maybe the question is ill-stated? I guess I could just focus on the MCQs, but I do like to listen to the lectures (just because I really do enjoy reading and learning and listening to lectures).

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else out there sees this difference? And, if so, any advice on what to do about it? How to make the transition from the lecture (which should contain the answers to the questions) to the questions (which should be answered by the lectures (as well as in the MCQ explanations)).

Grrr… I love to learn, but I love stuff that makes sense even more… 🙂

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem; my reading comprehension has never been that great so that doesn't help either.

[536FrenchmenStreet]

I think the psychometricians are appropriately named. When I started studying, I would look at some of the questions with my mouth hanging open. The intent, I guess, is to see whether you can apply your knowledge of a particular concept when faced with more than one way of framing the problem. It's a little sadistic but I see the method behind the madness.

In any event, what I started doing was printing everything and then working off the hard copies. I find it easier to parse the sentences, for some reason, with the paper in my hand. I also read the tough ones aloud and then try to put them in my own words.

Not sure why it helps, or even if it will help you, but I'm beginning to get the rhythm of how they ask things. I think. Check back with me after score release day next quarter! Good luck.

BEC: Fall 2016
AUD: Spring 2016
REG: Summer 2016
FAR: RETAKE

[Author]

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