| We've heard a lot about the conventional | | | | instead of simply reading preparation |
| methods - classroom learning, practice exams, | | | | material or "cram sheets." Candidates for IT |
| simulation-based testing - that have been | | | | certification, for example, will often need |
| employed to assist students in preparing for | | | | to read explanations for the answers to |
| these key exams. Long tests and practice | | | | questions as many of the questions will test |
| exams are often appropriate preparation | | | | each candidate's ability to analyze rather |
| methods however sometimes they may be too | | | | than to simply recall knowledge. |
| broad-based or inflexible to fit a student's | | | | |
| need to work on specific weak areas. Short, | | | | Online quizzes also offer the ability to |
| material-targeted practice quizzes have | | | | include special media in questions that may |
| proven to be effective in helping students | | | | appear on actual exams. For example, GED |
| strengthen specific weak areas. Students who | | | | exams sometimes feature specialized images or |
| have used short quizzes in conjunction with | | | | pictures in order to assist the test-taker on |
| traditional, practice exam preparation | | | | a particular problem. Some IT or professional |
| methods have reported strikingly positive | | | | certification exams may even require a video |
| results. | | | | demonstration of a particular problem to |
| | | | troubleshoot. All of this media and more can |
| What makes short quizzes so effective in | | | | be included on an online practice quiz, which |
| preparing for exams? A major factor is the | | | | can significantly improve the testing |
| ability of a short quiz to test a specific | | | | experience and offer a great deal of realism |
| area of knowledge rather than all of the | | | | to the test-taker. |
| required material. For example, the SAT | | | | |
| Critical Reading test contains two major | | | | The shorter length of the online quizzes |
| sections of questions "reading comprehension" | | | | combined with the customized feedback makes |
| and "vocabulary in context" and even within | | | | for an incredibly personalized and flexible |
| these questions, different types appear. For | | | | exam preparation experience. Students note |
| example, a student may be very bad at | | | | that while these large exams are useful to |
| summarizing a passage's main focus, which in | | | | take as gauges or diagnostics, short quizzes |
| turn results in him getting a lower score | | | | are useful to improve on a specific weakness. |
| every time on a major practice test. With | | | | In response, these same students have turned |
| shorter quizzes on only the main focus | | | | to a preparation regimen that includes both |
| questions, the student will be able to | | | | full-length exams and frequent quizzing. |
| quickly see how much room he has for | | | | |
| improvement. | | | | It's not by chance that so many students are |
| | | | using short, targeted online quizzes to |
| Pinpointing weaknesses, however, is only one | | | | quickly enhance their exam scores. The |
| part of the equation. With shorter quizzes, | | | | flexibility of these quizzes, coupled with |
| students can also receive customized | | | | their customizable feedback, offers to the |
| feedback. Online practice quizzes in | | | | test-taker the chance to improve on the areas |
| particular offer students the chance to | | | | that they need the most help with. In |
| receive instant feedback, which can be very | | | | conjunction with classroom learning, everyday |
| helpful if a student is trying to "cram" for | | | | studying, and practice examinations, short |
| a big exam. Most students who take online | | | | quizzes can offer students the ability to |
| practice quizzes agree that instant feedback | | | | significantly improve their performance on |
| is a major reason why they take the quizzes | | | | even the toughest exams. |