GE2202

College Survival Skills

I. Test Taking Strategies

A. Guidelines for Answering True-False Questions
1. When you do not know the answer - Mark it true!
• There are generally more true questions on true-false exams than false questions.
• Instructors find it challenging to make a false statement look true.
• Specific details in a statement may also tend to make it true. For example, the statement "Babe
Ruth hit 60 home runs in one season" has specific details and is more likely to be true.
2. Look for any factor that will make a statement false.
• It is easy for the instructor to add a false part to an otherwise true statement.
• Students often quickly assume that a statement is true when they see some truth in it .
• For example, "Water boils at 95°C in Baguio." Water does boil at 99.96°C but not at Baguio’s
altitude.
3. Look for extreme modifiers that tend to make the question false. Extreme modifiers, such as "always,
all, never, or only" make it highly likely that the statement is false. Here is a complete list of EXTREME
modifiers:
all none best absolutely
always never worst absolutely not
only nobody everybody certainly
invariably no one everyone certainly not
4. Qualifying words tend to make a question true. Qualifiers (seldom, often, many) increase the likelihood
that a statement is true. Here is a more complete list of QUALIFIERS:
usually seldom many much
some frequently often sometimes
probably apt to a majority most
might a few may unlikely
5. Negative words or prefixes complicate the statement.
• The prefixes (un-, in-, mis-) will alter a statement’s meaning.
• Double negatives make a positive. For example, "not uncommon" simply means “common.”
6. Questions that state a reason tend to be false.
• Words in a statement that show justification or reason (since, because, when, if) tend to make the
statement false.
• Pay close attention because the given reason may be incorrect or incomplete.

There is no substitute for the truth. Many concentrated hours of study to force facts into your memory is
the best way to prepare for true-false questions. Teachers, however, often present the questions in such
a way that even though you know the material, you can still get the question wrong. Ensure you carefully
read each question and look for the clues mentioned above.

B. Guidelines for Answering Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Formulate your answer before reading the options.
• Focus on finding an answer without using alternatives.
• This will increase your concentration.
• Doing this will help exercise your memory.
2. Eliminate unlikely answers first.
• Eliminating two alternatives quickly may increase your probability to 50/50 or better.
• Use the true-false methods described earlier and find the false alternative.
3. Select numbered answers from the middle range, not the extremes.
• For example, the question asks for the height of a mountain, eliminate 20,000 feet (high) and 3,000
feet (low). Then choose between 8,000 feet and 11,000 feet.
4. Select answers that are longer and more descriptive.
• Longer (true) answers stand out and are more detailed.
• Shorter (false) answers are created quickly as throwaways.
• Descriptive details are given to help you identify the truth.

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5. Similar answers give you a clue! One of them is correct; the other is disguised.
6. Watch out for "NOT TRUE?"
• Remember to reverse your procedure and eliminate the truth.
• Use the true-false methods mentioned earlier and find the false alternative.

C. Guidelines for Essay Questions

1. Organize your thoughts before writing.
• An outline on a separate piece of paper will improve your answer.
• Write the topics and the key introductory words.
2. Paraphrase the original question to form your introductory statement.
• This helps you get the question straight into your mind.
• Restating the question lets your professor see how you understood the question. Perhaps you
understood it to mean something other than what the professor intended.
3. Use the principles of English composition.
• Form a clear thesis statement (statement of purpose) and place it near the beginning as possible.
• Provide clear explanations to back the main concept up.
• Remember, a complete answer usually has a main idea, supporting details, and illustrative
examples.
4. Write clearly! Professors need to be able to read it.
• Making professors work hard to read lowers your grade.
• Write or print clearly with a dark-colored erasable ballpoint pen.
• Avoid crossing out words or sentences, and don't smudge your paper.
• Remember to save some space for a brief but adequate summary.
5. Use lists or bullets wherever possible.
• Numbers or bullets let your professor see your points easily.
• Never bury your lists or critical points in the middle of a paragraph.
• Underline your key points if you need to write a long paragraph.
6. Identify the content words in the question that give you direction.
• Keywords in each question describe the task you need to complete.
• Circle the direction words in the question to ensure that you focus on the desired task.

II. College Survival Skills

A. Time Management (Rosenberg, 2016)
Missing an important deadline is the last thing that you want to happen during college. To avoid this,
the following pointers might help you:
a. Be resilient
Resilience refers to the capacity of a person to recover quickly from difficulties. It is not something
you have initially; it is developed by exercising and flexing your "resilience muscles."
b. Use your technology
You may use your tablet, laptop, or smartphone to help you organize your daily activities.
Scheduling is the best "medicine" for being overwhelmed and disorganized.
c. Use an "old school" calendar
If you are tactile, making a list and then crossing items off as they are completed can be pretty
satisfying. You may opt to use a calendar that could be found in planners or the ones that you hang
on the wall to help you.
d. Keep a routine
Keeping to a way and structure is essential in helping you avoid the pitfalls of procrastination and
avoidance. Setting up recurring "appointments" in any of your calendars will go a long way in
developing new habits.
e. Self-awareness
The more you know about yourself, the better you will adapt to college life's challenges.
Understanding your energy levels and personal preferences throughout the day will help you
become more productive.
f. Seek feedback

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Feedback from one of your trusted friends or family will open your eyes to a new way of viewing a
situation and allow you to make changes when you feel stuck. If you don't feel you have trusted
people you respect, seek advice from the school's guidance counselor.
g. Learn from your mistakes
Use your mistakes as teaching opportunities. Find out what went wrong, where, and how and then
you will know what to do differently next time.

B. Good Study Habits

Plan your study time
Rather than delaying studying, successful students use scheduled blocks of time to get their
coursework done. Your course syllabus will tell you exactly what material you will cover over the
semester (Sieck, 2017).
1. Read and reread the course or subject material
Rereading can be an efficient way to improve retention and boost test performance. But before
doing this, do not forget always to take notes whenever you are sitting through a lecture or doing
an assigned reading (Sieck, 2017).
2. Test yourself habitually
For some students, it is not enough just to reread the materials. Successful students know how
to test themselves on their learning material (Sieck, 2017).
3. Eliminate lifestyle distractions
Technology offers unprecedented ways to access new information. However, it also creates
distractions that prevent you from concentrating when studying. Stick to academic websites, put
your phone on Silent mode, and switch off wireless connection as soon as you have enough
information to write.
4. Take care of yourself first - Get plenty of rest!
Your brain regularly needs to recharge to process and absorb new information. All-nighters are
sometimes inevitable, but don't let them become a habit because sleep deprivation can prevent you
from learning or thinking critically. Permit yourself to make up for lost sleep, too.

C. Taking Notes and Tips on Examinations

1. Five (5) effective note-taking methods by Oxford
a. Cornell methods are best for understanding key ideas and relationships
b. Mapping Method – it is best for visualizing related topics and ideas
c. Outlining Method – it is best for quickly creating study questions for review
d. Charting Method – it is best for reviewing lots of facts
e. Sentence Method – it is best for taking quick and straightforward notes

III. Coping with Stress

What is stress?
Coined by Hans Selye in 1936, stress was defined as "the non-specific response of the body to any
demand for change." Today, it is defined as "the physical, mental, and human emotional response to a
particular stimulus, otherwise called a stressor. Stress can also be defined as the adaption or coping
response that helps the body to prepare for challenging situations.”
A. The ABC Technique
According to Albert Ellis, humans could think their way out of distress by following his ABC model.
When adversity happens, the first thing that you need to do is explain to yourself why it happened. Your
beliefs about the cause of the hardship set off your reaction. The model has three (3) parts:
• A is the activating event or the adversity
• B is the belief gained from the activating event or adversary
• C is the consequence gained from the belief
Example:
Last year, Joselito experienced a car accident that nearly cost him his life. Since then, Joselito has
never held a steering wheel because he believed he was a lousy driver.
A – car accident
B – "I am a bad driver."
C – Since the accident happened, Joselito didn't drive again.

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B. Avoiding Sleep Deprivation (Samuels, 2009)

a. Determine how much sleep you need to feel well-rested daily.
Multiply that number by seven (7). The resulting number is the amount of sleep you need per week.
According to National Sleep Foundation, teenagers (14-17 years old) need 8-10 while young adults
(18-25 years old) need 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
b. Determine how much sleep you get.
Add up the total amount of sleep you get on day/afternoon/evening shifts per week and night shift
per week. Then determine your sleep debt in each situation by subtracting those numbers from the
amount of sleep you need.
c. Focus on minimizing your total sleep debt by doing the following:
• Improve your day's sleep environment.
• Catch up on sleep on your days off.
• Learn to catnap.
• Sleep longer during the day when you have a night rotation or tour of duty.
d. Give yourself a quiet, dark, comfortable day-sleep environment with no distractions.
e. Try to get two to four hours of sleep during the day when you work the night shift.
f. Learn to catnap.
Take a short break for 20–30 minutes with eyes closed, situated in a comfortable and resting
position. You do not have to sleep to get the benefit of a catnap.

D. Tony Wager's Seven Survival Skills

Tony Wagner's book, The Global Achievement Gap, talks about the skills high school and college
graduates need to be successful young professionals and global citizens in today's world. Wagner
says that much of what we do in traditional schools is outdated, and he challenges teachers to rethink
what a rigorous curriculum and school experience mean. To help students become the "knowledge
workers" we need for the 21st century and for the country to stay competitive, Wagner has come up
with these seven survival skills, which were based on interviews with business leaders and teachers
at all levels across the country.
1. Critical thinking and problem solving
The skill of being able to ask insightful questions and obtain accurate responses. Wagner thinks
that children should begin learning critical thinking skills in school as soon as they can reason
abstractly. Before students can effectively apply their necessary thinking abilities to higher
education, professions, or life, they must spend years developing and polishing those talents.
2. Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
Gaining the ability to lead through one's power rather than authority.
3. Agility and adaptability
Because the jobs that businesses pay people to do may become obsolete or transform over time,
adaptability and the capacity to pick up new skills will become more important than technical
proficiency.
4. Initiative and entrepreneurship
Even for manufacturing, craft, and hourly workers, businesses are searching for self-motivated
individuals capable of coming up with inventive answers to some of the most complex and
challenging challenges.
5. Effective oral and written communication
The ability to communicate effectively in written and oral presentations is often cited as the most
critical skill individuals lack.
6. Accessing and analyzing information
In addition to this, it is essential to have the ability to synthesize information.
7. Curiosity and imagination
We are all born with a sense of wonder and creative and imaginative capacities. The ability to
integrate seemingly unrelated areas of expertise is necessary if you want to innovate
successfully.

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References:
5 whys getting the root of the problem quickly. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_5W.htm.
10 effective study habits for college students. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.ecpi.edu/blog/top-10-effective-study-habits-college-
students.
Bryant, S. (n.d.). Test taking Strategies - Columbia International University. https://my.ciu.edu/ics. Retrieved from
https://my.ciu.edu/ICS/icsfs/Test_Taking_Strategies_Handout.pdf.pdf?target=fd2db443-4b34-48d1-a2a7-bd1179827824
Genard, G., (2016). Retrieved from https://www.genardmethod.com/blog/10-fast-and-effective-ways-to-overcome-stage-fright.
How much sleep do we need? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://sleepfoundation.org/excessivesleepiness/content/how-much-sleep-do-we-
really-need-0.
How to take study notes: 5 effective note-taking methods. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.oxfordlearning.com/5-effective-note-taking-
methods/.
Minarik, S., (2012). 4 easy tips for building willpower. Retrieved from http://www.positive-living-now.com/4-easy-tips-for-building-will-power/.
Nisa's tips for stress-free study. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/studying-training/studying-tips-resources/nisas-
tips-for-stress-free-study.
Rosenberg, R. (2016). Time management tips for new college students. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ross-a-
rosenberg/time-management-tips-for-_b_12435970.html.
Sieck, W., (2017). 3 study habits of successful students in college. Retrieved from https://thinkeracademy.com/study-habits-successful-
students/.
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Your Body. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-
body#1.
Wagner, T. (2010). The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don't Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need —
and What We Can Do About It. Basic Books.
Why lack of sleep is bad for your health. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/tiredness-and-fatigue/Pages/lack-of-sleep-
health-risks.aspx

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