TEST – TAKING

STRATEGIES:
COPING WITH ANXIETY
HINTS FOR TAKING OBJECTIVE TESTS

1. Use time wisely.

2. Read all directions and questions
carefully.
3. Attempt every question, but do the
easy ones first.
4. Actively reason through the
questions.
5. Choose the answer which the test
maker intended.
6. Anticipate the answer, then look
for it.
TRUE AND FALSE QUESTIONS

1. Look for absolute qualifiers

such as: always, all, nearly. If
one is present, the question
will probably be false.

2. Look for relative qualifiers such

as: often, frequently, or seldom.
These will probably be true.

3. If any part of the question is

false, the whole question is false.

4. If you don’t know the answer,

guess; you have a 50-50 chance of
being correct.
 MATCHING QUESTIONS

1. Make sure you understand the

directions for matching the items
on the lists. For instance, can you
use an item more than once?
2. Answer long matching lists in a
systematic way, such as checking
off those items already used.
3. Do the matches you know first.
4. Eliminate items on the answer list
that are out of place or incongruous.
5. If you don’t know the correct
matches, guess.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Anticipate the answer, then
look for it.
2. Consider all the
alternatives.
3. Relate options against each
other.
4. Balance options against
each other.
5. Use logical reasoning.
6. Use information obtained
from other questions and
options.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

7. If the correct answer is not

immediately obvious, eliminate
alternatives that are obviously absurd,
silly or incorrect.
8. Compare each alternative with the
item of the question and with other
alternatives.
9. Whenever two options are identical,
then both must be incorrect.
10. If any two options are opposites, then
at least one may be eliminated.
11. Look for options that do not match
the item grammatically. These will be
incorrect.
 HAVE A PREPARATION PLAN
SCHEDULE STUDYING TIME

FAMILIARIZE WITH THE TEST TYPE AND FORMAT

USE ALL POSSIBLE RESOURCES

TAKE PRACTICE TESTS

USE RELAXATION TECHNIQUES

PRACTICE DEEP BREATHING

 To reduce test-anxiety
during a test, talk to
yourself:
The brain is very
susceptible to positive
suggestions.

¡If you think you’re smart

and act smart…
you will BE smart!
Present Continuous Present Past simple Past Past Perfect
Simple Perfect Continuous

ever/never now ever/never ago when 1st in past

always at the moment the first time yesterday while
sometimes always- criticism before (last) last year
everyday tonight since in 1995
usually temporary just last night
frequently still already
rarely today for 2 weeks when
often so far
yet I used to
recently
lately
Future- am going Future-will Future Future Perfect Future Words
to continuous
plan decide now by next June about to
tomorrow predictions by this time by this time next are bound to
tomorrow year
in a week I hope am to
I think am about to
I believe due to
soon on the point of
next year
10 years from
now
in a week
Time Expressions Use present tense after these expressions

It’s time you left. It’s time to go. When I get home, I’ll call you.
It’s high time you did your homework. As soon as I reach New York, I’ll send you can e-mail.
Once I finish, I’ll take a break.
I wish I had a million euros. (now) Unless it rains, we’ll go on a picnic tomorrow.
I wish I had gone to Mykonos last summer. After I finish the book, I’ll give it to you.
(past) ****************
If only I had more time. (now) Infinitives in Passive:
If only I had listened to my mother. (past)
He is believed to live/to be living in Athens.
I wish he would get lost. He is believed to have lived/to have been living on Bali in the
I wish it would snow tomorrow. 1980’s.

I hope you have a good time. 25 Y is thought to be the answer.

I’d rather stay here. Smoking is known to cause heart attacks.

I’d prefer to play basketball. Asbestos is known to have caused serious illness.

You’d better go to bed early.

VERBS with to VERBS with ING Both

 agree to  admit  like

 advise (him) to  avoid  love
 afford to  congratulate (him)  hate
 allow (me) to on  begin
 appear to  consider  continue
 arrange to  delay  start
 attempt to  deny
 ask (him)to  detest
 choose to  dislike
 dare to  enjoy
 decide to  fancy EXCEPTIONS
 demand to  finish
 deserve to  imagine He admitted to + ING
 encourage (me)  I am used to/get
 expect to used to I object to + ING
 fail to  involve
 forbid (her) to  like In addition to + ING
 happen to  mention
 hope to  mind
 intend to  miss
 invite (me) to  postpone
 learn how to  practice
 manage to  recommend
 neglect to  risk
 offer to  suggest
 persuade (her) to  It’s not worth
 plan to  I can’t stand
 pretend to  I can’t help
 promise to  It’s no use
 remind (me) to  feel like
 require to  give up
 refuse to  keep on
 seem to  I look forward to
 I am supposed to  put off can’t stand
 threaten to  spend time
 want to  There’s no point in
 warn (them) to  waste time
 VERBS- 2 DIFFERENT MEANINGS
TO ING

1. I forgot to lock the door. 1. I’ll never forget visiting Paris.

2. I must remember to call the doctor. 2. I’ll always remember spending the summers
in Spain.
3. She tried to open the door.
3. Why don’t you try hitting it with a hammer.
4. I meant to call him last night.
4. That means getting up early.
5. We regret to inform you that your flight is
delayed. 5. He regrets spending all his money on cars.

6. She stopped to tie her shoelace. 6. He stopped smoking last year.

C onditional sentences
Zero: Water boils at 100 degrees Centigrade.
First: If I feel better, I will go to the party tonight.
Second: If I had a helicopter, I would travel everywhere in it.
Third: If I had remembered my umbrella, I wouldn’t have got wet
INVERSIONS
 Not only did he lose his watch, but he also lost his passport.
 Never had Jennifer ever seen such a beautiful dress.
 Rarely do children behave all the time.
 Seldom have they known what they were doing.
 No sooner had I opened the door, than a bat flew in my face!
 Only after I got home, did I remember that I had forgotten my umbrella.
 Under no circumstances, are you to open that door.
 At no time are you allowed to smoke during class.
 Not until I had finished the exam, did I realize that I was in the wrong class!
Reported Speech
CHANGE FROM -> TO

Present Simple -> Past simple

Present Continuous -> Past continuous

Present Perfect/Past Simple-Past Perfect - Past Perfect

>

Will/can -> Would/could

Tomorrow/yesterday -> The day after/the day before

Note: In reporting questions, we don’t change the word order.

He wondered why she was always late.

She asked how often she goes to the movies.

ADJECTIVES WORD ORDER
CONDITIONALS
REVIEW
 Present Conditionals

Present Real Conditional

FORM
 If / When
[If / When ... simple present ..., ... simple
Both "if" and "when" are used in the
present ...]
present real conditional. Using "if"
[... simple present ... if / when ... simple
suggests that something happens less
present ...]
frequently. Using "when" suggests
that something happens regularly.
USE
The present real conditional (also called
Examples:
conditional 0) is used to talk about what you
normally do in real-life situations.
When I have a day off from work, I
usually go to the beach.
Examples:
I regularly have days off from work.
If I go to a friend's house for dinner, I
If I have a day off from work, I
usually take a bottle of wine or some flowers.
usually go to the beach.
When I have a day off from work, I often go to
I rarely have days off from work.
the beach.
If the weather is nice, she walks to work.
Jerry helps me with my homework when
he has time.
 Type 1 conditional = Future Real Conditional

FORM ATTENTION
In a type 1 conditional sentence, the tense in the
"if" clause is the simple present, and the tense in In type 1 conditional sentences, you
the main clause is the simple future. can also use modals in the main
clause instead of the future tense to
Examples express the degree of certainty,
permission, or a recommendation
If it rains, I won’t go out. about the outcome.
You will miss the bus if you don't hurry.
Examples
USE
If you drop that glass, it might
It is used to refer to a possible condition and its break.
probable result. These sentences are based on I may finish that letter if I have
facts, and they are used to make statements time.
about the real world, and about particular If he calls you, you should go.
situations. We often use such sentences to give If you buy my school supplies for me,
warnings. In type 1 conditional sentences, the I will be able to go to the park.
time is the present or future and the situation
is real.
 Present Unreal Conditional

FORM
[If ... simple past ..., ... would + verb ...]
[... would + verb ... if ... simple past ...]

USE
The present unreal conditional (also called conditional 2) is used to
talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations.

Examples:

If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don't own a car.

She would travel around the world if she had more money. But she
doesn't have much money.
I would read more if I didn't watch so much TV.
Mary would move to Japan if she spoke Japanese. But she doesn’t.

https://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditional3.htm
 SPEAKING PRACTICE:
If you could be another person for a day, who
would you be?

If you were given a choice between being given

great wisdom or great wealth, which would you
choose?

If you were going to a deserted island and

could only take three things with you, what
would you take? Why?
 Past Conditionals

Past Real Conditional

FORM

[If / When ... simple past ..., ... simple past ...]

[... simple past... if / when ... simple past ...]

USE

The past real conditional describes what you used to do in particular

real-life situations. It suggests that your habits have changed and you
do not usually do these things today.

Examples:

If I went to a friend's house for dinner, I usually took a bottle of wine or

some flowers. I don't do that anymore.

A: What did you usually do when it rained?

B: I usually stayed at home.
 IMPORTANT

Used to

The form "used to" expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past.
This form is commonly used in past real conditional sentences to emphasize that something was a
habit. The examples below have the same meaning as the examples above.

Examples:

If I went to a friend's house for dinner, I used to take a bottle of wine or some flowers. I don't do
that anymore.

A: What did you usually do when it rained?

B: I used to stay at home.

If / When

Both "if" and "when" are used in the past real conditional. Using "if" suggests that something
happened less frequently. Using "when" suggests that something happened regularly.

Examples:

When I had a day off from work, I usually went to the beach.
I regularly had days off from work.

If I had a day off from work, I usually went to the beach.
I rarely had days off from work.
 Past Unreal Conditional

FORM
[If ... past perfect ..., ... would have + past participle ... ]
[... would have + past participle ... if ... past perfect ...]

USE

The past unreal conditional (also called conditional 3) is used to talk about
imaginary situations in the past. You can describe what you would have
done differently or how something could have happened differently if
circumstances had been different.

Examples:

• If I had owned a car, I would have driven to work. But I didn't own one,
so I took the bus.
• She would have traveled around the world if she had had more money.
But she didn't have much money, so she never traveled.
• I would have read more as a child if I hadn't watched so much TV.
Unfortunately, I did watch a lot of TV, so I never read for entertainment.
 IMPORTANT
Only use "If“

Only the word "if" is used with the past unreal conditional because you are
discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.

Examples:

• I would have bought that computer when it had been cheaper.  X

• I would have bought that computer if it had been cheaper. 

EXCEPTION
Conditional with Modal Verbs

The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you
cannot combine them with "would have."
Examples:

• If I had had more time, I could have exercised after work.

• If he had invited you, you might have gone.

https://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditional5.htm
 Future Unreal Conditional

FORM 1 (Most Common Form)

[If ... simple past ..., ... would + verb ...]

[... would + verb ... if ... simple past ...]

Notice that this form looks the same as Present Unreal Conditional.

• If I had a day off from work next week, I would go to the beach.
I don't have a day off from work.
• I am busy next week. If I had time, I would come to your party.
I can't come.

IMPORTANT

It is only used when a speaker needs to emphasize that something

is impossible. 
 FORM 2
[If ... were + present participle ..., ... would be + present participle ...]
[... would be + present participle ... if ... were + present participle ...]

USE

Form 2 of the future unreal conditional is also used to talk about imaginary
situations in the future. Native speakers often prefer this form over Form 1 to
emphasize that the conditional form is in the future rather than the present.
Also notice in the examples below that this form can be used in the if-clause,
the result, or both parts of the sentence.

Examples:

If I were going to Fiji next week, I would be taking my scuba diving gear with
me. In if-clause and result
I am not going to go to Fiji and I am not going to take my scuba gear with me.
If I were not visiting my grandmother tomorrow, I would help you study. In if-
clause
I am going to visit my grandmother tomorrow.
I am busy next week. If I had time, I would be coming to your party. In result
I am not going to come to your party.
 FORM 3

[If ... were going to + verb ..., ... would be + present participle ...]

[... would be + present participle ... if ... were going to + verb ...]

USE

Form 3 of the future unreal conditional is a variation of Form 2 which is also

used to talk about imaginary situations in the future. Notice that this form
is only different from Form 2 in the if-clause. Native speakers use Form 3 to
emphasize that the conditional form is a plan or prediction in the same way
"be going to" is used to indicate a plan or prediction.

Examples:
If I were going to go to Fiji next week, I would be taking my scuba diving
gear with me.
I am not going to go to Fiji and I am not going to take my scuba gear with
me.
If I were not going to visit my grandmother tomorrow, I would help you
study.
I am going to visit my grandmother tomorrow.
 CONTINUOUS
CONDITIONALS
 Present Unreal Conditional + Continuous
FORM
If-clause: [were + present participle]
Result: [would be + present participle]

Examples in the if-clause:

• If the sun were shining, I would go to the beach.

Unfortunately, it is raining so I can't go.
• If Sam were sitting here, we would be able to ask him the question ourselves.
But Sam is not sitting here. He is somewhere else.
• We would be able to go sailing if the wind were blowing.
But there is no wind, so we can't go sailing.

Examples in the result:

• If I were in Hawaii, I would be lying on the beach.

But I am not in Hawaii.
• If my grandfather were here, he would be talking about the war.
But he is not here.
• I would be rafting down the Colorado River right now if my leg weren't
broken.
But my leg is broken, so I am not there.
 Past Unreal Conditional + Continuous
FORM
If-clause: [had been + present participle]
Result: [would have been + present participle]

Examples in the if-clause:

• If I had been talking to him when he said that, I would have punched him
in the face.
But I wasn't talking to him when he said that.
• If he had been standing near the house when the wall collapsed, it would
have killed him.
Luckily, he moved away before the wall fell.

Examples in the result:

• If you had gone to his house last night, he would have been sitting on his
couch in front of the TV.
But you didn't go to his house, so you didn't see what he was doing.
• If she had missed her train, he would have been waiting for her at the
station for hours.
Luckily, she caught her train and he didn't have to wait.
NOTICE that the Past Unreal Conditional + Continuous can be used like the 
Past Continuous in imaginary situations to emphasize interruptions or
parallel actions in the past.

Examples in the if-clause:

• If James had been crossing the street when the car ran the red light, it
would have hit him.
• If Tom had been studying while Becky was making dinner, he would have
finished his homework early and they could have gone to the movie.

Examples in the result:

• If James hadn't stopped to tie his shoe, he would have been crossing the
street when the car ran the red light.
• If you had gone to their house last night, Bob would have been
reading the newspaper, Nancy would have been talking on the phone
and the kids would have been watching TV. They always do the same
things.
NOTICE that Past Unreal Conditional + Continuous can also be used like 
Present Perfect Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous in imaginary
situations to emphasize a duration of time.

Examples in the if-clause:

• Scott said he had been studying Greek for more than five years. If he had
been studying the language that long, I think he would have been able to
interpret for us at the airport.
• Sarah claimed she had been waiting in the rain for more than twenty
minutes by the time we arrived, but she wasn't even wet. If she had
been waiting that long, I think she would have been totally drenched by
the time we arrived.

Examples in the result:

• Terry's plane arrived ahead of schedule. If I hadn't decided to go to the

airport early, she would have been waiting there for more than twenty
minutes before I arrived.
• At the travel agency yesterday, I waited for more than an hour for
somebody to help me. Finally, I got up and left. If I hadn't decided to
leave, I would have been sitting there forever.
 Future Unreal Conditional + Continuous

FORM
If-clause: [were + present participle]
Result: [would be + present participle]

USE

Future Unreal Conditional + Continuous can be used like the 

Future Continuous in imaginary situations to emphasize interruptions
or parallel actions in the future.

NOTICE

The future form looks the same as the present form. The future is
indicated with words such as "tomorrow," "next week" or "in a couple of
days."
Examples in the if-clause:

• If I were waiting there next week when he gets off the plane, he would
be totally surprised.
But I will not be waiting there, so he won't be surprised.
• If he were staying in that hotel next week while the conference is being
held, he might be able to meet some of the key speakers and tell them
about our new product.
I don't think he will be able to stay at the hotel, so he won't be able to
meet anybody there.

Examples in the result:

• If I were able to go to the train station tonight to meet Sandra, I would

be standing on the platform waiting for her when she arrives.
I won't be able to go to the train station, so I will not be standing there
when she arrives.
• If you went over to Paul's house after work, he would probably be
sitting there at his computer surfing the Internet.
But you won't go over.

https://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditional9.htm
 Mixed conditionals
are presented in their
own section.