Hints on taking tests -- 受験の秘訣

(I don't have time to write this all at once. I'll be re-writing it a bit at a time. It will be irregularly updated.)
（一発でこれを書き終える暇が無いので不定期的に少しずつ書いていきます。常に更新あり、と考えてください。）

Remember -- この点を覚えておきましょう！

• Understand the purpose of the test. 試験の存在する理由・受ける理由を理解しましょう。
• Pace yourself. 自分の拍子と進み具合を合わせましょう。
• The test is not God.  試験は神であるはずはない。

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Understand the purpose of the test. 

テストの目的を理解しましょう。

Tests are sometimes given to "weed out" test takers who "aren't good enough". If that is the stated purpose of the test, and if you really must take the test, ignore that stated reason. Thinking about it won't help you.

時にはテストさせる理由は「淘汰」と言われることがあります。すなわち、受験者をより分けて、「相応しくない」ものどもを「切り捨てる」ためだ、といわれる。もし向かっている試験はそういう目的だと言われているなら、その言われている目的を無視しましょう。「淘汰」や「より分け」何か考えても仕方ないものです。そんな考えで助かったことはありません。無視するのです。

Valid reasons for tests テストの妥当な理由:

• Motivation. やる気付け。
• Evaluation, mostly self-evaluation. 評価、だけど自己評価。
• Skills improvement, training. 自己啓発。

Having a test on the schedule can help you keep focused and working on the subject.
試験が予定に入っていると続けて集中しやすくなります。

It's not good if you get scared of the test and freeze, of course. But the test can be a good excuse when you need a good excuse not to wander off and go partying with your friends.
もちろん、テストのせいで怖くなって動かなくなったりするのは良くないでしょう。しかし、友だちと遊びに行くのを止める理由が欲しいときはテストが良い理由として役立つのです。

Comparing yourself to others is not good. Checking your progress against an impossible goal is evil. But a test can show you that you have moved ahead from where you were a month or a year ago.
人に比較されるのよくない。不可能な目標に対して自分の進歩を診断しようとアカン。それでも、試験の結果を見て自分が先月よりも、去年よりもできるようになってきているのが見えたら、本当に進んでいることがわかる。

And the test itself can be a method and opportunity for studying. Bringing the things you've put into your head back out helps them stay in your head, and helps you find them again the next time.
試験は実はもう一つの勉強法です。また、勉強の機会です。脳に入れたものを掘り出すのは、その学んだ点が頭に残る助けになります。次回も掘り出さなアカンときは脳から探りやすくなります。

But you also find yourself understanding new things because of the test, if the test is constructed well.
それに、試験の構成が良くできていると、試験のおかげで、ものが新しく理解できるようになることもよくあります。

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Pace yourself. 進み具合を調節しましょう。

Plan for the test like you would plan for a mountain climb. If the object is to just to finish the climb, you might wonder why you should bother. You just end up back home. Okay, you have memories of the view at the top, if it's not too cloudy, but picture postcards are cheap.
当山の旅を計画すると同じように試験を計画しましょう。終わるだけが目的だったら、どうしてわざわざしんどい道に乗るかな？終わるのは家に持っただけです。まあ、山の天辺からの形式（曇っていなかった場合）の思い出はできるけど、絵葉書が安い、よ。

The object is the climb, to test yourself, to strengthen yourself, to learn. And to get back safely, of course.
目的は当山そのものです。当山の道に乗って自分を試みること、自分を鍛えること、また、学ぶことです。やはり、無事に戻ることもありますが。

Read the instructions. Yes, take the time.
説明と指示を読みましょう。いや、時間の無駄遣いではありません。

Here are the things you want to know from the instructions:
指示かる知りたいことは以下のようなものです。

• What the purpose of each section the test is; 試験の各セクションの目的、
• How much time you have for each section; 各セクションの時間割り付け、
• How many questions there are in each section; 各セクションの問題数、
• Whether you are allowed to return and check your answers; 見直しが許されるかどうか、
• How answers are scored. 祭典の基準。

In addition to the overall purpose of the test, it's a good idea to understand the purpose of each section. That gives you both an idea of what kinds of answers to expect, and how much effort you may want to put into which sections.

Together with the number of questions and the amount of time alloted for each section, you can get a better idea where and how to focus your efforts. In particular, if the time per section is not enforced, you will need to check the clock periodically to see when it's time to drop the current section and move on.

You should understand that you should expect any test that is worth your taking will to more questions than you can finish. There are exceptions, particularly when test problems themselves are open-ended -- essay questions or performance tests and such.

Sections with open-ended questions will have relatively few questions for several reasons. One is the time it takes to answer such questions properly. Another is the time it takes to assess and grade the answers. The most important reason is that the open-ended test has no absolute high score. There is room for the test taker to assert his or her own ability. Answer accordingly, but check your time.

You should never really expect to ace a test. The primary value in acing a test is a score, and what does a person who wants to know something about you learn from a high score? Maybe you cheated? Maybe you deliberately took a class that was too easy?

Okay, maybe it was a required class. But high scores are not worth near the press they are given.


Consider whether you lose points for wrong answers. If the instructions tell you not to guess, or if you lose points for guessing, you shouldn't guess.

Otherwise, go ahead and guess. Guessing is actually one way to help you learn things.

If you try to game the test too much, the resulting evaluation will likely become less accurate, and you lose part of the value of the test. You should try cooperate somewhat with the test creators and administrators unless you are taking the test against your will.

(I'll note here that some tests are constructed in the assumption that the test will be gamed. I have my doubts about the value of such tests. Making homework a game can be interesting, but making the tests something to be gamed is just inviting confusion.)

Tests are not God. Passing a test is not automatic entrance into Shangri-La (or the Seventh Heaven or the Celestial Kingdom or whatever). Failing a test is not automatic entrance to hell. Life continues on, with more chances for learning and testing.

A test is just a chance to evaluate yourself, a chance to build some mental muscles, and a reason to study.