Here is a strategy you can teach to students to help them when they are taking a test. This strategy is called the Plus/Minus Test Taking Strategy.

First, students should go through all of the questions on the test. If they are able to answer a question right away, they should then write down the answer. If they think they know the answer, but are not absolutely sure, then they should put a Plus sign next to the question. If the students find they do not know the answer at all, then they should place a Minus sign next to the question.

Students should continue using this strategy until they have completed all questions on the exam. Then, they should go back and first do all of the questions they marked with the Plus sign. Once they have finished with their responses to the questions marked with the Plus sign, they should then return and complete the ones marked with the Minus Sign.
Students will find that they will be able to obtain higher scores on exams using this strategy, as well as being able to complete the exam within the allotted time.

By using this strategy, students will also find that they are better able to manage their time and not feel that they “ran out of time” because they spent too much time on a single question.