Test Taking Strategies



The following are some strategies that have helped people in the past when approaching questions on the practical exam. You may not need any advice on test taking but for some the following may be useful.	1)Take a deep breath, try to relax and make sure you read the question twice over to make sure you understand what you are being asked 2) Identify the region you are in,for example : thorax vs. abdomen or the inguinal area, and for limbs identify if you are on the front or hind limb. 3) Identify which species are you being asked about. 4) Get the section oriented in terms of what structures are cranial, caudal, dorsal, ventral, medial and lateral. 5)If you are not sure of your orientation, try to identify object in the vicinity that can give you clues. For example: the aorta lies on the left side of the animal, the liver is cranial to the stomach..etc 5) Use information you know confidently to make educated guesses.Use what information you remember about a region to help you. For example if you know the radial nerve innervates extensors of the thoracic limb and you have identified a muscle you believe to be an extensor like the extensor carpii radialis, than the radial nerve would be a good guess at the nerve which innervates this muscle.

1)Take a deep breath, try to relax and make sure you read the question twice over to make sure you understand what you are being asked

2) Identify the region you are in,for example : thorax vs. abdomen or the inguinal area, and for limbs identify if you are on the front or hind limb.
3) Identify which species are you being asked about.
4) Get the section oriented in terms of what structures are cranial, caudal, dorsal, ventral, medial and lateral.
5)If you are not sure of your orientation, try to identify object in the vicinity that can give you clues. For example: the aorta lies on the left side of the animal, the liver is cranial to the stomach..etc
5) Use information you know confidently to make educated guesses.Use what information you remember about a region to help you. For example if you know the radial nerve innervates extensors of the thoracic limb and you have identified a muscle you believe to be an extensor like the extensor carpii radialis, than the radial nerve would be a good guess at the nerve which innervates this muscle.