Under test pressure, you will not run a five-step process. You will run whatever is simple enough to remember. So here is the one I give my clients. Four letters. Picture a red stop sign.
S is slow down. Read the question once for meaning, not speed.
T is target the key words. Underline only, not, except, best, first, required.
O is own the words. Say the question back in plain English.
P is prove it. Ask what fact or regulation proves your answer, not what feels right.
If you read literally, your brain wants to answer the second it recognizes the topic. S.T.O.P. buys you the two seconds where the trap becomes visible.
The best time to practice it is not the exam. It is every worksheet and practice question between now and then, until the pause is automatic.
What would change for you if you slowed down for two seconds on every question?
Transcription:
Think of a red stop sign, S-T-O-P, stop. Before you take a test, that is a great way to slow that literal thinker brain down just for a second. That’s S is slow down. Then T is target the keywords.
And O is own the words, so if possible, when you have time, restate the question in plain English. And P is prove it. Ask what exact regulation, and that will help you answer those questions even easier. So being the type of person, now that you understand this is a testing thing that happens, being very literal about reading the test questions.
Once you know this, you can now plan for that. When you’re doing worksheets and so forth, that is the perfect time to practice these hints and move things into that plain English. Slow down a little bit. Watch for those keywords that are not assisting and not helping you. They can make the world of difference with this.