How can a test-taker improve accuracy on memory/attention items?

• A. Increase reading speed
• B. Guess randomly
• C. Practice short-term memory tasks, focus on details, maintain steady pace
• D. Focus only on the first item

Answer: (C)

Memory and attention items test how well you hold and monitor information while staying focused. The best way to raise accuracy is to train the underlying skills: practice short-term memory tasks to strengthen encoding and holding information, train your attention to details so you catch the important cues rather than skim, and keep a steady, deliberate pace to reduce mistakes from rushing. Increasing reading speed can hurt comprehension and lead to more errors on detail-heavy items, while guessing randomly doesn’t build accuracy, and focusing only on the first item ignores later items where mistakes often occur. By building working-memory capacity and applying careful, detail-oriented processing at a consistent pace, you improve accuracy on these items.