8 Reasons Why Women Are Better Test Takers Than Men

In both average classroom testing and in standardized testing (like the ACT and SAT), there seems to be a slight gender bias. For the most part, female students seem to be better at taking tests than their male counterparts. This is not because the questions are geared towards women, but because women tend to employ different test-taking strategies than men. Below are 8 reasons why women are better test takers than men; all these strategies have been given as examples in a research paper by Professor Nava Nourdad. 

1. Deeper Levels of Engagement When Studying

In general, female students tend to become more engaged with their studies. This seems to be the case no matter what they are studying. This could be because female students are better at avoiding distractions while studying. This simple difference gives female students an advantage when it comes to prep for ACT and other standardized tests. 

2. Top-Down Strategy in Reading

Female students are more likely than their male counterparts to employ a top-down strategy when taking reading-based tests. With this strategy, readers use prior knowledge and apply it to the test. Students who don't use this strategy simply focus on the text itself, which can impact the answers to their test scores.

3. Less Guessing on Multiple Choice Questions

When male students don't know the answer to a question, they are more likely than female students to simply guess on the question and move onto the next question. Female students, on the other hand, take more time to try to figure out the right answer. This may mean it takes them longer than male students to finish the test, but it also means that they are more likely to get the correct answer.

4. Higher Dependance on Context for Questions

When it comes to reading-based tests, female students are more likely to look for context clues to help answer a question if they don't already know the answer. Male students, on the other hand, are more likely to simply guess, rather than look for context clues, if they don't know the answer.

5. More Generalized Strategy for Tests

Female students are also more likely than male students to have a specific strategy for taking a test before going into it. Male students may be more likely to "wing it" instead of making up a strategy beforehand. This can help female students feel more confident and focused when actually taking the test.

6. Consistent Test Taking Measures for All Subjects

Along with making a strategy for taking tests, female students typically use the same strategy for all test types. If a male student has a strategy for an English test, he will likely have a different strategy for a math test. While there's nothing wrong with doing this, it can be mentally taxing and stressful.

7. Use of Strategies to Lower Test Anxiety

When facing a new test, women are less likely than male students to be distracted by test anxiety. Male students may get caught up on how much time is left on the clock, while female students will spend more time focusing on the material. Simply remaining calm while taking a test can do wonders to improve focus and test scores.

8. Less Likely to Use Translation on English Tests

When taking an English test, male students are more likely to get caught up on translations, or words they don't understand, than female students. This is in part because female students are typically better at using context clues to find the meaning of a word, while male students don't. Getting caught up on a word can take away time students could be used to answer the question or encourage a student to simply guess the answer. Both of these are not the best ways to take a test.

Whether you are female, male, or nonbinary, you can use these strategies the next time you study for a test or take a test. It should also be noted that most of these strategies work best for reading-based tests and may not apply as well to math-based tests, which male students are typically better at taking. Either way, good luck on your next test!