Faculty of translation theory and practice department of translation theory and practice

PLAE

PLAE is an acronym that stands for preplanning, listing, activating, and evaluating. PLAE is a method of test preparation which encourages students to plan and implement an effective and adequate test preparation strategy.
Preplanning Stage
Your purpose in this stage of test preparation is to gather information about the test and establish goals for the test.

You can activate this part of your test preparation the minute you first find out that there will be a test.

Some questions you will want to be able to answer during test preparation include:

1. When is the test? - Day, date and time

2. Where is the test? - Sometimes a test may be given in a room different than the class is normally taught in, especially a final exam.
3. Specifically, what other obligations are there during the week of the test? You need to keep in mind all tests, assignments, projects, as well as any appointments or special occasions in your personal life which might interfere or distract you from studying for this exam.
4. What does the test cover? What chapters, lecture notes, videos, additional readings, or handouts?
5. What kind of test will be given? How many items or questions will there be on the test? What types of questions will be asked? Will it be an essay exam, multiple choice, short answer, or a combination of these things? Will there be 10 questions or 100 questions? Will there be factual or memory level questions? Will the questions require you to make inferences? Will they be application questions? Having this information will help in better identifying which questions to predict and practice in preparation for the exam.
6. How much does the test count in the total evaluation process? Considering this information can help in identifying what priority preparation for this particular exam should have in relation to overall study time. This also helps to keep long-term grade goals for a particular course in mind throughout the semester.
7. What is my goal for a grade on this test? This goal also helps to determine the priority of the test preparation in regard to overall study time. Furthermore, goals need to be realistically obtainable considering possible conflicts and time constraints.
8. How much time is needed for studying, reciting, and reviewing? How will this predicted time commitment affect the regular study schedule?