An instructor's primary purpose in giving a short-answer test is to cover the material. Go over your notes and the assigned reading:

• Prepare for the test by studying off of summary sheets that are packed with information within condensed space. Try to categorize the material

• Use grammatical clues
  within a statement as hints for the correct answer

• If you can think of several answers
  for a blank or short answer question, let the instructor know.
  The instructor may give you a clue to the correct answer he/she's looking for

• A guess made with common sense
  could get you more test points than if you leave an answer blank. Don't be a smart aleck if you guess

• Write your short answers in simple, telegraphic sentences.
  Packing as much information as you can is more important than literary style.