Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

SMART Test Taking Tips

Preparing a positive attitude

is the best way to prepare

for the TAKS test.

But a few SMART Test Taking Tips can never hurt.

BE SMART about taking tests.

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

The Night Before the Test

Everybody knows to get a good nights sleep, but don’t go to bed so early that you lay awake worrying.

You may want to lay out your clothes for the morning, put your backpack by the door, and check your alarm,

But DON’T STUDY!

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

DON’T STUDY – RELAX

The best way to prepare for the test is NOT TO STUDY, but to RELAX – play outside, watch a funny movie,

take a bubble bath, whatever works for you.

Try RELAXING. You will be ready to put forth your best effort at test time if you relax.

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

Your teachers have prepared you.

The TAKS tests what you have learned all year. If you don’t know it by now you’re probably not going to

learn it tonight. Last minute cramming won’t help and it makes

you nervous.

TRUST YOUR TEACHERS!

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

The Morning of the Test

It helps to eat a good breakfast but don’t load up on sweets or caffeine.

Most importantly, think of what you will do to reward yourself after you

get home from school.

Do something FUN for doing your best on the test .

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

Pace Yourself During the Test

The TAKS test is not a race. Students that turn their tests in first,

often make careless mistakes.

TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS.TAKE YOUR TIME.

When you start to feel tired, close your eyes and take a deep breath.

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

READ EVERY WORD of the directions.

READ EVERY WORD of every question.

READ EVERY WORD of every answer.

READ EVERY WORDNo one can afford to miss a question

because of a careless mistake.

READ EVERY WORD

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

If you feel yourself starting to get tired or panicky don’t start making wild guesses.

Remember that the difference between passing and failing is ONE QUESTION. You can’t afford to waste a question.

Make every question count.

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

Take Your Time. Do Your Best.

There is nothing more important today than trying your best to do well on this test. (You’re stuck in the room anyway and taking it once is bad enough!)

Take a deep breath and think about what you will do to reward yourself when you get home.

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

Don’t spend too long on each question.If you cannot make an educated guess within 3 minutes, circle it to come back to later, and move on to the next question.A lot of times you may find a clue to the answer in a question later on in the test.

Pace Yourself

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

Before you turn in your test

Review any questions you may have skipped, and make an educated guess if you still don’t know the answer. Use process of elimination.

Do not leave any questions blank.

Do not change your answers unless you are very certain your first answer choice is wrong.

Mr. Smarty Parks Speaks…and SMART Students Listen

Make certain you have bubbled all the answers in the correct spot.

When you feel that you have done your VERY BEST, turn in your test.

Now that’s SMART!

JOB WELL DONE!!!!!!