Test TakingStrategies

LISTEN

READ

ASK

AlwaysAlways listen to the directions given by teacher.

•Read the directions written on the test •Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything.

•Ask the teacher if you do not understand the directions.

5. Answer the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped.

2. It is important to answer every question even if you are not sure of the answer.

3. Use all your time! There are no extra points for finishing early.

4. Save time at the end to review your test and make sure you haven't left out any answers.

1. Don’t spend too much time on any one question.

•Get plenty of rest the night before each testing day

You need 7-9 hours of sleep, so go to bed at 10pm.

•Eat a good nutritious breakfast the morning of each testing day

(Milk w/cereal, eggs, fruits; no Hot Cheetos and candy.)

•Avoid the morning rush. Set out clothes the night before. Get to school a few minutes earlier than you usually do.

Multiple Choice

Strategies

Deconstruct the MCQ: • “Jail the Detail”: Highlight, underline,

or circle the details in the questions. This helps you focus on exactly what the question is asking you to do.

• Ask yourself: What is the question asking you to do?

•What skill is it based on? (central idea, text structure, word meaning, events, etc..)

•Where do you need to go to look for the answer? (Ex: paragraph 1, line 52, etc..)

If you can’t figure out which answer is correct, try to eliminate (get rid of) the answers that you know are wrong

Eliminate obviously

wrong answer choices Eliminate choices

that are partly correct

Eliminate items that are correct but don’t

answer the question

Example Which development most enabled early

peoples to form permanent settlements?

A. advances in agricultural production

B. the creation of democratic government

C.the spread of monotheism

D. advances in written language

CSH10239

Plug it in, Plug it in!

• Once you have chosen your answer, plug it in and make sure that it makes sense! (this works really well with vocabulary questions).

Educated guessing means using everything you know to attempt to answer the question

A random guess gives

you a 25% chance of getting the right answer. An educated guess gives you chance of answering correctly up to

75% .

Your Goal

Choice (a)

Choice (b)

Choice (c)

Choice (d)

Choose an answerfor every question!

The context of a word includes all the words and sentences that surround it and the situation in which the word is used

WHEN THE ANSWER IS NOT CLEAR, LOOK FOR

CLUES ( CONTEXT, TENSE, WORD TYPE,

GRAMMAR) IN THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER CHOICES

1.Read all the titles, labels, and other given information

2. Check the units of measurement3. 3. Look for a pattern, trend, or comparison in the

graph or table

If you misbubble

you’re in trouble

If you reach a hard question and can’t make your educated guess, an easier one is just around the corner. Write a light ? next to the question you are skipping and move on to the next question.

How do you prevent misbubbling?

At the end of the test, go

back to the questions with ? next to them and see if you can try to answer it. Please be sure to answer every question.

Fill in bubbles fully, write neatly, and erase stray marks.

If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.

Once you have finished, please remain quiet as others will still be working on the test.

When you are done …

Short & Extended Response Strategies

“UNPACK” the Question!

Underline key wordsNumber the parts of the ?Plan how you will answerAnswer using specific detailsCheck off each part as you do

itKeep up the great work

Pay attention to the “Action” Words in the

QuestionSummarizeExplainAnalyzeDevelopContributeEvaluateJustifyIllustrate

What do these words require you

to do?

Create a Plan!

How will you answer your SRQ or ERQ?

R.A.C.E.: Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain

R.A.F.A.: Restate, Answer, For example, Also

5 paragraph essay with intro and conclusion

Extended Response:

Double check that you have addressed all parts of the question

Use bullets for your BODY paragraphs

Check off the bullets when you complete them

Extended Response

Body #1Body #2

Body #3

Citing Evidence http://learnzillion.com/lessons/669-cite- evidence-from-the-text-in-your-own-words

1) Locate the evidence in the text2) Rewrite the evidence in own words3) Use phrase or location to show

where you found the evidence- According to the text…- In paragraph _____, it said…- The author wrote…