Test Taking Skills Make sure you prove what you know!

Organizing & Preparing Test Material Ask Questions  What will be on the test?  Will the test be Multiple Choice, Matching, True False or Essay? Organize Your Notes  Review your class notes carefully  Get any notes or material you may have missed from the teacher or another student.

Organizing & Preparing Test Material Think about the test  Make sure you have completed All reading assignments All written assignments WHY?  Gather old quizzes & exams Use an organized home filing system Keep old handouts by chapter or unit  Prepare an outline of test topics  Record questions to ask the teacher

Reviewing & Remembering Test Material Begin Studying Early  Set specific time to study & stick to it. Begin reviewing early. Don’t wait until the night before a test. WHY?  Skim the material in your textbooks make a list of special terms ideas to study  Recopy notes containing important information and ideas  Record questions in your notes to ask the teacher for clarification

Reviewing & Remembering Test Material Use Study Aids  Use maps, lists, diagrams, acronyms, rhymes, or any other special memory aids Example?  Use flash cards or note cards Review information whenever time becomes available Use the Question and Answer method to create useful note cards

Test Yourself  Try to imagine possible test questions Create different types of questions write practice answers for them. (Essay Tests)  Recite the material out loud  Prove your knowledge and understanding by teaching the material to someone else You remember 80% of what you teach!  Study with others only after you have studied by yourself  Review material the day of the exam. Reviewing & Remembering Test Material

Taking the Test Before You Begin!!!!  Check to see that you have all the material necessary to effectively study paper, pens, pencils, books, notes & etc. WHY!  Set up a proper study environment Describe the proper study environment Why?????

Taking the Test During the Test  Skim entire test quickly  Estimate time needed for each question, problem, & section.  Watch the time carefully  Read the directions carefully underlining or marking special instructions. (If you are allowed)  Look for sections of the test that will help answer questions on another part of the test! Examples:

Taking the Test During the Test  Read all questions carefully  If you are confused about a question – ask you teacher!  Look for clues (key words) within the question itself to help guide you  Pay attention to words like always, only, all, & never.  Answer the questions you know first  Move on to the next question if you get stuck  If all else fails – Make an EDUCATED GUESS!

Taking the Test Before You Finish  Double-check each section and page  Make sure you have answered all the questions Do NOT leave any blank answers! Guess if you needed  Check you work! Make sure your answers are legible!  If you are still confused about a question – ask you teacher! Remember – the teacher can’t give you the answer! Be specific with your question!

Objective Tests: True / False Read the entire question before answering Be careful of questions containing the words all, every, always, & never. Watch for statements that contain two negatives ( Two negatives makes a ????)

Objective Tests: Matching Read through both lists before answering If allowed, cross out each answer as you find it If you get stuck when matching word to word, figure out the part of speech for each word.  Verb = Verb  Noun =Noun Use the process of elimination

Objective Tests: Multiple Choice Read the directions very carefully  Best or Correct & More than one Answer  What is the difference between the a correct answer and the best answer? Read the first part of the question, looking for negative words like not, never, except, unless, etc. Answer each question in your mind before reading the choices Use the process of elimination

Objective Tests: Fill in the Blank Read the entire question first & try to understand the overall meaning of the sentence If the word before the blank is “a”, the word in the blank starts with a consonant If the word before the blank is “an”, the word in the blank starts with a vowel Look for whether is a one or two word answer

Essay Questions Proving Upper Level Comprehension!  Must realize that you are not just writing a long answer to a long question but you are: Reading Thinking Planning Organizing Judging

Essay Questions Reading & Understanding the Questions  Read the question several times before you write Make sure you understand exactly what the question is asking Example: Make Sure you know the difference between “Explain” & “Evaluate”  Do not simply start to write down everything you know on the subject – STOP & THINK!  Focus on what the question is asking, not just the topic of the question!

Essay Questions Reading & Understanding the Questions  Look for “Key Words” Helps you understand the question Helps to determine what facts you will use in your essay! Guides your response  THINK before you write!  The selected information in your essay must: Answer the question Support your answer Relate to the specific topic of the question

Essay Questions  Re-word the question into a topic sentence to help you understand how you should respond  Example: Question Explain the immediate effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Topic Sentence The immediate effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima were devastating.  If you still do not understand what the question is asking – ask your teacher for help!

Essay Questions: Key Words Compare : Use examples to show how to two thing are alike Contrast : Use example to show how two thing are different Define : Tell the meaning of a word or subject, what group it is in, what its function is, and how it is different from the others in that group Describe : tell in “story” form how something or someone looks, feels, sounds, etc. Use vivid words to create a clear picture

Essay Questions: Key Words Discuss: Look at the topic from all sides & come to a conclusion about the importance of the topic Evaluate: Give your opinion of the value of a subjects by pointing both good and bad points. Explain : Tell how something happened or how something works. Must use reasons or step-by- step details. Identify : Who, what when where why & how must be answered in an organized paragraph.

Essay Questions: Key Words List: include a specific number of details. (First, then secondly, &finally) Outline: Organize your ideas into topics, subtopics, & details. Can be in a paragraph form or regular form Prove : present the facts and details which will clearly show that something is true. Relate : Show how two things or more things are connected

Essay Questions: Key Words Review: Give an overall picture or summary of the most important points of the subject. State: Present your ideas about the subject using sentences which are to the point. Summarize : Present the main points in clear, concise general overview of the subject. Trace : Present details or events one step at a time to show the history or progress of a subject.

Planning & Writing Essays Stop & Think (Brain Storm)  Think about possible facts and details to place in your essay response  Techniques for Brainstorming Lists Cluster Jot List T Graph Venn Diagram various other quick graphic organizers

Planning & Writing Essays Informal Outline  Pick out the main points that support your response Make sure they are relevant  Arrange them in a logical order  Under each main point List supporting facts, details, and/or examples for each main point Make sure they are relevant! Do not be overly specific  Keep you outline brief and simple You will not have time to waste!

Planning & Writing Essays Writing Your Essay  Based on the complexity of the question: Decide single or multi-paragraph response How much information is needed to explain you answer  Opening sentence will be your topic sentence Use the question to help generate your topic sentence  Example: Question Explain the immediate effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Topic Sentence The immediate effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima were devastating.

Planning & Writing Essays Writing Your Essay  Follow your brief outline  Make sure to include relevant details that Support your topic sentence Prove your answer  Use facts, details, and/ or examples!  Show Me! Don’t Tell Me!  Use connecting words – helps your paper flow  Use Vivid Verbs and explicit adjectives and adverbs WHY???  Read over your essay before turning it in?

Take Your Time!!!