Test Taking Strategies Tips and Tricks to Ace Any Test/Exam/Writing Prompt Task

NOTE: Don’t write down everything in this PowerPoint. The idea is for you to “soak it in” so you can learn instead of being distracted to frantically write it all down. TIP: Write down some of the strategies, so that way you will be able to use them and eventually they will become a part of your “knapsack”!

What is a test taking strategy? A strategy is something that you do or use that helps you develop a skill. For example, in order to get a better batting average, you must practice your swing, stance, and hitting the ball! So, a test taking strategy is a series of things you can do to help yourself get the results you want on a test!

Why should I learn different strategies? Think About It: Is there more than one way to do different things? Having a variety of tools in your “knapsack” will help you be a more resourceful and knowledgeable person. The benefits? Increased comprehension Mastery of content and vocabulary Increased awareness of self and society.

Understanding differences in academic and social language One of the biggest pitfalls of being an adult and being professional versus being a regular, everyday person is the way you speak. For those bilingual buddies of mine in here-there are differences in speaking English versus your native language, right? Similar differences exist in academic/social language. Think About It: Do people judge you or form opinions of you by the way you speak or present yourself? Do you judge others based upon how they act/talk?

Academic Versus Social Language This “language” is using all the informal vocabulary you learn from speaking with friends or family. This includes slang, new words that come and go through pop music/rap. If you want that “street credit” you will use your social language to fit in to the group you are identifying with. Academic Language This “language” is using all the formal vocabulary we learn in class. This includes the task of finding synonyms for those words! It’s like pretending you are the doctor, lawyer, teacher, vet, police officer, or professional athlete you want to be. If you want respect as a professional in your field, you have to demand it by using your language!

Do Things with What you Know “Code Switch”- Don’t act like a prat or goody-goody when talking to your friends…go ahead and use that social language! But SWITCH the way you talk when you enter the classroom or formal setting so you will attract the right attention, people will respect you, and know you are smart and should be taken seriously!

Metacognitive Strategies=Thinking about learning/Self-Evaluating Here are some tips to help you become a better learner before you even get into a situation to learn! Use a homework notebook to write down all assignments. Keep a calendar/organizer on your phone’s calendar to write down assignments! Divide bigger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. Set deadlines for yourself. Organize and plan before you start a project to save time (and yourself a headache!)

Cognitive Strategies=Practice Activities like Studying These are strategies that will help you promote deeper understanding, better retention, and or/increased ability to apply new knowledge! Making specific connections between new and old learning. Making specific connections between English and your native language (if you are bilingual). Highlight important info while you read. Note taking (even in your native language). Making and using flashcards. Creating graphic organizers, maps, charts, diagrams, timelines, flowcharts to organize information.

VocabularyComprehension Strategies Academic Word Spanish Word (Arabic/Urdu/etc.) Common “Street” Word Encounter Observe Maintain Equal Encontrar Observar Mantener Igual Meet Watch Keep Same Make a chart like this one for vocab! Make unfamiliar words familiar to you by using what you know to link to what you don’t! See the split in academic/social language using your native if you are bilingual?

Textbook Comprehension Strategies Know immediately what you will read by “previewing” the text. This is what I call the DISCOVERY APPROACH, and I use this 24/7. Look at the book/article title. Look at the chapter/section title. Look for bolded or italicized words. Look at the pictures (if any). Look at the front/back covers. Look at publication data. Look at table of contents and index.

Then Ask Yourself… What is the chapter/section/article/book about? What do the pictures represent? What do the bolded or italicized words tell me? What does the publication data indicate? (Will I need to think in terms of when the book/article was written? Remember, times and mindsets change!) What does the front/back cover tell me? How does the table of contents/index let me know what I will read or expect to read?

K-W-L Charts Text Pages What I know What I want to know What I learned Create a chart just like this one to organize your learning!

T-Note Main Ideas Details/Examples ____________________ 2. _____________________ 3. ______________________ 1._____________________ 2._____________________ 3.______________________ 1._______________________ 2._______________________ 3._______________________ Use a T-Note Chart to help you identify the main ideas with details/examples that support them during and after reading.

Memory Strategies=Recall These are strategies that help you recall info without any attempts to understand the material…you are simply just regurgitating facts. Mnemonic (new-mon-ic) devices- Tools created by individuals to help remember rules, key words, lists, categories. Examples: poems, songs, acronyms (Think: ABC Alphabet song to remember order of alphabet or the “Thirty Days” song to remember how many days are in months). What’s a mnemonic device you know or use?

Social Strategies-Two heads are better than one! Interact with environment Expand your vocabulary, understanding of certain situations or parts of a story or math problem by listening to how other students talk about it by what is being said. Group work/Cooperative learning Work in a group of students to learn information or to complete a task. Though it can be fun and you can get distracted, you need to focus on how this can benefit you to make your learning activity easier.

Examples of Social Strategies Working in class in pairs or small groups to clarify content, solve problems, and complete projects. Doing homework with a friend. Studying with a partner for a test. Think-pair-share. Watching peers to learn more about culture and language. ASKING QUESTIONS!!!!

Make a list in two columns Your Turn=List it! √ What types of strategies do you currently use? What types of strategies do you think you can use to help you in the future? Make a list in two columns