6 Strategies for Test-Taking By: Miss Victoria Williams San Diego, CA

STRATEGY #1: Cover the Answers Cover the answers to the question. Read the question at least two times. Work out the problem the way you think it should be done. Uncover the answers. Is your there? If your answer is NOT there: 1. Try the problem again and check for silly mistakes. OR 2. Try another strategy.

PRACTICE PROBLEM: Rhonda works for 5 hours and earns $40. At that rate, how long will it take her to earn $504? 8 hours 52 hours 63 hours 104 hours

STRATEGY #2: Plug in the Answers If you are given an equation with a variable, try replacing the variable with each of the answers. Whichever answer forms a TRUE equation is the answer choice to pick!

PRACTICE PROBLEM: What value of y makes the equation below true? 21 19 5 40

STRATEGY #3: Unlock the Picture Clues Look at the picture you are given. Write down at least 3 things you notice. Use what you wrote down to help you solve the problem.

PRACTICE PROBLEM:

STRATEGY #4: Too High!  Too Low! Estimate. Cross out the answers that seem too big. Estimate. Cross out the answers that seem too small. Use another strategy to figure out the correct answer from what’s left.

PRACTICE PROBLEM: James bought 2 books for $9.95 each and 5 magazines for $4.25 each. How much change will he get back if he paid with a $50 bill? $41.15 $4.15 $8.65 $8.85

STRATEGY #5: Draw a picture Draw a picture using the clues in the problem. Look for things that weren’t obvious in the numbers and words.

PRACTICE PROBLEM: A room is 10 meters long and 8 meters wide. How many square CENTIMETERS is the area of the room? 80,000 cm2 80 cm2 800,000 cm2 180,000 cm2

STRATEGY #6: Determine the Operation Multiply: look for words like “times” and “product” Divide: look for words like “quotient” Add: look for words like “together,” “sum,” “plus,” or “greater” Subtract: look for words like “less,” “minus,” “difference” Equal: look for words like “is,” “are,” or “result” Inequalities: look for words like “greater than” or “less than”

PRACTICE PROBLEM: A store is having a sale and all items are 20% off their original prices. Which of the following represents the new price on a pair of jeans that was originally $35? $28 $7 $32 $25