Test-taking Strategies That Work!

Below are two questions. Answer them instantly Below are two questions. Answer them instantly. You can't take your time. Answer them immediately. No pencil or paper! OK? Let's find out just how smart and clever you really are. Ready? ... GO!!! FIRST Q: You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?

ANSWER: If you answer that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!

SECOND Q: If you overtake the last person, then you are...? Try not to screw up in the next question. To answer the second question, don't take as much time as you took for the first question. (You know you took too much time.) SECOND Q: If you overtake the last person, then you are...?

ANSWER: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person?!

Preview the Passage Effective strategy for timed tests Read the first paragraph Read the last paragraph Read the title Read subtitles Read captions, pictures, graphics Notice underlined words Make inferences

Preview the Passage: Let’s Try It You have two minutes to preview the passage and answer as many questions as you can!

Read the Questions First Do not read the answer choices: three of them are wrong! Identify and underline key words in the questions If students are NOT used to reading the questions first, they shouldn’t attempt it for the first time on the test!

Marginal Notes Summarize text in margin Summarize important ideas Use symbols and abbreviations

Selective Underlining Main Ideas Key Words Steps in a process Definitions Names/Dates

Read the Passage Carefully Re-read paragraphs you didn’t understand At the end of each paragraph, jot down the main idea.

Use Context Clues New words may be explained by another phrase in parentheses or set off by a comma.

Answer Questions Carefully Be specific in determining what the question is asking. PARAPHRASE THE QUESTIONS IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Read all the choices before you select one. Eliminate choices you know are wrong. Go back to the article to determine the best answer for the choices you have left. Use a key word from the article to check the passage for your answer.

Know the question type Some questions will be literal/right there. The answers will be found directly in the text. Other questions will require the student to make an inference (read between the lines). Other questions will require the student to think and search.

Pace Yourself Allow enough time to read the passages and answer the questions. Skip passages that are too difficult. Go back to them at the end of the test. Answer EVERY question!!!! Choose one choice if out of time: all A’s or B’s, etc.

4+3(5)=17 1(1) + 3(4) = 17 Work Backwards 5+3(4)=17 4+3(1)=17 4+15=19 not b Work Backwards 1(1) + 3(4) = 17 1+ 12=17 13=17 not a 5+3(4)=17 5+12=17 that's the answer c 4+3(1)=17 4+3=17 not d Solve the following: x + 3y = 17 2x + 3y = 22 (1,4) (4,5) (5,4) (4,1)

Your Turn Solve the following: x + 4y = -5 x – y = 7 (7,0) (-3,1) (3,-2) (2,5)

Work Backwards Reading What is the best definition of the word “intruder” as used in the following sentence? The identity of the intruder would have remained a mystery if a neighbor in New Jersey had not seen him escaping across the garden. Return visitor Overnight guest Unknown visitor Unwelcome guest

Test What You’ve Learned 2 TEST QUESTIONS

Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Question: Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it. Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add 10. What is the total?

ANSWER: Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100. Don't believe it? Check with your calculator!

LAST Q: Mary's father has five daughters: Nana, Nene, Nini, Today is definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last question right? LAST Q: Mary's father has five daughters: Nana, Nene, Nini, Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?

ANSWER: Nunu? Nana? Nene? NONO! Of course not. The fifth daughter's name is Mary. Read the question again.