Test Taking Strategies

Follow Directions! Always listen to the directions given by teacher. Read the directions written on the test Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything. LISTEN READ Ask the teacher if you do not understand the directions. ASK Follow Directions!

Use your time wisely! 2. It is important to answer every question even if you are not sure of the answer. 1. Don’t spend too much time on any one question. 5. Answer the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped. 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.

Get ready before testing Get plenty of rest the night before each testing day You need 7-9 hours of sleep, so go to bed at 10pm. Get ready before testing 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

Test Taking Strategy # 1– 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..)

Test Taking Strategy # 2 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 Elimination

Example Which development most enabled early peoples to form permanent settlements? A. advances in agricultural production B. the creation of democratic government the spread of monotheism D. advances in written language CSH10239

Test Taking Strategy # 3 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).

Test Taking Strategy # 4 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% . Educated Guess

Choose an answer for every question! Test Taking Strategy # 5 Your Goal Choose an answer for every question! Choice (a) Choice (b) Choice (c) Choice (d)

Test Taking Strategy # 6 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 LOOK FOR CLUES

Questions with graphs, charts, and tables, Test Taking Strategy # 7 1.Read all the titles, labels, and other given information Check the units of measurement 3. Look for a pattern, trend, or comparison in the graph or table Questions with graphs, charts, and tables,

If you misbubble you’re in trouble Test Taking Strategy # 8 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.

When you are done … 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.

Short & Extended Response Strategies

“UNPACK” the Question! Underline key words Number the parts of the ? Plan how you will answer Answer using specific details Check off each part as you do it Keep up the great work

Pay attention to the “Action” Words in the Question Summarize Explain Analyze Develop Contribute Evaluate Justify Illustrate What do these words require you to do?

How will you answer your SRQ or ERQ? 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 #2 Body #1 Body #3

Citing Evidence http://learnzillion Citing Evidence http://learnzillion.com/lessons/669-cite- evidence-from-the-text-in-your-own-words Locate the evidence in the text Rewrite the evidence in own words Use phrase or location to show where you found the evidence According to the text… In paragraph _____, it said… The author wrote…

ON THE TEST!