Becoming a Good Test Taker Multiple Choice Tests

Objectives Review and/or learn strategies for taking a multiple choice test. Practice the strategies using math problems.

What are some things you should do when taking a multiple choice test?

Strategy 1 – Read! Read the problem. Read the problem again before solving. Read the problem after you have the answer. Ask yourself: Did I answer the question they were asking? Did I answer all parts of the question?

Let’s Do One Together The workers at the local zoo feed the animals every day at 5:00. So far, Mr. Harker has fed 4/8 of the animals, and Mr. Jackson has fed 3/8 of the animals. What fraction of the zoo animals have not been fed yet today? a. 8/8 b. 1/8 c. 4/8 d. 7/8

A, B, C or D 7 cm Show your work All sides of this polygon have Use tools to select correct answer. Show your work All sides of this polygon have the same length. What is the perimeter of the polygon? 60 cm 56 cm 49 cm 42 cm 7 cm

Strategy 2 - Cover up the answers! Try to work the problem out without looking at the answer choices. Once you have solved the problem, compare your answer with the answer choices.

Let’s Do One Together The workers at the local zoo feed the animals every day at 5:00. So far, Mr. Harker has fed 4/8 of the animals, and Mr. Jackson has fed 3/8 of the animals. What fraction of the zoo animals have not been fed yet today? a. 8/8 b. 1/8 c. 4/8 d. 7/8

A, B, C or D Show your work What is the least common Use tools to select correct answer. Show your work What is the least common multiple (LCM) of 5 and 15? 75 45 90 15

Strategy 3 – Use your tools! Highlight important information. Write down what you know.

Let’s Do One Together The workers at the local zoo feed the animals every day at 5:00. So far, Mr. Harker has fed 4/8 of the animals, and Mr. Jackson has fed 3/8 of the animals. What fraction of the zoo animals have not been fed yet today? a. 8/8 b. 1/8 c. 4/8 d. 7/8

A, B, C or D Show your work Brandon is competing in a long jump Use tools to select correct answer. Show your work Brandon is competing in a long jump competition. He jumped 16.9 feet on his first jump. In his next two jumps, he jumped 19.85 feet and 18.69 feet. What is the total distance for all three jumps? 38.54 feet 93.98 feet 55.44 feet 65.44 feet

Strategy 4 - Cross them off! Read all options carefully even if one seems correct. Eliminate answer choices you know are wrong. Then choose from the answers that are left.

Let’s Do One Together The workers at the local zoo feed the animals every day at 5:00. So far, Mr. Harker has fed 4/8 of the animals, and Mr. Jackson has fed 3/8 of the animals. What fraction of the zoo animals have not been fed yet today? a. 8/8 b. 1/8 c. 4/8 d. 7/8

A, B, C or D Show your work How would you write the Use tools to select correct answer. Show your work How would you write the following mixed number as an improper fraction? 1 4/10 104/10 8/5 4/10 7/5

Strategy 5 – Watch for tricks! The test makers include frequently used wrong answers.

Let’s Do One Together The workers at the local zoo feed the animals every day at 5:00. So far, Mr. Harker has fed 4/8 of the animals, and Mr. Jackson has fed 3/8 of the animals. What fraction of the zoo animals have not been fed yet today? a. 8/8 b. 1/8 c. 4/8 d. 7/8 Do you see any tricks here?

A, B, C or D Show your work Tony packed 456 golf balls into boxes. Use tools to select correct answer. Show your work Tony packed 456 golf balls into boxes. Each box was packed with 19 golf balls and weighed approximately 15 pounds. Which number sentence would you use to find the number of boxes used to pack the golf balls? ? = 456 + 19 456 × 19 = ? 456 ÷ 19 = ? ? = 456 ÷ 15

Strategy 6 – Answer every question! Even if you don’t know the answer, you can make a good guess based on what you do know and get the question right. Don’t leave any answers blank.

A, B, C or D Show your work 22 balls are placed in a bucket. The Use tools to select correct answer. Show your work 22 balls are placed in a bucket. The balls are numbered from 1 to 22. One ball is randomly selected from the bucket. What is the probability that ball #20 is chosen? 1/20 20/22 1/52 1/22

Strategy 7 – Finish! Some questions will be more difficult than others. Don’t spend a large amount of time on a few questions. Mark your best response and circle the question number so you can come back to it if you have time.

A, B, C or D Show your work What time is it 3 hours and 40 Use tools to select correct answer. Show your work What time is it 3 hours and 40 minutes after 5:55 p.m.? 8:35 p.m. 9:20 p.m. 9:58 p.m. 9:35 p.m.

Strategy 8 – Check! Go back and check your work if you finish a section early. You may not go back to a section once they have moved on.

Let’s Do One Together The workers at the local zoo feed the animals every day at 5:00. So far, Mr. Harker has fed 4/8 of the animals, and Mr. Jackson has fed 3/8 of the animals. What fraction of the zoo animals have not been fed yet today? a. 8/8 b. 1/8 c. 4/8 d. 7/8

A, B, C or D Show your work Which number makes the sentence true? Use tools to select correct answer. Show your work Which number makes the sentence true? 28 = × 7 4 11 3 8

List something you learned today…

Somewhere over the rainbow is the PSSA’s Somewhere over the rainbow is the PSSA’s. It may seem like a long road getting there, but you will be ready and confident. The pot of gold waiting for you is worth the trip.