Test Taking Tips

Warm-up From the following pairs of sentences, select the one which is correct. Dangling modifiers 1. Piled up next to the washer, I began doing the laundry. 2. I began doing the laundry piled up next to the washer. 1. Standing on the balcony, the ocean view was magnificent. 2. Standing on the balcony, we had a magnificent ocean view. 1. As I was running across the floor, the rug slipped and I lost my balance, 2. Running across the floor, the rug slipped and I lost my balance. Misplaced modifiers 1. I almost listened to the whole album. 2. I listened to almost the whole album. 1. He was staring at the girl wearing dark glasses by the vending machine. 2. He was staring at the girl by the vending machine wearing dark glasses. 1. We read that Janet was married in her last letter. 2. In her last letter, we read that Janet was married.

Preview the passages What is the title and/or subtitle? What do the pictures tell you? What do you already know about this topic? What kind of passage is it, story, article, fable, poem, folk tale,...

Reading Passages You may MARK in the BOOK And you should! ◦ Use notations learned in class ◦ Identify main ideas, note your thinking, and questions

Multiple Choice Multiple Choice Tests A new twist on process of elimination that works better: ◦ Cover the answer choices and come up with your own guess first. ◦ THEN look at the answers and pick the one that was closest to your guess. ◦ Don't forget to check back in the passage - small details that you won't remember can make a BiG difference in choosing the right answer! If you don’t know the answer, what can you do?

Types of Multiple Choice Questions Vocabulary ◦ Always go back to the passage to find the sentence. Look in the sentences around it to find clues to the right answer. ◦ Read the sentence given with a blank in place of the word they want you to define - think of your own word! ◦ Look at the answer choices, which word ◦ is closest to the word you were ◦ thinking?

Types of Multiple Choice Questions Details ◦ Find the answer back in the passage by scanning for the key word in the question. ◦ Reread the whole paragraph with those key words. ◦ If you have time before the end of the section, reread the ENTIRE story to see if you can learn more to answer the question correctly. Main Idea ◦ Use the title or subtitle as a clue. ◦ Look at the first few sentences or paragraph of the passage. ◦ Look for the key word or idea that is mentioned AT LEAST 3 times THROUGHOUT the ENTIRE passage. ◦ Think: what are they talking about in the beginning, middle, AND end?

Types of Multiple Choice Questions Inference Even when the question says "What do you think," you have to use clues from the story to find the right answer. There is only ONE right answer. Use your own background knowledge to make a logical conclusion. REMEMBER: Story clues + Background knowledge = Inference (the answer!)

Short Answer/Constructed Response A short answer is really not that short. Remember the steps! 1. Restate the question ! 2. For details use actual words from the passage! Use quotation marks or paraphrase. 3. More is better! 4. Reread what you have written when you finish. Fix your answer for missing words and unclear sentences. 5. Then before you move on to the next question, REREAD THE QUESTION you just answered!!!! This way you will be sure you answered the whole thing. Use this short answer checklist: ◦ Topic sentence ◦ Transition words ◦ Details with explanations ◦ Concluding sentence