PIRATES TESTING STRATEGY

P I R A T E S Prepare to succeed (PASS) Inspect the instructions (RUN) Read, remember, reduce (RRR) Answer or abandon (skip) (AA) Turn back (ARG) Estimate (guess) (ACE) Survey (look over) (SS)

Test-Taking Strategy Affirmations I am a successful test-taker when I use “PIRATES” I look for ways to use the Test taking strategy every day I believe that when I use the Test-Taking Strategy I will be successful I believe that use of the Test-Taking Strategy will help me achieve my goal I enjoy using “PIRATES” and showing what I know on tests I work through tests easily using “PIRATES”

Step 1: Prepare to Succeed PASS Put your name and PIRATES on the test Allot (assign) time and order to sections Say affirmations (positive statements) Start within 2 minutes

Step 2: Inspect The Instructions RUN Read underlined and italicized instructions carefully Underline what to do and where to respond Notice special requirements

Underline What to Do and Where to Respond Circle the letter to the most appropriate choice. Write TRUE not T in front of statements that are true. Write or FALSE not F in front of statements that are false Answer both essay questions on your own paper

Step 3: Read, Remember, Reduce RRR Read the whole question Remember what you have studied Reduce the choices

Reducing Answers Eliminate obviously wrong answers Eliminate duplicate answers Pay special attention to the longest answers

Step 4: Answer or abandon AA Answer the question Abandon the question for the moment

Step 5: Turn Back A R G Answer abandoned questions Repeat Steps I,R,A for each question Guess only as a last resort

Step 6: Estimate ACE Avoid absolutes Choose the longest or most detailed choice Eliminate similar choices This step is guessing do not use it until you have answered all the ones you can with what you know!!!!

Absolute words Usually poor choices All Always Every No None Never Only

Non-Absolute Words Better choices Few Some Seldom Sometimes Most Many Often Usually

Step 7: Survey SS Survey to ensure all questions are answered –Make sure you haven’t skipped any questions misread any instructions made any careless errors Switch an answer only if you are sure

P repare to succeed P A S S

I nspect the instructions R U N

R ead, remember, reduce R R R

A nswer or abandon (skip) A

T urn back A R G

E stimate (guess) A C E

S urvey (look over) S