Ohio Graduation Test Test Taking Strategies OGT Preparation

OGT Specific Strategies n The strategies employed by this powerpoint have been developed by analyzing previous OGT tests n Remember, there is no substitute to knowing the content for the OGT tests n These strategies are to help test takers do their best

About the OGT n Multiple Choice Questions n 4-6 Short Answer Questions n 2-4 Extended Response n Two and a half (2.5) hours are given for this test. n You have at least 3 minutes per question! n Take your time!

School Specific Facts n Passing rate: n Number of students who failed to graduate due to OGT: n Number of students who passed all five the first time:

Multiple Choice Strategies If you are unsure of the answer, narrow it down by eliminating obvious wrong answers example: “Rocks are classified by their method of formation. Which of the following categories contains rocks that are formed by volcanoes?” A) igneous B) marble C) gypsum D) sedimentary n B and C are specific rock types and not categories, so you can eliminate them; thus leaving A and D to guess

Multiple Choice Strategies Cont’d n If no answers can be initially eliminated, do not guess immediately; instead, skip the question and come back to it as you might either find the answer later on in the test or it might come to you n DO NOT LEAVE ANY QUESTIONS BLANK! n After you have read the question CAREFULLY, guess the answer and see if it appears. If not: n Read the entire question and ALL of the answers before answering!

Multiple Choice Strategies Cont’d n Some answers may be partly correct, but remember they must be entirely correct! n Even though an answer is a correct statement, it must answer the question, if it doesn’t answer the question, it is not the correct answer

Multiple Choice Strategies Cont’d n Sometimes two choices say the exact opposite thing, many times, one of these choices is the correct answer n Oftentimes answers may be similar with only one or two words different, one of these is also a likely answer. Example: Which was the independent (manipulated) variable in this experiment? A. the amount of water in each beaker B. the amount of ice added to each beaker C. the initial temperature of the water in each beaker D. the amount of time during which observations took place (Question 14 From the March 2006 OGT also see 11 additionally 33)

Multiple Choice Strategies Cont’d n Remember: n Narrow down answers n Come back to questions if you don’t know the answer n Read the entire question and ALL of the answers before answering n Tricky wording or similar wording clues n Don’t leave any answers blank!

Short and Extended Response n Make sure your statement answers the question n Use correct scientific terminology when possible n It is okay to create a bulleted list to answer a question n More is not always better; just answer the question n Practice answering short and extended response questions and be familiar with how they are scored

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