TEST TAKING STRATEGIES Grades 3-8

Go to bed early! When? EARLY

Eat a good breakfast! Eat a what? A GOOD BREAKFAST

Get to school on time! When? ON TIME!

Use the restroom before the test! When? BEFORE!

Carefully listen to the instructions from your teacher. Listen how? CAREFULLY!

Be prepared…  pencils sharpened  erasers  tissues

Keep your eyes on your own paper.

VOCABULARY SECTION

Circle KEY Words notcontractionantonymsynonymoppositedefinitionsamemeaningpastfuture

1. You’ve seen many animals today at the zoo. You’ve is a contraction for What is the key word that you circle?

1. You’ve seen many animals today at the zoo. You’ve is a contraction for

3. Which sentence tells about something that will happen in the future? What is the key word that you circle?

3. Which sentence tells about something that will happen in the future?

2. Which word tells about more than one? What are the key words that you circle?

2. Which word tells about more than one?

5. Which sentence tells about something that happened in the past? What is the key word that you circle?

5. Which sentence tells about something that happened in the past?

2. Which meaning of bow is used in the following sentence? A sailor stood on the bow and looked for land. What is the key word that you circle?

2. Which meaning of bow is used in the following sentence? A sailor stood on the bow and looked for land. The TRICKY part of this question is that you figure out the meaning that is used “in the following sentence.” “meaning” is a key word because you are looking for the “meaning” of the word

2. The grill was used to roast the vegetables. Which definition of roast is used in the sentence above? What is the TRICKY part about this question? roast (r õ st) v. 1. to cook in an oven or near hot coals n. 2. a cut of meat n. 3. an event at which a person is praised and insulted

2. The grill was used to roast the vegetables. Which definition of roast is used in the sentence above? roast (r õ st) v. 1. to cook in an oven or near hot coals n. 2. a cut of meat n. 3. an event at which a person is praised and insulted

If you see the word… what do you do? synonym

same circle the “s” and write same synonym Then read the question AGAIN!

3. What word is a synonym for divide? What is the key word and what do you do?

3. What word is a synonym for divide? sa me What word is the SAME for divide?

If you see the word… what do you do? antonym

opp circle the “a” and write “opp” (which means opposite) Then read the question AGAIN! antonym

4. What word is an antonym for close? What is the key word and what do you do?

4. What word is an antonym for close? op p What word is the OPPOSITE of close?

This is a sentence from the selection. “I was thrilled. I had never won a trophy before.” Which word means the opposite of thrilled? What is the key word that you circle?

This is a sentence from the selection. “I was thrilled. I had never won a trophy before.” Which word means the opposite of thrilled?

33. This sentence is from the selection. “They can leap from tree to tree... ” What word means the same as leap? What is the key word that you circle?

33. This sentence is from the selection. “They can leap from tree to tree... ” What word means the same as leap?

What do you do if you get stuck on a question? Skip it and move on to the next question. Come back to it later

READING SELECTIONS

Read the directions carefully. How? CAREFULLY!

Read the title. Read the what? TITLE! Thomas Edison by John Kennedy The Spelling Bee They’re Here! from “Joey’s Way” by Kate Aver Monkey Business by Judy Ling

Look at the pictures. Look at the what? PICTURES

Read the whole story – you have plenty of time! Read every single word from the beginning to the end of the selection. You have plenty of time!

Read to yourself. Read in your head. You don’t want to disturb your classmates.

Read the word bank. Read the what? WORD BANK

MULTIPLE CHOICE

How many points are multiple choice questions worth? 1 point

How many? 1 point

Read the WHOLE question - carefully. Don’t just skip to the sentence. Find out what the question is asking. 23. This is a sentence from the selection. “Isn’t she even gonna come after me?” When Kevin thinks this, what do you think he is feeling?

Circle KEY Words whatwhere end beginningdetail when thememeaning why whobeforeafter

Read ALL the answers. (even if they are long)

Choose the BEST answer. Sometimes two answers are close, but you have to choose the one that is the BEST!

What do you do if you are not sure of the answer?  Go back and read that part of the selection AGAIN!  Even if you think you know the answer, double check it.  Underline or circle it.

Fill in the circle next to the correct answer COMPLETELY!

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (SA)

How many points are short answer questions worth? 2 points

How many? 2 points

Read the WHOLE question - carefully. Sometime you have to fill in a chart. Read the WHOLE chart.

EXTENDED RESPONSE QUESTIONS (ER)

How many points are extended response questions worth? 4 points

How many? 4 points These are the MOST IMPORTANT because they are worth the MOST points!

Read the WHOLE question - carefully. Don’t just start writing things down. Read the entire question from top to bottom.

WRITING ANSWERS TO SA & ER QUESTIONS

What do you do if you don’t know how to spell a word? LOOK BACK IN THE SELECTION! circle it and then COPY the correct spelling of the word.

What do you do if you are not sure of the answer?  Go back and read that part of the selection AGAIN!  Even if you think you know the answer, double check it.  Underline or circle it.

If it says “from the selection” the answer is probably IN THE SELECTION!!! Go find it!! Underline it!! Write it!

When you write your answer… make sure you write it in the space provided.

If there is a line…write it on the line If there is a chart… write it in the chart If there is a circle…write it in the circle The ‘computer’ can only see your answer if it is written in the space provided.

When you write your answer…  use spaces between words  write in your best handwriting  use capital letters and periods if you are writing a sentence

WHEN YOU FINISH THE TEST

Double check to make sure that you did not leave anything blank. YOU have to do this!

If you had to erase an answer, make sure that you erased it completely!

When you are completely finished… silently raise your hand to turn in your test.

Silent Work