Standardized Test-taking Tips

Pre-Test Day Know where your test is being givenKnow where your test is being given NO REVIEW the night beforeNO REVIEW the night before De-stress exercisesDe-stress exercises

Test Day Eat a good Breakfast - you need the glucose to feed your brainEat a good Breakfast - you need the glucose to feed your brain –MINIMUM - eat a piece of fruit No further study! You are as prepared as you’ll ever be - RELAX!!!!!No further study! You are as prepared as you’ll ever be - RELAX!!!!!

Scrap Paper Request official scrap paper for use during the exam to write notes or do calculations. – –What you write on this scrap paper won't affect your score.

Answering about 1/2 the questions correctly will get an average scoreAnswering about 1/2 the questions correctly will get an average score Questions go from easy to hard, with questions on graphics, charts & data tables at the endQuestions go from easy to hard, with questions on graphics, charts & data tables at the end Skip questions you don’t understand and come back to if there is timeSkip questions you don’t understand and come back to if there is time Multiple Choice Tips

Read test directions carefully before you begin to mark any answers.Read test directions carefully before you begin to mark any answers. Multiple Choice Tips – If directions are not clear, ask for clarification before you begin Keep track of the timeKeep track of the time –Budget your time accordingly.

All questions are worth 1 point, regardless of difficultyAll questions are worth 1 point, regardless of difficulty If you can eliminate one or two wrong answers to a questions, it is best to guess at the answerIf you can eliminate one or two wrong answers to a questions, it is best to guess at the answer Multiple Choice Tips

Pace Yourself Make sure that you're not working too slowly.Make sure that you're not working too slowly. You should have answered at least half the questions in a section when half the time for that section has passed.You should have answered at least half the questions in a section when half the time for that section has passed.

Reading Tips Read the entire question including all the answer choices before answering a question. – –Don't think that because the first or second answer choice looks good to you, it isn't necessary to read the remaining options.

Key Words all always but except every generally however only perhaps rarely seldom sometimes usually may must necessary never none not often

Reading Tips When a question or answer option contains words such as "always," "every," "only," "never," and "none," there can be no exceptions to the answer you choose.When a question or answer option contains words such as "always," "every," "only," "never," and "none," there can be no exceptions to the answer you choose. Use of words such as "often," "rarely," "sometimes," and "generally" indicates that there may be some exceptions to the answer.Use of words such as "often," "rarely," "sometimes," and "generally" indicates that there may be some exceptions to the answer.

“Conceptual" Questions Begin by: – Covering the alternatives with a ruler or piece of paper. – Carefully read and understand the stem of the question before looking at the alternatives. – Circle or underline key words in the stem, paying special attention to qualifying words such as "always," "major," "increase," etc.

“Conceptual" Questions Predict an answer, if possible. Uncover all of the alternatives and check the format of the question. – Is only one of the alternatives correct, or can several or all of the alternatives be correct?

“Conceptual" Questions Narrow your choices, by eliminating any alternative that you know is incorrect. If two options still look equally appealing, compare each to the stem of the question, making sure that the one you eventually choose answers what is asked. change an answer ONLY if you can logically justify the change. If necessary, when looking over the questions again, change an answer ONLY if you can logically justify the change.

Calculations Think about the procedure. Make a rough estimate of the scale. Solve the problem. Write legibly. Compare your answer to the options given. If the answer that you have calculated, is not one of the given options, check your procedure again, and recalculate. If your calculation is STILL wrong, put a big question mark by that question, and go on to the next. Go back to it at the end.

Don'ts Don't select an alternative just because you remember learning the information in the course Don't pick an answer just because it seems to make sense. – – You are answering from your content knowledge, not just from your general logic. Don't dismiss an alternative because it seems too obvious and simple an answer.

Don'ts Don't be wowed by fancy terms: don't say to yourself, "That sounds impressive, so it must be the right answer!" Don't pick "c" every time you are unsure of the answer. You could end up picking "c" far too many times. Don't pick your answer based on a pattern of responses, i.e., don't say to yourself, "This can't be another "b" answer as we have just had three in a row."

Caution !!! MAKE SURE TO ERASE ALL STRAY MARKS ON THE SIDE OF A SCAN- TRON BEFORE YOU TURN IN THE TEST!!!! – –(the machine will count a stray mark as an “answer” and mark the question incorrect.)

Congratulate yourself on a job well done!!!

Developed by Developed by Anne F. Maben Science Coach UCLA Science Project © 2005 UCLA All rights reserved