SOL Remediation for the English RLR exam Day 1 Introduction to the Test and Test-Taking Strategies

1.Understanding a Variety of Print Materials 2. Understanding the Elements of Literature 3. Locating and Using Information from a Variety of Resource Materials This exam will test three major skill sets called “Reporting Categories” Introduction to the Test

Understanding a Variety of Printed Materials There will be 12 of these questions (that will count) on the test. These questions will focus on reading informational materials, such as job applications, sets of directions, advertisements and bills.

Understanding the Elements of Literature There will be 24 of these questions (that will count) on the test. These questions will focus on your knowledge of literature and literary terminology. You will see general questions (such as about the theme of a passage) and specific questions (such as about specific word meaning).

Locating and Using Information from a Variety of Resource Material There will be 6 of these questions (that will count) on the test. These questions will be about a “pretend” student paper followed by a “pretend” works cited. You may be asked about the structure of the paper, the meaning of words in context, or the content of the paper itself, or the information contained in the works cited.

Specifics about the test: 1.There are 52 multiple choice questions on the test. 2. Only 42 of the 52 questions count toward your score – 10 questions are field test items. 3. There is no penalty for guessing. 4. You must answer approximately 24 of the 42 questions correct (57%) to earn a passing score and 37 of 42 (88%) to earn a pass advanced. 5. You will take the test on the computer.

More Specifics: 1.The questions on the SOL are not arranged in order of difficulty, so the last question may be easier than the first. 2.Questions will be arranged in groups according to “Reporting Category.” 3.There will be no way to determine which questions are field test items (questions that won’t count toward your score). 4. There is no time limit on this test.

Test Taking Strategies The Two-Pass System: If you read a question and it seems too difficult, mark it for further review and move on. When you come to the end of the test, go back to the beginning and go through it again, this time spending more time on the questions you didn’t answer the first time.

Test Taking Strategies The Process of Elimination: Read through all the answer choices and mark out ones that you know can’t possibly be the correct answer. When you have eliminated one or more of the choices, make an educated guess as to which is the correct.

Let’s Practice! 1.Go to the school’s website: Click on the High School drop down menu. 3. Scroll down until you see SOL Prep and click on it. 4.Then scroll down to High School English and click on the first here. 5.Work on the 2003 test, asking Ms. Nugent for help if you need it.