1. DO YOUR BEST FOR THE TEST!!!
Understanding the challenge…
Test taking strategies the work…
Doing your best…
Being confident…

2. Why do we spend so much time reviewing the instructions?
If you do not understand how to take the test, YOU could make a major mistake that could negatively affect your score.
If you have any questions about how to take the test ASK THE TEACHER. It’s our job to answer the questions you have.

3. Getting Stuck
If you are spending too much time on a question you can “flag” it and come back to it later.
Leave that space blank and move on to the next problem.
When you get to the end of the test, come back and use the strategies for guessing.
If you are about to run out of time, make sure you answer every question.

4. Why do we have to take these tests?
The state of Ohio wants to know how much you know compared to other students in the same grade.
Your teachers need to know what you know and what you still need to learn. That way, they will be able to teach you better...

5. Why take the test (cont.)
Test scores are used to evaluate your progress and become a permanent part of your record.
Test scores determine your placement in various programs.
High School counselors look at your test scores to decide which classes you are going to take.

6. How well are we expected to do on the test?
You should show improvement from last year’s score to this year’s score; that means you have learned more than you were expected to learn in 1 year.

7. Test anxiety! It is normal to be nervous. Just slow down and relax.
Take a few deep breaths.
Very few people get it all right.
Take the tests one day at a time.

8. Fight Test Anxiety!
If you have a positive attitude going into the test, chances are you will do better.
Having a positive attitude will only make you feel better.

9. Get ready before testing
Test Taking Strategy # 1–
Get plenty of rest the night before each testing day
You need 7-9 hours of sleep, so go to bed at 10pm.
Get ready before testing
Eat a good nutritious breakfast the morning of each testing day
(Milk w/cereal, eggs, fruits; no Hot Cheetos and candy.)
Avoid the morning rush. Set out clothes the night before. Get to school a few minutes earlier than you usually do.

10. Follow Directions! Always listen to the directions given by teacher.
Test Taking Strategy # 2
Always listen to the directions given by teacher.
LISTEN
Read the directions written on the test
Read the question and go back to make sure you answer all choices.
READ
Ask the teacher if you do not understand the directions as they are being read.
ASK
Follow Directions!

11. 1. Don’t spend too much time on any one question.
Test Taking Strategy # 3
Use your time wisely!
2. It is important to answer every question even if you are not sure of the answer.
1. Don’t spend too much time on any one question.
5. Answer the easiest questions first, flag those you are not sure of, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped.
3. Use all your time! There are no extra points for finishing early.
4. Save time at the end to review your test and make sure you haven't left out any answers.

12. Elimination Test Taking Strategy # 4
If you can’t figure out which answer is correct, try to eliminate (get rid of) the answers that you know are wrong!
Eliminate obviously wrong answer choices
Eliminate choices that are partly correct
Eliminate items that are correct but don’t answer the question
Elimination

13. Test Taking Strategy # 5
Educated guessing means using everything you know to attempt to answer the question.
A random guess gives you a 25% chance of getting the right answer. An educated guess gives you chance of answering correctly up to 75% .
Educated Guess

14. Your Goal Choose an answer for every question! Choice (a) Choice (c)
Test Taking Strategy # 5
Your Goal
Choose an answer
for every question!
Choice (a)
Choice (b)
Choice (c)
Choice (d)

15. ABSOLUTE WORDS ALL ALWAYS MUST NONE NEVER EVERY
Test Taking Strategy # 6
ANSWERS WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS ARE OFTEN WRONG/FALSE
ALL ALWAYS
MUST NONE
NEVER EVERY
ENTIRELY BEST WORST ONLY
EVERYONE
ABSOLUTE WORDS

16. Example
Which of the following is true for people who live in California?
A. Everyone in California lives on the San Andreas Fault.
B. Because California’s most powerful earthquake was in 1906, the next powerful earthquake will be centuries away.
C. Only people who live in California experience earthquakes.
D. People living in California experience earthquakes more frequently than in any other place in the country.

17. SOME SOMETIMES GENERALLY MOST FEW MANY OFTEN SELDOM
ANSWERS WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS ARE OFTEN CORRECT/TRUE
Test Taking Strategy # 7
SOME SOMETIMES GENERALLY
USUALLY
FREQUENTLY PROBABLY
MOST FEW MANY OFTEN SELDOM
GENERAL WORDS

18. Example
Which of the following is true for people who live in California?
A. Everyone in California lives on the San Andreas Fault.
B. Because California’s most powerful earthquake was in 1906, the next powerful earthquake will be centuries away.
C. Only people who live in California experience earthquakes.
D. People living in California experience earthquakes more frequently than in any other place in the country.
Does not make sense….

19. Test Taking Strategy # 8
The context of a word includes all the words and sentences that surround it and the situation in which the word is used
WHEN THE ANSWER IS NOT CLEAR, LOOK FOR CLUES ( CONTEXT, TENSE, WORD TYPE, GRAMMAR) IN THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER CHOICES
LOOK FOR CLUES

20. LOOK FOR CLUES Clue words in test questions: Who? Person What? Thing
Test Taking Strategy # 8 continue...
Clue words in test questions:
Who? Person What? Thing
Where? Place When? Time Why? Reason Which? Choice
How? A way something is done
How many ? Number
LOOK FOR CLUES

21. 1.Use elimination strategy first…
Example
Our class will see a play,__________ends this week.
Who
What
Which
When
Our class will see a play,__________ends this week.
Who
What
Which
When
1.Use elimination strategy first…
2. Look for a clue
3. Play is a noun in this sentence, so ask yourself what kind of a play it is.

22. Answers about a problem of the story are usually found in the middle
Test Taking Strategy # 9
Answers about where and when the story takes place are found at the beginning
Answers about a problem of the story are usually found in the middle
Answers about how the problem was resolved are usually found at the end
Reading a story

23. Finding the BIG IDEA The purpose of the story
Test Taking Strategy # 10
What’s the Big Idea? Central Idea?
Main Idea?
Events and characters that make up the story
The purpose of the story
The point the author is trying to make
Tip: Look for the Big idea in the first two paragraphs of the story !
Finding the BIG IDEA

24. Use all the strategies you have learned
Example
Read this outline of the article.
Introduction
Athenian Democracy
Representative Democracy
Conclusion
Which main idea belongs first under section III?
Every citizen is a member of a government
A presidential election is like a town meeting
Al Gore got about 500,000 more votes than George Bush did
A few elected officials represent a very large population
Use all the strategies you have learned

25. Follow these tips to reduce your anxiety!
Remember…
I am scared of the test monster!!!!
Remember the strategies! They will help you to feel confident.
Think positively about doing your best !
Take a deep breath to relax.
Answer EVERY question.
Make intelligent educated guesses.
Think about one item at a time.
DO YOUR BEST !!!!
Follow these tips to reduce your anxiety!

26. Don’t Rush- Take you time- But when you are done …
If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.
Once you have finished, please remain quiet as others will still be working on the test.
You are NOT allowed to go on your laptop when you are done.
You may read a book quietly at your seat until the time is up…

27. Read the passage carefully!
Read the selection carefully, twice if necessary.
Use your scratch paper to write down any important words.
Use your scratch paper to take notes about important ideas.

28. Look for Clues! Check the text and question for clues to the meaning.
Look for relationships between words in definition questions.
Break down large words to figure out their meaning.
Use the reading strategies you learned in class.

29. Answer the questions! Eliminate any obviously wrong answers.
Choose the best answer from the remaining choices.
Remember there will be both multiple choice (only one answer) & multiple select (more than one answer) questions.

30. Analogies Down Below Kick Sit Class Open is to close as up is to
Back is to rear as under is to
Hand is to write as foot is to
-Or-
bed : sleep :: chair :
Fish : school :: student :
Analogies can be written either way.

31. Analogy Tips
Figure out the relationship between the two words; try to use them in a sentence.
Choose the pair of words that best fits the original short sentence.
Consider all 5 choices before you pick your answer, the first one you pick may not be the BEST answer.

32. ON THE TEST!