1. Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests
Testing, testing, , testing!
Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

2. ‘Twas the Night Before Testing
Go to bed on time.
Put a few number 2 pencils with erasers & a highlighter in your backpack. (You will receive one to use at school).
Solve family/friend problems before the testing date.
Talk to your parents or teachers about any concerns that you might have about the test.

3. Test day Start your day with a good breakfast.
(A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.)
Breathe! Oxygen to your brain will help you think.
Think Positive! “I can do this!”
Think of what you will do to relax when you get home from school.

4. READING EOG
Read the questions first! By doing this, you will know what you are looking for as you read.
SKIMMING: Read pieces of the text: dates, names, and places; review graphs, tables, and charts.
SCANNING: Find a particular answer. Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly down the page seeking specific words and phrases to help you answer a question.

5. READING EOG
Use the context clues to help you figure out the meaning of words you don’t know. Remember, if you can’t figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word from the sentence it is in, read more! You may need to read the entire paragraph, or the paragraphs before or after the unfamiliar word to figure it out!
Look at parts of the word and use what you DO know to help you determine the meaning.

6. READING EOG
Use a highlighter or underline when you read to save time later.
Use reading strategies that you have been taught. For example: UNWRAP.
Read EVERYTHING! It is a reading assessment, so you must read. That includes titles, charts, captions, maps, etc.
Read each selection more than once if necessary! If you don’t understand it the first time, READ IT AGAIN! Rereads are powerful!

7. READING EOG
After reading, reread the question and ALL answer choices carefully.
Make sure that you understand the question that is being asked.
Make sure that you answer the question that is being asked.
When there are several questions about a reading passage or chart, look for clues in other questions that will help you with those items about which you are unsure.

8. READING EOG
Use the process of elimination to get rid of the two answer choices that you feel are totally incorrect before making your final choice.
Answer every question. An unanswered question will always be wrong!
Mark your answer in your test booklet. This will help you stay on track.

9. READING EOG
Do not change your answer choice unless you are very certain that it is wrong.
Make sure that you are bubbling in your answer on the correct question. Stop and check every 5 questions to make sure that your question number in your booklet matches the question number on your answer sheet.

10. READING EOG
If you feel uncertain about a question put a star beside it in your booklet, so that if time permits you can revisit that question.
DO NOT MAKE ANY MARKS ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET, EXCEPT FOR YOUR FINAL BUBBLED ANSWER. You don’t want a mark to be counted as an incorrect answer.

11. READING EOG: Common Errors on Answer SheetS
Striking Out Choices
Choosing Multiple Answers
No Answer Chosen At All
A Check Instead of a Bubble
Putting a Star as a Reminder to Come Back

12. KEY WORDS
Find key words or phrases in the question that will help you choose the correct answer.

13. MATH COMPUTATION
When using scratch paper on a math test, double check to make sure that you have copied the problem correctly from the test booklet!

14. MATH COMPUTATION
Line up place value correctly on your scratch paper (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands) or the answer will be incorrect.

15. MATH COMPUTATION
If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again.

16. DURING THE TEST
If your arm tires during testing it is probably due to the grip that you have on your pencil.
Relax the grip and give those muscles a break.
Breathe, roll your head, shake out your arms, wiggle your legs and feet.

17. SCIENCE EOG Most of the reading strategies will also apply to science.
Reread for Details
Hi-Lite Key Words
Eliminate Silly Answers
Use the Process of Elimination

18. SCIENCE EOG
Draw a Picture or Diagram-Use your scratch paper to sketch ideas that you remember from class or hints from your teacher.
Remember Classroom Experiments-Think about experiments that you did or observed.
Take Your Time
Great Resource:

19. SHOULD YOU KNOW ALL ANSWERS?
NO! It's okay not to know everything — unlike class tests, these tests will have some questions designed to challenge the limits of your knowledge at your current grade level.
Remember that there are also field questions that may present a challenge.

20. DURING THE TEST
Take advantage of your stretch breaks! Use your three minutes wisely. Get out of your seat and stretch! This time will give your brain a moment to relax and will allow you to re-focus your thoughts!

21. FINAL CHECK
If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.
Yes, that means really go back and check your work!

22. This is YOUR test. The better the effort, the better the outcome.
Remember:
This is YOUR test. The better the effort, the better the outcome.