1. Test Taking
Strategies

2. Follow Directions! Always listen to the directions given by teacher.
Read the directions written on the test
Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything.
LISTEN
READ
Ask the teacher if you do not understand the directions.
ASK
Follow Directions!

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, 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.

4. Get ready before testing
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.

5. Multiple Choice Strategies

6. Test Taking Strategy # 1–
Deconstruct the MCQ:
“Jail the Detail”: Highlight, underline, or circle the details in the questions. This helps you focus on exactly what the question is asking you to do.
Ask yourself: What is the question asking you to do?
What skill is it based on? (central idea, text structure, word meaning, events, etc..)
Where do you need to go to look for the answer? (Ex: paragraph 1, line 52, etc..)

7. Test Taking Strategy # 2
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

8. Example
Which development most enabled early peoples to form permanent settlements?
A. advances in agricultural production
B. the creation of democratic government
the spread of monotheism
D. advances in written language
CSH10239

9. Test Taking Strategy # 3
Plug it in, Plug it in!
Once you have chosen your answer, plug it in and make sure that it makes sense! (this works really well with vocabulary questions).

10. Test Taking Strategy # 4
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

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

12. Test Taking Strategy # 6
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

13. Questions with graphs, charts, and tables,
Test Taking Strategy # 7
1.Read all the titles, labels, and other given information
Check the units of measurement
3. Look for a pattern, trend, or comparison in the graph or table
Questions with graphs, charts, and tables,

14. If you misbubble you’re in trouble
Test Taking Strategy # 8
If you misbubble you’re in trouble
If you reach a hard question and can’t make your educated guess, an easier one is just around the corner. Write a light ? next to the question you are skipping and move on to the next question.

15. How do you prevent misbubbling?
At the end of the test, go back to the questions with ? next to them and see if you can try to answer it. Please be sure to answer every question.

16. When you are done …
Fill in bubbles fully, write neatly, and erase stray marks.
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.

17. Short & Extended Response Strategies

18. “UNPACK” the Question! Underline key words Number the parts of the ?
Plan how you will answer
Answer using specific details
Check off each part as you do it
Keep up the great work

19. Pay attention to the “Action” Words in the Question
Summarize
Explain
Analyze
Develop
Contribute
Evaluate
Justify
Illustrate
What do these words require you to do?

20. How will you answer your SRQ or ERQ?
Create a Plan!
How will you answer your SRQ or ERQ?
R.A.C.E.: Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain
R.A.F.A.: Restate, Answer, For example, Also
5 paragraph essay with intro and conclusion

21. Extended Response:
Double check that you have addressed all parts of the question
Use bullets for your BODY paragraphs
Check off the bullets when you complete them

22. Extended Response
Body #2
Body #1
Body #3

23. Citing Evidence http://learnzillion
Citing Evidence evidence-from-the-text-in-your-own-words
Locate the evidence in the text
Rewrite the evidence in own words
Use phrase or location to show where you found the evidence
According to the text…
In paragraph _____, it said…
The author wrote…

24. ON THE TEST!