1. Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

2. 1st Key Things to Know When is your test? Where will you be testing?
What do you need to bring? (calculators, etc)
How is your test counted? (ex: teacher made test = 10%, EOC = 25%
Do you have re-test opportunities? How will your teacher contact you?

3. ‘Twas the Night Before Testing
Make sure you know the place & time of your test
Take some time to review key concepts before you go to sleep, but don’t stress/cram
Go to bed on time.

4. The Morning of Testing Get up on time so you don’t have to rush
Eat a good breakfast.
Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school.
Talk positively to yourself

5. Bring/Leave Correct calculator, if allowed Extra #2 pencils
Signed permission slip to dismiss early, if required
Books or study materials in case you finish early
Tissues, if needed
Cell phone but it must be turned OFF and STAY off in the test room.
Electronics. No games, music, etc can be used at any point in the test room.
Food/drink, unless it’s for after the test session
Books or study materials directly related to the test

6. Getting Started Be on time! Use the restroom BEFORE the test starts
If you do not understand the directions, ask for help.
Respectfully follow ALL directions and requests from your test proctor and administrator.

7. Pace Yourself
Look briefly over the portion of the exam you are allowed to work on so you know how many and what type of questions are ahead.
Answers the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped.
Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and then move on.

8. Multiple Choice Questions
Do not change your answers unless you are very uncertain about your first answer choice.
Try to answer every question. Make the most intelligent guess you can.

9. The Process of Elimination
After you have been through all of the questions once, go back and find questions you have some knowledge about and eliminate choices that you know are incorrect.
I know C isn’t the answer!

10. The Process of Elimination
If you can eliminate one or two wrong answers, your chance of choosing the right answer is greater.

11. Key Words
Find key words or phrases in the question that will help you choose the correct answer.

12. Answering Questions
Don't guess blindly, but if you have time to think about the best answer choice, make it! You can usually eliminate at least one answer.

13. Skip, Return, Check
If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.

14. New this year
If you need to leave the room for any reason (bathroom, water, sick, etc) you will be escorted 1 at a time and…
Your test booklet will be clipped closed. You will NOT be allowed to go back to any section you have already looked at.
This means if you really feel you MUST leave the room for a break, stop first and check all your answers and finish any questions you had skipped BEFORE you leave.

15. Are we communicating?
Make sure you understand what the question is asking.
Be sure you are responding to the question that is being asked.
Watch out for “not” or “none” or other key words in the question

16. Reading Passages read the questions first.
If the test requires you to read passages and then answer questions about what you read,
read the questions first.
By doing this, you will know what you are looking for as you read. This also helps you go faster on the test.

17. Reading Passages
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.

18. 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!

19. Math Computation
Line up place value correctly on your scratch paper (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones) or the answer will be incorrect.

20. Math Computation
If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again.

21. A Matter of Time
If any time remains, spend it on those questions you originally skipped.
As you go back through, do not change all answers.
Remember: If you have no new information or insight, Your first guess is more likely to be correct.

22. It’s About Time
Don’t spend too much time rewriting or obsessing about neatness.
Don’t worry if you run out of time. Work carefully.
You have at least 4 hours within the regular testing session.

23. During the test
Rest your eyes by looking up and at a far away point at the end of every page or two
Take advantage of all scheduled breaks– stand up, move, etc.
Raise your hands for any questions
You must comply with all directions (cell phones off, no talking, etc) or risk a test misadministration for the ENTIRE ROOM.

24. The Death Grip
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.
Do not do arm exercises during testing as this disturbs others.

25. Final Tips Fill in bubbles fully, write neatly, and erase stray marks.
Double-check the test number in your test booklet against the answer sheet every few questions to be sure you haven’t gotten on the wrong number.

26. I’m Finished!
If you have time, double check all answers. Better to spend a few minutes now than hours in a retest later.
Raise your hand and the test administrator will collect your papers.
Once your materials are collected, you may sleep, ready, draw, study, etc– anything silent & non-distracting as others finish. You may NOT leave until ALL EOC

27. No Worries…
Remember 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 a grade level above your current grade.

28. Re-Test?
If offered an option to re-test, TAKE IT. Many students improve their scores just by getting another shot at the questions.

29. Relax, Celebrate & Learn
Take time to do something easy and relaxing after the test
Congratulate yourself on what you have achieved so far
If things didn’t go as well as you wanted, make a plan for a better spring: What can you do better next time?
Save more notes & tests?
Attend more review sessions?
Start studying earlier? etc