1. Standardized Testing

2. Answering Reading Comprehension Questions

3. Reading Comprehension Tests

4. What’s the best way of attacking reading-comprehension questions?

5. Reading Comprehension Tests What’s the best way of attacking reading-comprehension questions? Begin by remembering the test measures how well you read a passage, not what you know.

6. Reading Comprehension Tests What’s the best way of attacking reading-comprehension questions? Begin by remembering the test measures how well you read a passage, not what you know. Is that always true?

7. Reading Comprehension Tests What’s the best way of attacking reading-comprehension questions? Begin by remembering the test measures how well you read a passage, not what you know. Is that always true? SATs test only reading comprehension;

8. Reading Comprehension Tests What’s the best way of attacking reading-comprehension questions? Begin by remembering the test measures how well you read a passage, not what you know. Is that always true? SATs test only reading comprehension; ACTs assume some content knowledge.

9. Reading Comprehension Tests What’s the best way of attacking reading-comprehension questions? Begin by remembering the test measures how well you read a passage, not what you know. Is that always true? SATs test only reading comprehension; ACTs assume some content knowledge. So how do I improve my performance?

10. Reading Comprehension Tests

11. Lay your pencil flat on the test booklet above the first line of the passage you’re reading.

12. Reading Comprehension Tests Lay your pencil flat on the test booklet above the first line of the passage you’re reading. Then draw your pencil down the page steadily, covering up the line you have just read.

13. Reading Comprehension Tests Lay your pencil flat on the test booklet above the first line of the passage you’re reading. Then draw your pencil down the page steadily, covering up the line you have just read. This tactic helps your eye track the line you’re reading, prevents backtracking, and establishes a brisk pace.

14. Reading Comprehension Tests

15. Read for the main idea (or best title) of the passage, and jot it down briefly beside the passage when you finish reading.

16. Reading Comprehension Tests Read for the main idea (or best title) of the passage, and jot it down briefly beside the passage when you finish reading. Doing so helps you focus your concentration, ensures that you are reading with a purpose, and helps your memory.

17. Reading Comprehension Tests Use the process of elimination on each question;

18. Reading Comprehension Tests Use the process of elimination on each question; x-out the numbers of responses that are clearly wrong.

19. Reading Comprehension Tests Use the process of elimination on each question; x-out the numbers of responses that are clearly wrong. Attack each kind of question differently...

20. Attack each kind of question...

21. Factual recall:

22. Attack each kind of question... Factual recall: If you are asked to regurgitate some detail and can’t remember, look it up for a sure point.

23. Attack each kind of question... Factual recall: If you are asked to regurgitate some detail and can’t remember, look it up for a sure point. Best title or main idea:

24. Attack each kind of question... Factual recall: If you are asked to regurgitate some detail and can’t remember, look it up for a sure point. Best title or main idea: Compare answers to what you jotted down;

25. Attack each kind of question... Factual recall: If you are asked to regurgitate some detail and can’t remember, look it up for a sure point. Best title or main idea: Compare answers to what you jotted down; rule out any choice not mentioned in the passage.

26. Attack each kind of question... Mood, tone, or author’s attitude:

27. Attack each kind of question... Mood, tone, or author’s attitude: Circle four or five prominent adjectives and see how they add up.

28. Attack each kind of question... Mood, tone, or author’s attitude: Circle four or five prominent adjectives and see how they add up. Implication or inference:

29. Attack each kind of question... Mood, tone, or author’s attitude: Circle four or five prominent adjectives and see how they add up. Implication or inference: Find the idea in the passage that would serve as the basis, and reason directly from it.

30. Remember the Yardstick Method

31. If you can eliminate three choices but can’t decide between the final two,

32. Remember the Yardstick Method If you can eliminate three choices but can’t decide between the final two, try applying each to the first sentence in the passage,

33. Remember the Yardstick Method If you can eliminate three choices but can’t decide between the final two, try applying each to the first sentence in the passage, the last sentence in the passage,

34. Remember the Yardstick Method If you can eliminate three choices but can’t decide between the final two, try applying each to the first sentence in the passage, the last sentence in the passage, and a conspicuous middle sentence.

35. Remember the Yardstick Method If you can eliminate three choices but can’t decide between the final two, try applying each to the first sentence in the passage, the last sentence in the passage, and a conspicuous middle sentence. Choose the answer that fits two of those three sentences (or all three).

36. Remember the Yardstick Method If you can eliminate three choices but can’t decide between the final two, try applying each to the first sentence in the passage, the last sentence in the passage, and a conspicuous middle sentence. Choose the answer that fits two of those three sentences (or all three). Still uncertain? Watch the Powerpoint on Guessing.

37. More Tips

38. Circle a question if you skip it, planning to come back later,

39. More Tips Circle a question if you skip it, planning to come back later, but also skip the matching answer!

40. More Tips Circle a question if you skip it, planning to come back later, but also skip the matching answer! Try using some physical place marker— like a spare pencil—on your answer sheet.

41. More Tips Use your pencil liberally on the passages and on the questions—

42. More Tips Use your pencil liberally on the passages and on the questions—circling key words,

43. More Tips Use your pencil liberally on the passages and on the questions—circling key words, drawing arrows,

44. More Tips Use your pencil liberally on the passages and on the questions—circling key words, drawing arrows, and x-ing out eliminated choices.

45. More Tips Use your pencil liberally on the passages and on the questions—circling key words, drawing arrows, and x-ing out eliminated choices. The test booklet is your property—

46. More Tips Use your pencil liberally on the passages and on the questions—circling key words, drawing arrows, and x-ing out eliminated choices. The test booklet is your property—you paid for it!

47. Standardized Testing Reading Comprehension Questions... »End.