1. Acing Assessments Performing your best on tests and quizzes comes down to preparation.

2. Acing Assessments  The more that you prepare as you go, the less you will have to do at the last minute.  Preparing ahead of time allows you to spend those last couple of days addressing your specific weaknesses.

3. Quizzes  Every day after you have completed your assignment, go back and choose 1 – 3 problems from the list of B problems.  Make sure that the problems you pick represent DIFFERENT skills.  Transcribe those problems onto a separate page. BE SURE TO INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS!

4. Quizzes  Be sure to include questions from the assignment that is due on the day of the quiz.  You should now have a practice quiz consisting of 6 - 8 problems that represent all of the material on the quiz.

5. Quizzes  On the day before the quiz, sit down and take the quiz as you would take a quiz in class.  Time yourself for about 15 minutes.  Only use a calculator if its use would be allowed on the quiz.

6. Quizzes  Grade your practice quiz using the B Problem answers on my web site and identify your strengths and weaknesses.  Review any concepts that you missed on your practice quiz, working additional problems as necessary.

7. Tests  With only two tests per six weeks, there will be a significant amount of mostly new material to review in a short period of time.  Consequently, the more preparation that you can do ahead of time, the more productively you can spend those last 2 days before the test.

8. Tests  This semester, we will NOT be giving you review sheets for tests. Consequently, it will be up to YOU to make and work your own set of review problems.

9. Tests  Make your own Test Review in the same way that you made your own practice quiz.

10. Tests  Every day after you complete your assignment, identify 5 - 6 problems that represent that day’s lesson.  Be sure to include as many different kinds of problems as possible.  Be sure to include the DIRECTIONS for each problem.

11. Tests  Not all homework problems have corresponding B problems. Therefore, you may have to include A problems in your review sheet as well.

12. Tests  By review day, you should have a comprehensive review sheet of 25 – 30 problems with directions.

13. Tests  If you have your review sheet ready when you come to class on review day, you can spend your time working problems instead of hunting for problems to work.  Since your partner made a review sheet independent of you, you can work your partner’s review sheet as well as your own with minimal duplication.

14. Tests  Be sure that you work and check every single problem on your own review sheet.  Analyze any mistakes that you made and work additional B problems as necessary to address any weaknesses.  As additional resources, you still have your quizzes and your practice quizzes.

15. Summary  Preparing for assessments isn’t any different that preparing for a performance in music, theater, sports, or any other domain. You wouldn’t wait until the day before that performance to begin practicing and conditioning, would you?

16. Summary  Doing your best on assessments begins with making a commitment to dedicate a few extra minutes each day towards preparing.  Revisiting the material more frequently reinforces the content and frees up time on those crucial last days before the assessment.

17. Summary  Your understanding of the material will be deeper, and you can spend more finding and addressing your particular needs.