1. 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 in your backpack. Talk to your parents about any concerns you might have about the test.

3. The Morning of Testing Start your day as you always do Eat a good breakfast Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school! Think Positive!

4. Multiple Choice Questions If you do not understand the directions, raise your hand. Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything.

5. Pace Yourself Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and then move on

6. Multiple Choice Questions Do not change your answers unless you are very uncertain about your first choice. Try to answer every question.

7. The Process of Elimination After you have been through all of the answers once, go back and find the ones you have some knowledge about and eliminate choices you know are incorrect.

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

9. Answering Questions Don’t guess blindly, but take time to think about the best answer and choose that one.

10. Skip, Return, and Check If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all the questions!

11. Key Words Find _______ or_ ______ in the question that will help you choose the correct answer. key words phrase s

12. Are we communicating? Read the question carefully and make sure you understand what it is asking. Make sure you are on the right question and answer in the correct place.

13. Reading Passages If the test requires you to read passages and then answer questions about what your read, READ THE QUESTIONS FIRST! By doing this, you will know what you are looking for as you read.

14. 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! Scratch paper – USE IT!

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

16. Math Computation Solve the problem, then if the answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers and try solving it again.

17. A Matter of Time If time remains, go back and check answers As you go back through, do not change all answers REMEMBER: Your first answer is usually correct.

18. It’s About Time Don’t worry if you run out of time!

19. 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 make sure you are in the correct place.

20. The Death Grip If your arm tires during testing it is probably because you have a hard grip on your pencil Relax the grip and give your arm a break Do not do arm exercises during testing because it will disturb others.

21. It is Okay … Remember: It’s okay not to know everything! These tests will have some questions designed to challenge you at or above your grade level.