2. Taking the Test Read – Read each story given individually Read – Read each story given individually Answer – Answer the multiple choice questions for the story Answer – Answer the multiple choice questions for the story Write – Write/plan the answer to the open- ended question Write – Write/plan the answer to the open- ended question **When finished with the first story, go back and repeat the steps for the second story. This breaks the monotony of the test and allows the hand to relax between writing. Students should answer the cross- over multiple choice questions after the 2nd story and then complete the visual representation questions. **When finished with the first story, go back and repeat the steps for the second story. This breaks the monotony of the test and allows the hand to relax between writing. Students should answer the cross- over multiple choice questions after the 2nd story and then complete the visual representation questions.

3. Open-Ended Questions Plan your answer! (#1) Plan your answer! (#1) Answer Answer Support (specific reference/quotation) Support (specific reference/quotation) Write it out using complete sentences. (#2) Write it out using complete sentences. (#2) Proofread what you’ve written making sure that the answer is complete. (#3) Proofread what you’ve written making sure that the answer is complete. (#3) Fill in your answer sheet and read your final answer for mistakes. (#4) Fill in your answer sheet and read your final answer for mistakes. (#4) When you are finished, you will have read your answer 4 times! When you are finished, you will have read your answer 4 times!

4. Visual Representation Glance over Glance over Read EVERYTHING! (especially the small print) Read EVERYTHING! (especially the small print) Look at the picture(s) (look at all of the shading, graphs, faces, etc.) Look at the picture(s) (look at all of the shading, graphs, faces, etc.) Main Idea of the picture Main Idea of the picture Answer the questions Answer the questions

5. Essay Write a story! Make sure to connect with your reader. Entertain…entertain…entertain! Remember: If you are bored with your essay, your reader will be! Make sure the story sounds authentic and it flows from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, beginning to end. Write a story! Make sure to connect with your reader. Entertain…entertain…entertain! Remember: If you are bored with your essay, your reader will be! Make sure the story sounds authentic and it flows from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, beginning to end. Use dialogue, figurative language, sensory details, strong verbs. Use dialogue, figurative language, sensory details, strong verbs.

6. DICTIONARY Reading and unsure about a word? Look it up! Reading and unsure about a word? Look it up! Writing and want a better word? Use synonyms! Writing and want a better word? Use synonyms! Proofreading and don’t know if you spelled something correctly? Look it up! Proofreading and don’t know if you spelled something correctly? Look it up! Don’t know a word in a question? Look it up! Don’t know a word in a question? Look it up! Don’t know a word in the answers? Look it up! Don’t know a word in the answers? Look it up! Does a word look familiar but you’re not sure? Look it up! Does a word look familiar but you’re not sure? Look it up!  Be on the safe side: Look it up!   Be on the safe side: Look it up! 

7. Revising and Editing Read the entire selection. Read the entire selection. Look for grammar mistakes as you read. Look for grammar mistakes as you read. Think something is wrong? Make a mark for future reference. Think something is wrong? Make a mark for future reference. When asked about a specific sentence (i.e. combining sentences or transitions), reread the sentence(s) before choosing an answer. When asked about a specific sentence (i.e. combining sentences or transitions), reread the sentence(s) before choosing an answer. Don’t know the answer? Mark out the obvious choices and make an educated guess from there. Don’t know the answer? Mark out the obvious choices and make an educated guess from there.