Test Taking StrategiesTest Taking Strategies

‘‘Twas the Night Before TestingTwas the Night Before Testing

Go to bed on time. Get plenty of rest.Go to bed on time. Get plenty of rest.

Talk to your parents about any concerns that you might have about the test.Talk to your parents about any concerns that you might have about the test.

The Morning of TestingThe Morning of Testing

Eat a good breakfast with Eat a good breakfast with protein before coming to protein before coming to school! It will help you think school! It will help you think better and keeps you from better and keeps you from getting sleepy.getting sleepy.

Relax!Relax! Think Positive!Think Positive!

General TipsGeneral Tips

If you do not understand the directions If you do not understand the directions the first time, the first time, you may ask your teacher you may ask your teacher to re-read the directionsto re-read the directions..

PreviewPreview the questions before you begin. the questions before you begin. Read and re-read the entireRead and re-read the entire questionquestion……

make sure you understand what you are make sure you understand what you are being asked to do!being asked to do!

If both of your pencils break, please If both of your pencils break, please raise your hand and ask for another. raise your hand and ask for another.

Selected Response QuestionsSelected Response Questions

Read the question andRead the question and allall answer choices before marking answer choices before marking anything.anything.

You may go back to the You may go back to the story/poem/passage and story/poem/passage and

re-read re-read if you don’t knowif you don’t know

the answer to a question. the answer to a question.

Pace Yourself-UseTime Pace Yourself-UseTime WiselyWisely

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

Answers all of the questions. Answers all of the questions. Choose the answer you think is the Choose the answer you think is the MOST correct.MOST correct.

Don’t leave any blank.Don’t leave any blank.

The Process of EliminationThe Process of Elimination

Eliminate answers that don’t make sense.Eliminate answers that don’t make sense. You can cross the wrong answers out in your test booklet. You can cross the wrong answers out in your test booklet. DON’T cross out DON’T cross out

the bubble, cross out the incorrect words/answerthe bubble, cross out the incorrect words/answer..

I know C isn’t the answer!

perimeter

•If you can eliminate two wrong answers, your chance of choosing the right answer is greater.

c

Math BCR’s and ECR’sMath BCR’s and ECR’s

Reread the BCR or ECR to make sure you Reread the BCR or ECR to make sure you have answered have answered all the parts of the question.all the parts of the question.

You must fit your answer inside the box You must fit your answer inside the box providedprovided..

Show Show all all of your work. Show of your work. Show all of the mathall of the math, , even the parts you can do in your head.even the parts you can do in your head.

Don’t erase any of your workDon’t erase any of your work. . Label all of your math work!!!Label all of your math work!!!

Math BCRsMath BCRs

WHY BCRs-Prove It!WHY BCRs-Prove It! Prove it by showing the math two ways.Prove it by showing the math two ways. Prove it by showing the inverse operation.Prove it by showing the inverse operation. Prove it with a labeled math drawing.Prove it with a labeled math drawing. Prove it with a definition for geometry terms.Prove it with a definition for geometry terms. Prove it with lots of labels.Prove it with lots of labels. SHOW ALL of your work.SHOW ALL of your work.

Reading BCRsReading BCRs

Read the question carefully.Read the question carefully. Answer the question that is asked.Answer the question that is asked. Give support from the text.Give support from the text. Make an inference that further explains your Make an inference that further explains your

answer.answer. An inference is SOMETHING EXTRA that An inference is SOMETHING EXTRA that

you had to figure out that the text did not you had to figure out that the text did not come out and say.come out and say.

Skip, Return, CheckSkip, Return, Check

If you finish early, check to make sure If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.you have answered all questions.

Double check your work.Double check your work.

What did that question say?What did that question say?

Make sure you Make sure you understand what the understand what the question is asking. question is asking.

Carefully re-read the Carefully re-read the question, if you don’t. question, if you don’t.

Be sure you are Be sure you are responding to the responding to the question that is being question that is being asked.asked.

A Matter of TimeA Matter of Time

If any time remains, spend it on the If any time remains, spend it on the questions you skipped or checking your questions you skipped or checking your work.work.

As you go back through, do not change all As you go back through, do not change all answers. . . answers. . .

Your first answer is usually right.Your first answer is usually right. Don’t worry if you run out of time.Don’t worry if you run out of time.

Final TipsFinal Tips

Fill in bubbles completely. Fill in bubbles completely. Make your marks heavy and dark. Make your marks heavy and dark.

Write neatly. Write neatly.

Erase stray marks. Erase stray marks.

The Death GripThe Death Grip

If your arm tires during testing If your arm tires during testing it is probably due to the grip it is probably due to the grip that you have on your pencil. that you have on your pencil.

Relax the grip and give those Relax the grip and give those muscles a break.muscles a break.

Wiggle your fingers for a few Wiggle your fingers for a few seconds.seconds.

Thank you, Thank you, Mr. Know-it-all!Mr. Know-it-all!

RememberRemember it's okay not to know it's okay not to know everythingeverything — unlike class tests, — unlike class tests, these tests will have some questions these tests will have some questions designed to challenge the limits of designed to challenge the limits of your knowledge!your knowledge!

Do your very best, you’ll be Do your very best, you’ll be surprised with how much you really surprised with how much you really do know!do know!

Adapted by: Mrs. Guthrie/Dynard IRT