TEST-WISENESS STRATEGIES FOR SCIENCE

SOLs

BIOLOGY

• The best way to do well on a test is to know the material. However, when faced with questions you cannot answer, a combination of test-wiseness skills and relevant partial knowledge can help you to navigate through multiple choice tests.

When taking an SOL test

• Read carefully and focus on the instructions.• Utilize any and all study strategies during the

test.• Feel in control of the test and self-talk and

“test-wiseness” can help.• Make informed choices (guesses) on the

questions not known. • Either answer or come back to a question later

if it proves too difficult initially.

Statements of what is expected to happen in the future based on past experiences and observations are _____ .

A. ConclusionsB. ProblemsC. DataD. Predictions

Read the question. Think of what the answer could be. What would make sense and complete the sentence?

1. Read the question and try to answer it BEFORE looking at the answers.

Which of the following substances form a basic solution when dissolved in water:

A. NaOH

B. Dish detergentC. Baking sodaD. all of the above

– Even though (A) is true, B, and C are also true, therefore (D) is the correct answer. It is important to read all the answers, and not just take the first correct answer you see.

2. Make sure you look at all the answers before choosing:

• Sometimes the question will seem to have no right answer:

•Similarly, if a question is too hard, or you just do not know the answer, skip it and come back when you have completed all the questions you do know. Use whatever time is left over at the end of the test to tackle these difficult questions.

3. Do not spend too much time on any one question.

• Sometimes a question may seem to have more than one correct answer. Choose the answer that seems best to you and move on to the next question.

• Do not keep changing your mind. Only change your answer if you are absolutely sure you made a mistake. (For example, if another question on the test reminds you of the correct answer.)

4. Do not keep changing your answer.

5. If there are graphics in the question, solve the problem using the graphic before looking at the answer choices.

6. Look within the SOL question for a clue or key word to the correct answer

7. Look within the test for answers to other questions

• The EXCEPT is confusing – get rid of it!

7. Look for negative words in questions. “NOT”, “EXCEPT”, “FALSE”

Cross out EXCEPT

All of these are natural events that could alter an ecosystem EXCEPT -

A. The burning of fossil fuels

B. Wildfires

C. Floods

D. Volcanic activity

• Strike 3 responses that matches the stem.

• - What is left is the correct answer

- Most - These words tell you to find the

- Best answer that makes the most

sense

- Least - This word tells you to find the one

which makes the least sense or is

least logical

9. Look for cue words – tells you what to look for in the answer.

Answer the following question – remember to choose the answer that makes the most sense

• The question refers to students in the same class with the same symptoms –

• Which answer choices can we eliminate?

Here’s a question with both a graphic and a cue word

• In this question, which two answer choices can be eliminated?

10. If two alternatives have similar meaning, choose neither.

• These words have no exception. It is either 100% correct or 100% wrong.

• Answers with these words in them may indicate an incorrect answer.

• There will be exceptions to this rule. For example: All elements in group one have one valence electron in the outer energy level.

• This would obviously be a correct answer.

11 . Be on the look out for answers with absolute words.

Examples of absolute words

all always every just only

never none no not must

• Do not spend too much time on any one question.

• After you have finished the test, go back to those questions you circled as being too hard or as having no right answer.

• If you have absolutely no idea what the answer is, choose (C).

• Answer every question

Final Tips

Remember to:

• Relax• Stay calm, • Read very carefully

• Take your time –The test is untimed• Use your strategies • Answer every question• And guess wisely when you have to guess!