Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests Twas the Night

Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

‘Twas the Night Before Testing • Get plenty of sleep – Don’t forget to get at least 8 hours of sleep • If you get up at 5: 00 am to go to school, you need to get to bed by 9: 00 pm! – Your brain will be able to think more clearly • Be prepared for the next day – Make sure you have your school clothes laid out, your supplies in your booksack, a FICTION book to read after the test, etc.

‘Twas the Night Before Testing • Don’t bring your cell phone on campus at all – Do not risk getting a zero on your test because you think the rules don’t apply to you • Leave all of your electronics at home this week! You’ll survive without them, I promise.

The Morning of Testing • Start your day as you always do. • Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school. • Think Positively!

The Morning of Testing • Eat a healthy breakfast – Try not to eat too much sugar – Think about how many hours it is between dinner and lunch… – Your brain will be more focused on eating than thinking

Test-Taking Strategies • Here a quick overview of test-taking strategies to ensure you can say “LOOK AT ME NOW!”

Directions on the Test • Listen to and read all directions – Some test directions are read aloud by the teacher – Some test directions require you to read • Make sure you understand the directions before you begin

Multiple Choice Questions • Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything. – Some answer choices look correct at first glance, but are actually wrong when you read them more carefully

Multiple Choice Questions • Do not change your answers unless you are very uncertain about your first answer choice. • Try to answer every question. Make the most intelligent guess you can.

Pace Yourself • Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and then move on. – Something later on in the test may jog your memory about an earlier question you were confused on • Answers the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped. – A skipped question will always be wrong…

The Process of Elimination • After you have been through all of the answer choices once, go back and find questions you have some knowledge about and eliminate choices that you know are incorrect. I know C isn’t the answer!

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

The Process of Elimination • If you can’t eliminate ANY wrong answers, you have a 25% chance of getting the answer right – If you eliminate one answer that you know is wrong, you increase your odds of getting the question right to 33% (1 right answer out of 3 possible answers) – If you eliminate two answers you know are wrong, your odds increase to 50%!

Answering Questions • Don't guess blindly, but if you have time to think about the best answer choice, make it!

A Matter of Time • If any time remains, spend it on those questions about which you know nothing or almost nothing. • As you go back through, do not change all answers. • Remember: Your first guess is usually right.

Skip, Return, Check • If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.

Key Words • Find key words or phrases in the question that will help you choose the correct answer.

Are we communicating? • Make sure you understand what the question is asking. • Be sure you are responding to the question that is being asked.

Reading Passages • If the test requires you to read passages and then answer questions about what you read, read the questions first. • By doing this, you will know what you are looking for as you read.

Reading Passages • When there are several questions about a reading passage or chart, look for clues in other questions that will help you with those items about which you are unsure.

Math Computation • On the math i. LEAP test, do all of your scratch work in the ANSWER BOOKLET. That way, even if you get the final answer wrong, you may get some points for working the problem out. Some points are better than no points!

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

Math Computation • If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again.

For the ELA writing section… • The only part that will be graded is what is written in the FINAL DRAFT section of your answer document. • If you have LARGE handwriting, you may want to write a little smaller, because they will ONLY grade the pages that say final draft on them. Once you’re out of room, that’s it!!!

It’s About Time • Don’t spend too much time rewriting or obsessing about neatness. But make sure they can read your writing. • ALWAYS RE-READ WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN – Make sure it makes sense – Make sure you’ve checked for spelling and punctuation, too

The Death Grip • If your arm tires during testing it is probably due to the grip that you have on your pencil. • Relax the grip and give those muscles a break. • Do not do arm exercises during testing as this disturbs others.

Don’t look for a pattern! • For multiple choice questions, do not look for patterns – Question 1—Answer choice A – Question 2—Answer choice B – Question 3—What do you want to pick without even looking at the question? ? ? • DON’T DO IT!!!

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 be sure you haven’t gotten on the wrong number.

OMG I MESSED UP!!! • What should you do if you figure out that you are accidentally marking answers in the wrong section or your numbering got off? – TELL THE TEACHER!!! – It’s not a big deal, we can fix it, but we can only fix it if you tell us about it!

Thank you, Mr. Know-it-all! • Remember it's okay not to know everything — unlike class tests, these tests will have some questions designed to challenge the limits of your knowledge at a grade level above your current grade.

Reducing Test Taking Anxiety

Reducing Test Taking Anxiety • If you don’t understand the directions on the test, ask the teacher to repeat them to you. • Skim through the test so that you have a good idea how to pace yourself. • BRAIN DUMP! Write down important formulas, facts, definitions and key words in the margin first, you won’t worry about forgetting them

Reducing Test Taking Anxiety • Do the simple questions first to help build up your confidence for the harder questions. • Don’t worry about how fast other people finish their test; just concentrate on your own test.

Reducing Test Taking Anxiety • Try to maintain a positive attitude during the test.

Reducing Test Taking Anxiety • Focus on the question at hand; don’t let your mind wander on other things. • If you find yourself getting overwhelmed or stressed out, take some deep breaths – Go to your happy place! But make sure your Brain Vacation is brief!

Go for the Gold • Do your best on the test! • We are proud of you and your accomplishments! • LOOK AT ME NOW!!!