Test-Taking Strategies
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Presentation Transcript
Test-Taking Strategies Everything great test takers must know!
POSITIVE SELF-TALK & BREATHING Self-Talk is TRUE! “I did okay on my practice tests.” “I know this stuff” “I got it right yesterday; I can get it right today” Why ‘Breathing’? • Breathing deeply allows you take in more oxygen • Oxygen keeps your brain awake
PRACTICE! Practice Positive SELF-Talk The night before the test when you can’t get to sleep . . . BREATHE! On the morning of the test when you are feeling nervous . . . BREATHE! As you open the test booklet . . . BREATHE! When you read the questions . . . BREATHE!
“Jail” the Detail! • Underline or circle the details in the questions. This helps you focus on exactly what the question is asking you to do. Mr. Detail
Be Slick and Predict! • Predict what the answer is BEFORE you read the choices. “I think the answer is …”
Slash the Trash! • Read ALL of the answer choices! Eliminate any choice(s) that you know are not the correct answer. The choice is obviously “trash!”
Plug it in, Plug it in! • Once you have chosen your answer, plug it in and make sure that it makes sense! (this works really well with vocabulary questions). • If your answer is missing then you have the wrong answer!
Be Smart With Charts & Zap the Maps! • Charts and Maps provide information that you can use to answer questions! Analyze ALL information provided before answering the questions!
Extra! Extra! Read All About It! • If the directions say read…. READ! Pay close attention to signal words in the directions, such as explain, interpret, and compare. • It might say read the story, the passage, the article or the poem. Whatever it is, read carefully!
Be a Whiz…with the Grid! • Beware! If the answer is not bubbled in exactly right… YIKES! It will be wrong! • Also, if you’re working out a math problem on your scratch paper, make sure to line up the problem correctly.
Keep On Keeping On! • If you get to a couple of questions that you just don’t know, don’t give up! Keep trying your best!
If you SNOOZE, You will LOSE! • Don’t leave a question unanswered. You will not have ANY chance of getting it right.
Check It Out! • When you have completed the test, go back and check your work!
Don’t Skip Around! • You should always try to answer the questions in order, as they appear on the test. • Taking time to think through each question usually means that your initial answer will be correct.
What if. . . More than 1 answer seems correct . . . Make sure you’re considering the whole question. If the answer is partly true then it is probably not right! You cannot choose 2 good answers . . . Trust your ‘gut feeling’ and pick 1.
Test Phrases • mostly about • best completes • story elements • one example • most likely • best describes • according to • the article • right before • right after • main purpose • most important
******REMEMBER****** You receive NO POINTS for being the FIRST ONE to complete the test!!!