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© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Chapter 7: Test-Taking Strategies
Breaking Through: College Reading, 7/e
Brenda Smith
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Achieve Your Highest Potential
Be prepared.Stay alert.Seek feedback on tests.
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Taking Standardized Tests
Read to comprehend.Interact with the passage.Anticipate content by activating
schema.Relax—don’t feel rushed.Read to learn.Recall the main points.
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Understand Major Question Types
Main Idea Questions:The best statement of the main idea is…The best title for this passage is…The author is primarily concerned with...The central theme of the passage is...
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Understand Major Question Types
Detail Questions:The author states that…According to the author…According to the passage…All of the following are true
except…A person, term, or place is...
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Understand Major Question Types
Implied Meaning Questions:The author believes, feels, implies…It can be inferred from the passage…The passage/author suggests…It can be concluded from the passage
that…
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Understand Major Question Types
Purpose Questions:What was the author’s purpose
in writing this material?What did the author do to or for
me, the reader?
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Understand Major Question Types
Vocabulary Questions:Figure out the meaning with
context clues.Be careful of words that have
multiple meanings.
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Types of Test Passages
Factual passagesOpinion passagesFiction passages
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Multiple Choice & True-False Tests
Read all options.Predict the correct answer.Avoid answers with “100%” words.Consider answers with qualifying
words.Do not overanalyze.True statements must be true
without exception.
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Multiple Choice & True-False Tests
If two options are synonymous, eliminate both.
Figure out the difference between similar options.
Use logical reasoning if two answers are correct.
Look suspiciously at directly quoted pompous phrases.
Simplify double negatives by canceling out both.
Some questions do not have clues.
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Multiple Choice & True-False Tests
Validate true responses.Recognize flaws in test-making.
Eliminate responses that do not have subject-verb agreement.
Use clues from other parts of the test.Longer answers are more frequently correct.Avoid absurd ideas and emotional words in
the options.
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Essay-type Exams
Record the statement or question.Answer the question.Organize your answer.Brainstorm ideas.Use a formal writing style.Be aware of appearance.Predict and practice.Notice key words.
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Key Words on Essay ExamsCompareContrastCriticizeDefineDescribeDiscussEvaluateExplain
IllustrateInterpretJustifyList OutlineProveRelate
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Essay-type Exams
Write to earn points.What main ideas need to be
covered?Stick to the question and answer
directly.How will the essay be scored?
Read an “A” paper for feedback.
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Using MnemonicsRead out loud.Write it down.Create acronyms.Create acrostics.Use rhythms, rhymes, and jingles.Make associations.Create mental and key word
images.
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Summary Questions
How can you prepare to be mentally alert on a test?
What should you know about the organization of an exam prior to taking it?
How should you read standardized reading test passages?
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Summary Questions
What are the major question types of standardized reading tests?
How should you organize essay exam responses?
Why should you seek feedback after an exam?
© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
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