Standardized Testing Clinic - SIUE

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Standardized Testing Clinic

June 22, 2010

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Presented by Javad M. Khazaeli, Esq.

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What You Already Know

Standardized tests are stupid No Child Left Behind is a pain Teaching to the test is a bad

idea Testing is a reality that affects

your job

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Standardized Tests

They do not test intelligence They do not test

comprehension They do not test retention So what do they test?

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Standardized Tests

BiasesSexTest Prep

Southern Illinois vs. St. Louis vs. the Coasts

My rateWealth

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The ACT – Structure

5 Sections English – 75 Questions; 45 Minutes Math – 60 Questions; 60 Minutes Reading – 40 Questions; 35 Minutes Science – 40 Questions; 35 Minutes Writing – OPTIONAL; 30 Minutes

English/Writing Score (1-36) Writing sub score (2-12)

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The ACT – Structure

Scoring Each section graded from 1-36 Total score is average of 4 sections Score rounded up to the whole

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The ACT – Structure

There is NO PENALTY for guessing The quickest way to make a

student’s score increase is to have the student SLOW DOWN

The ACT is a test against time

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The Science Section

Reading and chart interpretation intensive

7 passages, 40 questions 3 types of passages

Charts Experiments Comparing views

4 answers for each question

Science

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The Science Section

ORDERING PASSAGES FROM EASIEST TO HARDEST IS THE KEY

SHOULD NOT DO PASSAGES IN ORDER

DO EASY QUESTIONS BEFORE HARDER QUESTIONS

Science

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Charts – Spotting

3 chart passages appear Passages have charts students

need to interpret Each passage has 5 questions These are the easiest Science

passages

Science

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Charts – Strategies

Do these passages first The written introduction should

only be read to clarify a question (vocab) – usually it is a waste of time to read this

Do the questions that have charts in them first

Always go back to the passage to find the answer

Science

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Experiments – Spotting

3 experiments passages appear Passages have experiments

students need to interpret Each passage has 6 questions Some of these passages are chart

heavy

Science

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Experiments – Strategies

Identify the chart heavy experiment Do these after the chart passages Use the same strategies as chart

passages Do the questions that deal with the 1st

experiment first, 2nd experiment second, and so on

Do the questions that compare experiments last

Do non-chart heavy experiments last

Science

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Experiments – Strategies for Non-Chart Heavy Passages

Do these last (if you have time) Do the questions that deal with the 1st

experiment first, 2nd experiment second, and so on

Do the questions that compare experiments last

Once again, the introduction is usually superfluous

Always go back to the passage to find the answer

Science

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Comparing Views – Spotting 1 comparing views passage

appears Passages have two or more

scientific theories Each passage has 7 questions These look like reading passages

Science

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Comparing Views – Strategies Do this passage 3rd, after the chart

heavy experiments but before the non-chart heavy experiments

The introduction SHOULD be read for this passage

Chart out the argument Always go back to the passage to

find the answer

Science

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Comparing Views – Strategies Read the first view; then answer

any question that relate to the first view ONLY

Next, do the same for the 2nd view and so on

Finally, do the questions that compare the views

Science

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Ordering Passages

Charts Chart Heavy Experiments Comparing Views Non-Chart Heavy Experiments

Don’t be afraid to not finish But always bubble in everything!!!

Science

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The Math Section

60 questions 60 minutes Speed test Questions generally get harder

towards the end All questions worth the same 5 answers for each question

Math

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The Math Section

Do questions in order Guess and move on Answer choices go from smallest

to largest or vice versa SLOW DOWN to make sure you

get the easy questions; guess if you don’t have time on the hard questions

Math

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The Math Section

Calculator allowed So let them use it on your tests Makes sure they know how to use

it Check batteries

Math

Section Breakdown

Pre-Algebra (23%) Elementary Algebra (17%) Intermediate Algebra (15%) Coordinate Geometry (15%) Plane Geometry (23%) Trigonometry (7%)

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Algebra – Guesstimate

Two step answer with NO ALGEBRA

Plug in the middle number If it works, pick it If not, is it too big or too small? If too big, plug in one of two

remaining small choices (vice versa)

Correct pick, wrong pick other

Math

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Algebra – Guesstimate

Math

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Algebra – Guesstimate

Middle choice is 4 2/3 Plug in $45 (4 2/3) + $30 = $240 TOO BIG Eliminate H, J, K Plug in one of the others – 4 $45 (4) + $30 = $210 If it was wrong, then you know it must be

last remaining choice

Math

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Algebra – Plug In

Two step answer with NO ALGEBRA

Plug in the middle number If it works, pick it If not, is it too big or too small? If too big, plug in one of two

remaining small choices (vice versa)

Correct pick, wrong pick other

Math

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Algebra – Plug In

Math

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Algebra – Guesstimate

Middle choice is 74 Plug in 72 + 73 + 74 +75 +76 + 77 = 447 CORRECT

Math

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Geometry – Guesstimate

Figures are drawn to scale unless specifically stated otherwise

See question 5 See question 25 Draw out all geometry word

questions

Math

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TRIG – SOHCAHTOA

Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cos = Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tan = Opposite/Adjacent

Math

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Standardized Test Strategies NEVER leave any blanks Better to go slowly and guess on

the hard ones than to speed through haphazardly

Use several dull #2 pencils Cross out wrong answers, write

correct answers in margin Bubble in groups until 5 minutes

remain

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Standardized Test Strategies Avoid sucker questions – e.g. “not

enough information” Dress in layers Do not talk about the test during

breaks

Always go back to the passage to find the answer

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Resources

“Preparing for the ACT” HS guidance office usually have

several practice ACTs including the one we took today

www.act.org

Contact me at khazaeli@gmail.com