Test-Taking StrategiesAdapted from Matt Guffey, Longridge Elementary School

“Jail” the Detail!

• Highlight, underline, or circle the details in the questions. This helps you focus on exactly what the question is asking you to do.

Mr. Detail

LISTEN

READ

ASK

AlwaysAlways listen to the directions given by teacher.

•Read the directions written on the test •Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything.

•Ask the teacher if you do not understand the directions.

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).

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.

Be a Whiz…with the Grid!

• Beware! If the answer is not bubbled in exactly right… YIKES! It will be wrong!

“UNPACK” the Question!

Underline key words

Number the parts of the ?

Plan how you will answer

Answer using specific details

Check off each part as you do it

Keep up the great work

Check It Out!

• When you have completed the test, go back and check your work!

5. Answer the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped.

2. It is important to answer every question even if you are not sure of the answer.

3. Use all your time! There are no extra points for finishing early.

4. Save time at the end to review your test and make sure you haven't left out any answers.

1. Don’t spend too much time on any one question.

ANSWERS WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS ARE USUALLY WRONG/FALSE

ALL ALWAYS

MUST NONE

NEVER EVERY ENTIRELY BEST WORST ONLY

EVERYONE

Educated guessing means using everything you know to attempt to answer the question

A random guess gives

you a 25% chance of getting the right answer. An educated guess gives you chance of answering correctly up to

75% .

Example Which development most enabled early

peoples to form permanent settlements?

A. advances in agricultural production

B. the creation of democratic government

C.the spread of monotheism

D. advances in written language

CSH10239

Example Which of the following is true for people

who live in California? • A. Everyone in California lives on the San

Andreas Fault.• B. Because California’s most powerful

earthquake was in 1906, the next powerful earthquake will be centuries away.

• C. Only people who live in California experience earthquakes.

• D. People living in California experience earthquakes more frequently than in any other place in the country.

The context of a word includes all the words and sentences that surround it and the situation in which the word is used

WHEN THE ANSWER IS NOT CLEAR, LOOK FOR CLUES

( CONTEXT, TENSE, WORD TYPE, GRAMMAR) IN THE

QUESTION AND THE ANSWER CHOICES