Test-Taking Test-Taking StrategiesStrategies

Basic Test Taking StrategiesBasic Test Taking Strategies

““Jail the DetailJail 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

Be Slick and PredictBe Slick and Predict!!

Predict what the answer is BEFORE you read the choices.

“I think the

answer is …”

Slash the TrashSlash the Trash!!

Read ALL of the answer choices!

Eliminate any choice(s) that you know are not the correct answer.

1. It gets picked up once or twice a week?a. Trashb. Mailc. Telephone

Once you have chosen your answer, plug it in and make sure that it makes sense!

This works really well with vocabulary questions.

Plug it inPlug it in,, Plug it in Plug it in!!

Be Smart With Charts & Zap Be Smart With Charts & Zap the Mapsthe Maps!!

Charts and Maps provide information that you can use to answer questions!

Analyze ALL information provided before answering the questions!

Extra! ExtraExtra! Extra!! Read All About It 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 WhizBe a Whiz……with the Gridwith the Grid!!

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

Be neat

If you get to a couple of questions that you just don’t know, don’t give up!

Keep trying your best!

Keep On Keeping OnKeep On Keeping On!!

If you SNOOZEIf you SNOOZE,, You will LOSE You will LOSE!!

Don’t leave a question unanswered.

You will not have a chance of getting it RIGHT if you leave it blank.

““UNPACKUNPACK”” the Question the Question!!

Underline key wordsNumber the parts of the ?Plan how you will answerAnswer using specific detailsCheck off each part as you do itKeep up the great work

Once you have completed the test, go back & check your work!

Re-check if time permits….

Check it OutCheck it Out!!

Test- Taking PIRATES StrategiesTest- Taking PIRATES Strategies

PIRATESPIRATESIntelligent guessing strategies……

P - Prepare to succeed-put your name and PIRATES on the test. Make affirmations

I - Inspect the instructionsR - Read, remember, reduceA - Answer or abandonT - Turn backE - Estimate. Avoid absolutes, choose the longest or

most detailed choice, and eliminate similar choices.S – Survey the test

STEP 1- STEP 1- PIRATESPIRATES

Step 1: PREPARE TO SUCCEED, begin taking the test using the steps PASS:

P: Put your name and PIRATES on the test, A: Allot time and order to the sections of the

test, S: Say your affirmations and S: Start within two minutes

STEP 2- STEP 2- INSPECT THE INSTRUCTIONS INSPECT THE INSTRUCTIONS

Use the steps RUN:

R: Read the instructions, U: Underline what to do and where to do it, N: Note any special requirements.

Begin to answer the questions using the techniques of…..

READ the whole question

REMEMBER what you’ve studied, and

REDUCE your choices, marking out the choices that you know aren’t applicable.

I got it!!

I got it!!

STEP 3- STEP 3- READ, REMEMBER, REDUCEREAD, REMEMBER, REDUCE

Choose to either answer the question or abandon it to make the best use of time.

If you abandon it, place a mark next to it to indicate you’ll come back to it if time permits.

STEP 4- STEP 4- ANSWER OR ABANDONANSWER OR ABANDON

When you get to the end of the test, TURN

BACK to those abandoned questions and use

the ACE guessing techniques.

*See next page for ACE*

STEP 5- STEP 5- TURN BACKTURN BACK

Use the ACE guessing techniques.

A: Avoiding absolute words, C: Choosing the longest and most detailed

answer and E: Eliminating similar choices.

STEP 6- STEP 6- ESTIMATEESTIMATE

Look over the test one more time to

survey if you have answered all the abandoned questions and only change an answer if you are positively sure it is right.

Usually your first choice is the CORRECT

one.

STEP 7- STEP 7- SURVEYSURVEY

How to Answer How to Answer Multiple Choice QuestionsMultiple Choice Questions

Step 1- Formulate your answer before reading the options Focus on finding an

answer without the help of the alternatives.

 This process will increase your concentration.

Doing this will help you exercise your memory.

Step 2 – Eliminate unlikely answers Eliminating two

alternatives quickly may increase your probability to 50/50 or better.

Use the true-false methods described earlier and find the false alternative.

Answering -Answering -Multiple Choice QuestionsMultiple Choice Questions

Step 3- Select numbered answers from the middle range, not extremes For example, if the

height of a mountain is requested, eliminate 20,000 feet (high), and 3,000 feet (low). Then choose between 8,000 feet and 11,000 feet

Step 4- Select answers that are longer and more descriptive Longer (true) answers

stand out and contain more detail.

Shorter (false) answers are created quickly as throw always.

Descriptive detail is given to help you identify the truth.

Answering -Answering -Multiple Choice QuestionsMultiple Choice Questions

Step 5- Similar answers give you a clue!! (4 answer choices) Two of the choices

are very close to the answer

Two of the choices are totally wrong

1 of the 4 is the correct choice…use process of elimination!!

Step 6- Watch out for “Not True”These questions

are tricky!! Remember to

reverse your procedure and eliminate truth.

Place an “X” next to the true statements, so you identify the not – true statements.

Answering -Answering -Multiple Choice QuestionsMultiple Choice Questions

Fill in bubbles fully…….Write neatly…………Erase any stray marks………….

REMEMBER – it is okay not to know everything!!!!!

Attention to Detail -Attention to Detail -Multiple Choice QuestionsMultiple Choice Questions

Commonly Used Testing Commonly Used Testing Vocabulary WordsVocabulary Words

These words may trip up students on the CRCT Test. Please prepare your students by reviewing the following terms!!

Usually Means . . .

1. TraceFollow; track it; put in order; outline; step-by-step; from the beginning to the end; list the steps.

2. Analyze Break it down; think through; take apart; figure out; tell me the good and the bad.

3. Infer

What seems likely; read between the lines; tell me based on given information; what do you think they are trying to say; make an educated guess.

4. Evaluate Solve; decide; judge; rate; score; sum up; good & bad.

5. Formulate Plan; create; design; derive; come up with, build, show me in words what it means.

6. Describe Paint a picture in words; explain; show me; give details; tell me all about it.

7. Support Prove; give evidence; give details, give reasons; back it up; give me some facts.

8. Explain Tell; give steps; tell me in your own words; your opinion

9. Summarize

Review; what do you know; what’s the most important thing; main ideas; recap in a few sentences, give me the main ideas in a few sentences.

10. Compare Same; alike; similar; all the ways they are the same.

11. Contrast Opposite; different; all the ways they are different

12. PredictGuess; name the effects of what will happen next; look ahead and tell me what you think will happen.

Testing Vocabulary WordsTesting Vocabulary Words

Created on 4/5/14 by nla

Remember: One Bus... One Direction... Moving Forward with great scores!!