HOW TO DO GREAT TAKING TESTS!

Sasha CarpCounselor

Fruitville Elementary

Created from

TRUE OR FALSE? TESTS STINK, by Trevor Romain and Elizabeth Verdick,

and other materials

Taking tests can be kind of scary…..

The problems can look so big…

There is just so much stuff to look at….

….that you can wind up feeling overwhelmed!

You might start to feel short of breath…..

..or feeling like you’d like to just run away!

You’ll think, “I’d really rather be home right now instead of taking

this test.”

“Hey, why are tests that important, anyway?”

But, tests are more important than you think.

Results of tests help us figure out ways to help you learn more.

And, they help the school make decisions later about classes you might need, or courses you

might need to take.

There’s no way to get AROUND having to take tests…..

So, it’s a good idea to learn some ways to do BETTER on them!

Here’s a look at some things that can help you.

Get plenty of sleep the night before the test.

Eat a good dinner that night, too.

…and a good breakfast the next morning!

Wear comfortable clothes to school that day….

…and arrive to school ON TIME !!!

Be sure to have your supplies, like pencils and erasers….

If you wear glasses, don’t forget and leave them at home!

And, if your teacher will allow it, bring a snack that’s good for you.

You already know snacks that are healthy…..

….and OTHER snacks that are, well, you get the idea!

Before the test, there are some things to do to help you to relax.

First of all, STAY CALM!

Just know that you need to relax, and simply try to do your best!

Don’t expect to be able to answer EVERY question on the test.

Don’t be afraid to guess, if you have to…….

Follow your “hunches.”

Try NOT to watch the clock all the time.

Work rapidly, but CAREFULLY!!

Try not to spend too much time filling in the bubbles on your worksheet.

Pay close attention to following the directions.

Read each question carefully.

Be sure you mark the answer to each question on the right place of your answer

sheet.

If you have time at the end, go back and look over your answers.

Think TWICE before you change an answer….your first answer MAY have

been RIGHT!!

If you change an answer, be sure to ERASE the first one completely!

If you start to feel frustrated….

Put your pencil down, take a few deep breaths…..

…and soon you’ll be ready to dive back in!

Here are some MORE Test Taking Hints!

1. BE TEST WISEPay attention when your teacher

says “this will be on the test!”

2. BE A TEST DETECTIVEListen for clues from your teacher, such as “you need to know this.”

3. TAKE A PRACTICE TESTIt can help you to sharpen your

skills.

4. ON TRUE-FALSE TESTS….look for words like sometimes, most, and rarely,

which are often TRUE.

… and watch OUT for words like always or never, which are often

FALSE.

HERE ARE SOME TESTING “DO’S AND DON’TS”

DO ask what kind of test it will be, and what it will

cover.

DON’T BECOME TEST OBSESSED!Teacher: “Did you have a nice weekend?”

Student: “Is that going to be on the TEST?”

If someone tries to cheat off of your paper, DO cover up your test, and

keep going.

DON’T leap up from your desk, shouting, “HEY, everybody, this cheater is cheating

off of me!”

Watch out for the FIVE SIGNS OF TEST STRESS.

1. You freeze up during the test.

2. Your mind goes completely blank.

3. You start wishing for a disaster.

4. You’re so nervous that you don’t even realize you’re holding your breath.

5. You feel like you’re on the world’s largest roller coaster – and the safety bar

just broke!

Some kids think that students who make high grades simply LOVE to take tests,

and NEVER get nervous, right?

WRONG! Some of the brightest students have TERRIBLE Test Stress!

You need to REMOVE negative thoughts from your brain.

Thoughts like:“I’m going to fail.”

“I’m so dumb.”

Sometimes it’s good to find a “study buddy,” so you can work

together.

Don’t just study the night before the test…review your notes OFTEN!

It is VERY important to……

Just keep a positive attitude….

… and just keep telling yourself “I CAN DO IT!”

And pretty soon, you’ll feel OK about taking ANY test!

Well……ALMOST any test!

Tests are not always fun…

…but you’ll always have to TAKE them.

Want to know the BEST thing about tests?

Once they are over, you feel TERRIFIC!

Other people are proud of you.

But, best of all, YOU are proud of YOURSELF.

Hang in there…you’re going to do GREAT!!!!

THE END

No animals were harmed in the making of this PowerPoint Presentation.

Photos from allposters.com

Materials adapted from

True or False: Tests Stink,

by Trevor Romain and Elizabeth Verdick