Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

2010

Write it in Your Agenda!

April 30 – May 7 CST May 10 – 11 EOC/Math May 14 – 15 MDTPMay 16 – 17 EOC/Sci. (8th) May 17 – 18 EOC/SS May 21 – 22 EOC/LA May 23 MARP

Purpose of CST (California Standards Test)

• To test what students should be able to do in each subject area

• To test students knowledge of standards

• To test what students should know

CST Achievement

• 600-395 (5) Advanced

• 394-350 (4) Proficient

• 349-300 (3) Basic B

• 299-266 (2) Below Basic BB

• 265-150 (1) Far Below Basic FBB

‘Twas the Night Before Testing

• Go to bed on time. • Put a few #2

pencils with erasers in your backpack the night before the test.

• Talk to your parents about your concerns.

The Morning of Testing

• Start your day as you always do.• Eat a good breakfast.• Think Positive! Think Positive!

Strategies 1,2,3

• 1. READ THE DIRECTIONS!

• 2. Make sure you understand what the question is asking.

• 3. Be sure you are responding to the question that is being asked.

Pace Yourself

• Do not spend too much time on any one question.

• Answer the easiest questions first.

Skip, Return, Check

• If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions. Return to the ones you did not finish.

The Process of Elimination

• If you can eliminate two wrong answers, your chance of choosing the right answer is greater.

I know C isn’t the answer!

I know C isn’t the answer!

An Example of Elimination

2+2 = ___A. 3

B. 4

C. blue

D. red

Reading Strategies

• Scan the questions before reading long passages.

• Look for clues from other questions/answers.

Math Computation

• Make sure you have copied the problem correctly from the test booklet!

• Line up place value correctly on your scratch paper!

Reread, Recopy, Solve

• If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again.

Keeping Track of Time

• Do not spend too much time rewriting or obsessing about neatness.

• Your first guess is usually right but if you have time, recheck the answers that you were unsure about.

The Death Grip

• If your arm tires during testing it is probably due to the grip that you have on your pencil.

• Relax the grip and give those muscles a break.

• Remember it's okay not to know everythingit's okay not to know everything — unlike class tests, these tests will have some questions designed to challenge the limits of your knowledge at a grade level above your current grade.

Mr. or Ms. Know-it-all!

Final Tips

• Fill in the bubbles completely

• Write neatly

• Erase stray marks

• Do your BEST!

Wildcat Pride!

Questions?

The End