Strategies for Taking

the State Reading and Math

Tests Omaha Public Schools

Curriculum and Learning

Testing, Testing 1-2-3

The Night Before Testing

Go to bed on time so you are rested and ready to do your best.

Talk to your parents or teacher about any concern you have about taking the test.

The Morning of the Test

Start the day with a good breakfast.

Dress in clothes that make you feel comfortable.

Arrive at school on time.

Pace Yourself

Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and then move on.

Answer the easiest questions first.

Mark those that you skip on your scratch paper and go back to those questions!!

Roll your head, shake out your arms, wiggle your legs and feet.

Breathe! Oxygen to your brain helps you think.

Think Positive! “I can do this!” “I am going to do my best!”

Getting Tired?

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

If the directions sayread…. READ! Pay

closeattention to signal

wordsin the directions, such

asexplain, interpret,

andcompare.

Multiple Choice Questions

Read the directions carefully.

Read the question and allall answer choices before marking anything.

“UNPACK” 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

Key Words

Find key wordskey words or phrasesphrases in the question that will help you choose the correct answer.

Watch for key words (always, sometimes, never, except, probably). They can change the meaning of the question.

Are We Communicating?

My Prediction is…..

Predict what the answer is BEFOREyou read the choices.

The Process of Elimination

After you have been through all of the answer choices once, go back and eliminate choices that you know are incorrect.

I know C isn’t the answer!

If you can eliminate two wrong

answers, your chance of choosing

the right answer is greater.

Wrong or Right?

Answering Questions

Don't guess blindly, but if you have time to think about the best answer choice, make it!

Choose the BEST OVERALL answer when more than one choice seems correct.

Once you have chosen your answer,

plug it in and make sure that it makes

sense! (This works great withvocabulary questions.)

Plug it in, Plug it in!

My Answer is…..

Do not change your answers unless you are very uncertain about your first answer choice.

Try to answer every question. Make the most intelligent guess you can.

Skip, Return, Check

If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.

Yes, that means really go back and check your work!

Reading Test If the test requires you to read

passages and then answer questions about what you read,

Read the questions Read the questions firstfirst if time allows!

By doing this, you will know what you are looking for as you read. This also helps you go faster on the test.

When there are severalquestions about a reading

passage or chart, look for cluescluesIn other questions that will help

you with those items aboutwhich you are unsure.

Reading Test

Pick out KEY WORDS…

Tough Vocabulary

Use context clues- look at the other words in the sentence to help you know the meaning of an unfamiliar word.

Look at parts of words and work from what you DO know.

Math Computation

Use scratch paper on the math test to figure out the problem before answering.

Grades 4 – 6: Use the reference sheet with the formulas.

Math Computation

Line up place value correctly on your

scratch paper (thousands, hundreds,

tens, ones) or the answer will beincorrect.

Math Computation

If your answer does not match one

of the choices, reread the problem,

recopy the numbers, and trysolving it again.

Be Smart With Charts

& Zap the Graphs!Charts and Graphs provide

informationthat you can use to answer

questions! Analyze ALL information providedbefore answering the questions!

A Matter of Time

If any time remains, spend it on those questions about which you know nothing or almost nothing.

As you go back through, do not change all answers.

Remember: Your first guess is usually right.

Keep On, Keeping On!

If you get to acouple of questionsthat you just don’tknow, don’t give

up! Keep trying yourbest!

If you SNOOZE, You will LOSE!

Don’t leave a question

unanswered. You will

not have ANY chance

of getting it right.

When you havecompleted the

test,go back and

checkyour work!

Check It Out!

Resources

Nebraska Department of Education

PPT Test Taking Strategies – Greece Central School District greece.k12.ny.uswww.greece.k12.ny.us/files/filesystem/Test-Taking%20Strategies.ppt

Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests. 'Twas the Night Before Testing ... Mark those that you skip on the test book and go back to those questions! ...www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/virgo/EOG-test-strategies.ppt