Test Taking Strategies

STARSTAR

Standardized Testing and ReportingStandardized Testing and Reporting

La Mesa Jr. High SchoolLa Mesa Jr. High SchoolELD DepartmentELD Department

PresentsPresents

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Why Should Students Bother?

Test scores give you a fair measure of your Test scores give you a fair measure of your achievementachievement

Test taking is good practice for Test taking is good practice for PSAT – Preliminary SAT for scholarshipsPSAT – Preliminary SAT for scholarships SAT – Used for college entranceSAT – Used for college entrance ACT – Used to screen college applicantsACT – Used to screen college applicants CAHSEE – Must be passed to graduate from CAHSEE – Must be passed to graduate from

high schoolhigh school

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Why Do Schools Bother?

State of California requires schools to give State of California requires schools to give their students these teststheir students these tests

Our school is evaluated based on the test Our school is evaluated based on the test results (School’s Report Card)results (School’s Report Card)

Test scores are used to compare schoolsTest scores are used to compare schools Good scores help to build the reputation of Good scores help to build the reputation of

the school in the communitythe school in the community

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Pacing . . . . .

Pace - the constant speed traveled over a certain Pace - the constant speed traveled over a certain distancedistance Long DistanceLong Distance

Runner must understand pacing or will Runner must understand pacing or will probably run out of energy before the probably run out of energy before the distance is covereddistance is covered

SprintSprintWith a short amount of time to run, the With a short amount of time to run, the

runner must plan to run quickly before time runner must plan to run quickly before time runs outruns out

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example . . .

You have 30 minutes to do 30 questions. You have 30 minutes to do 30 questions. How long for each question?How long for each question?

You have 50 minutes to do 100 questions. You have 50 minutes to do 100 questions. How long for each question?How long for each question?

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Following Directions . . .

Always listen to the directions given by the Always listen to the directions given by the teacherteacher

Read the directions written on the testRead the directions written on the test Ask the teacher if you do not understand the Ask the teacher if you do not understand the

directionsdirections

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When filling in the bubbles on the answer sheet:When filling in the bubbles on the answer sheet: Make sure you Make sure you completelycompletely fill in the bubble fill in the bubble Fill in only Fill in only oneone bubble for each question bubble for each question When you change an answer, erase the “old When you change an answer, erase the “old

bubble” completelybubble” completely Do Do notnot make any extra marks on the answer sheet make any extra marks on the answer sheet

As you answer a question, be sure the number on As you answer a question, be sure the number on the answer sheet matches the number of the the answer sheet matches the number of the question in the test bookletquestion in the test booklet

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When you begin the test . . .

Do not spend too much time on hard questionsDo not spend too much time on hard questions Try not to get upset when you cannot answer a Try not to get upset when you cannot answer a

hard questionhard question Remember easy questions are not just at the Remember easy questions are not just at the

beginning of the testbeginning of the test You are not expected to know all of the answersYou are not expected to know all of the answers It’s okay to make a light mark on your answer It’s okay to make a light mark on your answer

sheet next to the number of the question you are sheet next to the number of the question you are skipping and wish to come back to later (just skipping and wish to come back to later (just remember to remember to completelycompletely erase the mark) erase the mark)

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Elimination Strategy

If you can’t figure out which answer is correct, try ruling If you can’t figure out which answer is correct, try ruling out answers that you out answers that you knowknow are wrong (cross them out) are wrong (cross them out)

On Math tests, rule out answers that are too big or too On Math tests, rule out answers that are too big or too small (cross them out in you test booklet)small (cross them out in you test booklet)

On Vocabulary and Reading tests, rule out answers that On Vocabulary and Reading tests, rule out answers that seem too extreme (cross them out in your test booklet)seem too extreme (cross them out in your test booklet)

On all tests, rule out answers that just “sound wrong” On all tests, rule out answers that just “sound wrong” (cross them out in your test booklet)(cross them out in your test booklet)

Once you’ve ruled out an answer, you never have to look Once you’ve ruled out an answer, you never have to look back at it again – just focus on the choices that remainback at it again – just focus on the choices that remain

Select the BEST answer Select the BEST answer If you have some knowledge, but are not sure, take your If you have some knowledge, but are not sure, take your

best guess. THERE’S NO PENALTY FOR GUESSING.best guess. THERE’S NO PENALTY FOR GUESSING.

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example . . .

La Mesa Junior High School is dedicated to La Mesa Junior High School is dedicated to having the best staff and at this time has having the best staff and at this time has _______________ teachers._______________ teachers.

(a) 540 (b) 17 (c) 55 (d) 27(a) 540 (b) 17 (c) 55 (d) 27

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When to Skip Around . . . .

On some tests, questions are neatly ordered On some tests, questions are neatly ordered in terms of increasing level of difficultyin terms of increasing level of difficulty

On others, the test makers alternate between On others, the test makers alternate between easy and hard questions to motivate easy and hard questions to motivate students to finish each question setstudents to finish each question set

To skip around effectively, students must be To skip around effectively, students must be able to diagnose when a question looks too able to diagnose when a question looks too hard or too time-consuminghard or too time-consuming

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Educated Guesses

Leaving an answer blank means you get Leaving an answer blank means you get NONO chance of getting pointschance of getting points

A random guess gives you a 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 A random guess gives you a 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 chance of guessing the correct answerchance of guessing the correct answer

An educated guess, ruling out one or more wrong An educated guess, ruling out one or more wrong answers, increases your chances of guessing answers, increases your chances of guessing correctlycorrectly

Educated guessing means using everything you Educated guessing means using everything you know to attempt to answer the questionsknow to attempt to answer the questions

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example . . . . .

Mr. Malavé teaches two of the following Mr. Malavé teaches two of the following subjects at La Mesa:subjects at La Mesa:

a. Homemaking & Cookinga. Homemaking & Cooking

b. Photography & Artb. Photography & Art

c. English & Spanishc. English & Spanish

d. Saturday Schoold. Saturday School

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Clue Words

Key WordKey Word What to look for in the answerWhat to look for in the answerWho?Who? Name a personName a personWhat?What? Name a thingName a thingWhen?When? Name a timeName a timeWhere?Where? Name a placeName a placeWhich?Which? Name a choiceName a choiceWhy?Why? Give a reasonGive a reasonHow?How? The way something is doneThe way something is doneHow Many?How Many? Give an amount or numberGive an amount or number

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Clue Words Strategy

Use the clue words to eliminate incorrect answers Use the clue words to eliminate incorrect answers and narrow down possible correct choicesand narrow down possible correct choices

First, skim the information and questions; then First, skim the information and questions; then read carefully and examine all the answer choicesread carefully and examine all the answer choices

It is very rare to find the correct choice in exactly It is very rare to find the correct choice in exactly the same words that are presented in the questionthe same words that are presented in the question

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Special words

Pay special attention to words in answer choices Pay special attention to words in answer choices such as:such as:All, None, Must, Always, Never, Each, EveryAll, None, Must, Always, Never, Each, Every

These words signal absoluteness and often imply These words signal absoluteness and often imply wrong answer choiceswrong answer choices

Watch statements that include qualifying words Watch statements that include qualifying words such as:such as:Some, Generally, Sometimes, Usually, FrequentlySome, Generally, Sometimes, Usually, Frequently

These words are often used to throw you off trackThese words are often used to throw you off track

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example . . . .

Why is taking the STAR test important?Why is taking the STAR test important?(a)(a) Because all students who don’t take the test will Because all students who don’t take the test will

have to repeat the 8have to repeat the 8thth grade grade(b)(b) Because some students may receive special Because some students may receive special

scholarships for doing wellscholarships for doing well(c)(c) Because most schools will close down if students Because most schools will close down if students

perform terribly on the testperform terribly on the test(d)(d) Because the CST/CAT6 always shows how smart Because the CST/CAT6 always shows how smart

you areyou are

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Estimation Strategy

Round off and make an educated guessRound off and make an educated guessExample: If oranges are 99 cents a pound, Example: If oranges are 99 cents a pound,

how much would you pay for 6 pounds?how much would you pay for 6 pounds? Round the 99 cents to $1 and multiply by 6Round the 99 cents to $1 and multiply by 6 In Math, estimating is an approximate In Math, estimating is an approximate

answer obtained by rounding the numbers answer obtained by rounding the numbers BEFORE you add, subtract, multiply, or BEFORE you add, subtract, multiply, or dividedivide

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example . . . .

Can you estimate the following without Can you estimate the following without writing the numbers in columns and adding writing the numbers in columns and adding them up? What is 325 + 917 +796?them up? What is 325 + 917 +796?

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Graph, Chart, & Table Strategy

Understand what information is given and what Understand what information is given and what information is asked forinformation is asked for

Read all the titles, labels, and any other given Read all the titles, labels, and any other given informationinformation

Check to make sure what units of measure are Check to make sure what units of measure are givengiven

Check the scale and figure out what each division Check the scale and figure out what each division or increment meansor increment means

Look for a pattern, trend, or comparison in the Look for a pattern, trend, or comparison in the graph or tablegraph or table

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example . . . .

Snacks at La Mesa Jr. High School & Golden Valley High School

Doritos CheetosChocolate Chip Cookies

Tomatoes

La Mesa Jr. High School

Wholesale $1.00 $1.25 $1.00 $1.00

Retail $2.00 $3.00 $1.80 $1.60

Golden Valley High School

Wholesale $1.20 $1.30 $1.00 $0.80

Retail $1.60 $2.00 $2.00 $1.50

Which school makes more money from the sale of Cookies?

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example #2 . . . .

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1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

EastWestNorth

Earnings of Best Buy - 2006

• What is the title of the graph?

• Which quarter had the highest earnings?

• Compare the shares sold in the 1st quarter and the 4th quarter

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Marking Answers Strategy

1)1) Use a No. 2 pencilUse a No. 2 pencil2)2) Always mark answers neatly, within the designated Always mark answers neatly, within the designated

areasareas3)3) Erase mistakes completelyErase mistakes completely4)4) Avoid extra markings (If you marked a question to go Avoid extra markings (If you marked a question to go

back to, make sure you erase the mark)back to, make sure you erase the mark)5)5) Always double check to make sure the number of the Always double check to make sure the number of the

question is the one you are answeringquestion is the one you are answering6)6) Only one answer for each questionOnly one answer for each question7)7) When you know it’s almost time to finish, go back and When you know it’s almost time to finish, go back and

answer the questions that you haven’t finishedanswer the questions that you haven’t finished

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Reducing Test Taking Fears

1)1) Gritting teeth, biting your nails, making fists or Gritting teeth, biting your nails, making fists or having sweaty palms are some indicators of having sweaty palms are some indicators of anxietyanxiety

2)2) Practice relaxation techniques: take a deep Practice relaxation techniques: take a deep breath and exhale quickly to allow your body to breath and exhale quickly to allow your body to relaxrelax

3)3) Use the strategies we have discussed and you Use the strategies we have discussed and you will feel more confident and less nervouswill feel more confident and less nervous

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During the test, you should

1)1) Make sure you know what to do before the test Make sure you know what to do before the test beginsbegins

2)2) Ask questionsAsk questions3)3) Think about one item at a timeThink about one item at a time4)4) Read every word carefullyRead every word carefully5)5) Know that there are easier questions paced Know that there are easier questions paced

throughout the test (easy first)throughout the test (easy first)6)6) Answer every question & make intelligent Answer every question & make intelligent

guessesguesses7)7) Do Your Best on the Test!Do Your Best on the Test!