Test-Taking Strategies/Practice

Adapted from Matt Guffey, Longridge School

Changed by Ms. Vanko!

1-Consider if the question is ON or UNDER the surface! This will

help you understand what the question is asking you to do and if

it requires more THINKING!

Example question from a scientific text.

All living things adapt to their environment. They must be

able to move, grow, or change to be able to survive in a harsh

environment.

What term(s) could appropriately replace the underlined

word?

A) acclimate

B) allot

C) permit

D) Depart

E) adjust

Plug it in, Plug it in!

• Once you have chosen

your answer, plug it in

and make sure that it

makes sense! This

works really well with

vocabulary questions

like the one you just

completed.

2-Think critically about what the questions or

directions are asking. WHAT KIND of

question is it?• If the directions say “read”….

READ! Pay close attention

to key words in the directions,

such as decide, explain,

interpret, analyze, compare.

(LOOK FOR DOK LEVEL

VOCAB!)Remember there is a highlighting tool you may

use. You may also write down key words or

information on scratch paper.

Sample question 2-You are writing a letter to the principal asking that the student body be

allowed to hold a mock presidential election. Which sentence(s) is/are

written in formal style? Select all that apply.

A ) An election would enable students to become familiar

with the election process.

B) A mock election would encourage students to become

interested in the actual election that is held in the fall.

C ) A mock election would increase student interest in

politics because we would really get a kick out of it.

D ) This would make kids feel important.

Look again carefully at the question

You are writing a letter to the principal asking that the student

body be allowed to hold a mock presidential election. Which

sentence(s) is/are written in formal style? Select all that apply.

A An election would enable students to become familiar with

the election process.

B A mock election would encourage students to become

interested in the actual election that is held in the fall.

C A mock election would increase student interest in politics

because we would really get a kick out of it.

D This would make kids feel important.

What type of question would you classify this

as?

Be Slick and Predict!

Be sure to carefully read EVERY ANSWER CHOICE.

• Predict what the answer

is BEFORE you read the

choices.

• Even though you predict,

READ ALL answer

choices. Many questions

require more than one

answer choice.

“I think the

answer…”

Slash the Trash! (Use the process of

elimination!)• Read ALL of the

answer choices!

Eliminate any choice

that you know is not the

correct answer. Put

them in the trash and

pick the answer that is

left over.

• *Remember you can

use the

strikethrough/cross out

tool to help you do this.

Sample Question 3-Read the following paragraph.

In today's school system, teachers are evaluated for many things. Teacher evaluations

include their lessons, classroom styles, student behavior, and student grades. However,

the people that are with the teachers every day are not a part of the process. Teachers

cannot receive a fair and complete evaluation without the voices of these people–their

students. The students would be able to provide the teachers with a more realistic

evaluation than someone who sees the teacher for just a few minutes.

Which sentence(s) could be added to the paragraph as a main claim? Select all

that apply.

A Teacher can benefit from evaluations prepared by their students.

B There are no benefits to the current teacher evaluations.

C A fair and complete teacher evaluation should include student voices.

D Only students can evaluate teachers.

E Today's school system evaluates lesson plans, classroom style, student behavior, and

student grades.

3B) What do you think that

paragraph’s claim was?

3C) How might you identify a claim?

Answer these

questions on your

packet!

What happens if I get a short answer, constructed

response, or essay question?

*Ms. Vanko sees these questions as the BEST

kinds of opportunities. They give you the

chance to explain your thinking using words.

*Even if you are unsure of an answer, you can

convince your reader you do know an answer

by using strong, academic language.

*USE THE TEXT GIVEN TO YOU AS YOUR

GUIDE.

4) Please refer to the constructed

response text and prompt in your packet.

-Read the text.

-Write a short response to the question.

-FOLLOW DIRECTIONS

Check out this rubric!

Rubric for a 3-point Constructed Response itemA 3 response:

• Gives sufficient evidence of the ability to explain the impact of a phrase used in

context on the meaning of the text.

• Includes specific inferences that makes clear reference to the text

• Fully supports inferences with clearly relevant information from the text

A 2 response:

• Gives some evidence of the ability to explain the impact of a phrase used in

context on the meaning of the text.

• Includes some specific inferences that makes clear reference to the text

• Fully supports the inferences with clearly relevant information from the text

A 1 response:

• Gives limited evidence of the ability to explain the impact of a phrase used in

context on the meaning of the text.

• Includes some specific inferences but they are not explicit or make only vague

references to the text

• Supports the inferences with at least one piece of information but the relevance of

that information to the text must be inferred

5)Grade your own response

using the rubric. Provide a

rationale for your grade.

Score Point 3 Sample:

The phrase “polished in later time” relates to the passage because it shows how a

language spoken by one tribe in Italy developed over time to become Latin. Just

like the language developed over time, Italy developed over time, too. There were

different tribes living there, or different “nations” as the tribes are described in the

passage.

Score Point 2 Sample:

The phrase has to do with the passage because Latin is a language that changed

over time just like the “tribes” of different people, some of them Greek, changed

over time in Italy. The history of Italy changed just like the language Latin to

become something more modern.

Score Point 1 Sample:

The phrase shows that things changed in the language just like Italy and its history

changed or became polished.

Score Point 0 Sample:

People spoke Latin in Italy for a long time.

6)Make an inference about the

samples/scoring. (above)

7) You may have some questions that ask you to

click on an entire sentence, highlight it, or drag it

to another spot on your screen. See the sample

question!

Answer:

Student selects either Perhaps it was her

dignity, or her sincerity, or that mighty voice,

but when Sojourner Truth spoke people

listened. OR She spoke out against injustice,

wherever she found it. 1 correct = 1 point

Student selects neither of the above

sentences, 0 correct = 0 points

Be Smart With Charts & Zap the

Maps! (These visuals can show up

in BOTH ELA and MATH!)

• Charts and maps

provide information that

you can use to answer

questions. Analyze ALL

information provided

before answering the

questions!

Keep On Testing, Keep On

Testing!

• If you get to a question

that you don’t know,

don’t give up.

*Try your best, flag it for

review, and come back to

it later on.

If you SNOOZE, You will

LOSE!• Don’t leave a question

unanswered. You will

not have ANY chance of

getting it right. You must

answer all questions

before moving forward.

• YOU CAN STILL GET

PARTIAL CREDIT FOR

ANSWERS WITH

MULTIPLE CHOICES

TO SELECT!

And Finally…“UNPACK” the

Question!Underline key words.

Number the parts of the question.

Plan how you will answer.

Answer using specific details.

Check off each part as you do it.

Keep up the great work!

Check It Out!

• When you have

completed the test,

go back and

check your work!

• CHOOSE THE

REVIEW option

before submitting

your test.