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) acclimateB) allotC) permitD) DepartE) 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 item

A 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 Grade 08 ELA Sample CR Item Form C1 T14 0 No credit A response gets no credit if it provides no evidence of the ability to explain the impact of a phrase used in context on the meaning of the text, includes no relevant information from the text, or is vague.

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.