Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

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• Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

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The Golden Rules of Test Taking
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Golden Rule 1
You do not have to answer all of the questions
correctly to pass the test.
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Golden Rule 2
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• Be sure that you answer all of the questions,
  leaving nothing blank.
• You are not penalized for guessing.
• There are questions you can get some credit for
  if you have a piece of the answer.

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Golden Rule 3Use your time wisely

• If you get stuck on a question, make the best
  guess or place a mark in the test booklet by that
  item and go back to it after finishing that
  section of the test.

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Golden Rule 4 Listen carefully to your teacher
when directions are given (especially the
constructed response and short answer questions.)

• Be sure you understand exactly
• what you have to do for
• each part of the test.

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Golden Rule 5 Look for key words in test
directions
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• Examples are
• choose
• describe
• explain
• compare
• identify
• similar
• except
• not
• but

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Golden Rule 6 Read each question carefully and
think before you answer.
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• Be sure that you understand the question before
  you start to compare answers. If youre not sure
  which answer is correct, eliminate choices that
  you know are incorrect. Then, focus on the
  remaining choices.

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Golden Rule 7

• Mark your answer choice with a circle in your
  test booklet. This will help you
• Go back to answer questions that you were unsure
  of.
• Double check that your answer choice is correctly
  recorded in your answer document.

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Golden Rule 8Pace Yourself
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• Dont spend too much time on any one question. Do
  your best and then move on.
• Answer the easiest questions first, but be sure
  to go back to those questions you skipped.

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Answering Questions

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

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Multiple Choice Questions

• Read the question and all answer choices before
  marking anything.

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Multiple Choice Questions

• 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.

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The Process of Elimination

• After you have been through all of the answer
  choices once, go back and find answers that you
  have some knowledge about and eliminate choices
  that you know are incorrect.

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The Process of Elimination

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

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Skip, Return, Check

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

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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.

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Its About Time

• Dont spend too much time rewriting or obsessing
  about neatness.
• Dont worry if you run out of time.

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Reading Passages

• If the test requires you to read passages and
  then answer questions about what you read,

read the questions first.

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

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Reading Passages

• When there are several questions about a reading
  passage or chart, look for clues in other
  questions that will help you with those items
  about which you are unsure.

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Final Tips

• Fill in bubbles fully, write neatly, and erase
  stray marks.
• Double-check the test number in your test booklet
  against the answer sheet every few questions to
  be sure you havent gotten on the wrong number.

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Thank you, Mr. Know-it-all!

• Remember it'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.

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And remember

• Learning is not a spectator sport!
• D. Blocher