Test Taking Tips

1. Test Taking Tips Urry 2009

2. Before the Test Urry 2009

3. Before the Test: Preparation • Pay attention during notes and review activities so you learn the information correctly. • Actively participate during class and ask questions as they come up. • Review any notes the night before a test right before you go to bed – research shows that this can be very helpful in remembering key information • Get enough SLEEP the night before a test • Wear comfortable clothes the day of the test • Eat a healthy breakfast the day of the test Urry 2009

4. Answering Multiple Choice Questions Urry 2009

5. Multiple Choice Tip #1 READING • Read the M.C. questions before reading the passage THEN, when reading the passage/story… • Underline/highlight important information in the passage that may help you answer your multiple choice questions. Question: What is the author’s purpose for writing the passage above? a. To inform readers about New York during the time period after gold was discovered in New York. b. To persuade readers to keep in touch with old friends. c. To express thoughts about the hardships of friendship. d. To entertain readers by telling an interesting story about two friends meeting up after twenty years. Read the passage: “It’s alright officer,” he said reassuringly. “I’m just waiting for a friend. It’s an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain if you’d like to make certain it’s all straight.” Urry 2009

6. Multiple Choice Tip #1 READING • Read the M.C. questions before reading the passage THEN, when reading the passage/story… • Underline/highlight important information in the passage that may help you answer your multiple choice questions. Question: What is the author’s purpose for writing the passage above? a. To inform readers about New York during the time period after gold was discovered in New York. b. To persuade readers to keep in touch with old friends. c. To express thoughts about the hardships of friendship. d. To entertain readers by telling an interesting story about two friends meeting up after twenty years. Read the passage: “It’s alright officer,” he said reassuringly. “I’m just waiting for a friend. It’s an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain if you’d like to make certain it’s all straight.” Urry 2009

7. Multiple Choice Tip #2 READING • Highlight Key Words in the question Example: 1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage? a. Lazy b. Curious c. Bossy d. Helpful Urry 2009

8. Multiple Choice Tip #2 READING • Highlight Key Words in the question Example: 1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage? a. Lazy b. Curious c. Bossy d. Helpful Urry 2009

9. Multiple Choice Tip #3 READING • Read all the choices before choosing your answer. Example: 1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage? a. Lazy b. Curious c. Bossy d. Helpful Urry 2009

10. Multiple Choice Tip #4 READING • Eliminate (cross out) answers you know aren’t right. “Slash the Trash!” Example: 1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage? a. Lazy b. Curious c. Bossy d. Helpful Urry 2009

11. Multiple Choice Tip #4 READING • Eliminate (cross out) answers you know aren’t right. “Slash the Trash!” Example: 1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage? a. Lazy b. Curious c. Bossy d. Helpful Urry 2009

12. Multiple Choice Tip #5 READING • Choose the BEST answer. If one answer is partly right, but another is completely right, choose the one that is completely right. Example: 2. In the passage, why does the policeman ask, “ ‘Going to call time on him sharp?’ ”? a. He hopes to show compassion and friendliness. b. He wants to know how long he will wait. c. He hopes to make Bob feel bad that his friend is late. d. He wants to know how long he has to arrest him. Urry 2009

13. Multiple Choice Tip #5 READING • Choose the BEST answer. If one answer is partly right, but another is completely right, choose the one that is completely right. Example: 2. In the passage, why does the policeman ask, “ ‘Going to call time on him sharp?’ ”? a. He hopes to show compassion and friendliness. b. He wants to know how long he will wait. c. He hopes to make Bob feel bad that his friend is late. d. He wants to know how long he has to arrest him. Urry 2009

14. Multiple Choice Tip #6 READING • Plug in EVERY answer to see which one fits best • This tip is especially important on vocabulary questions! Example: 3. When they came into this glare, each of them turned simultaneously to gaze upon the other’s face. In this sentence, simultaneouslymeans? a. turned slowly b. turned at different times c. turned at the same time d. turned away Urry 2009

15. Multiple Choice Tip #7 READING • Pay attention to negative words such as NOT or EXCEPT in the question. Highlight or Underlinethose words if you see them to remind yourself. Example: Which is not true about Bob? a. Bob was on time to meet Jimmy b. Bob was a wanted criminal c. Bob knew the policeman was Jimmy the whole time d. Bob followed through with his promise Urry 2009

16. Multiple Choice Tip #7 READING • Pay attention to negative words such as NOT or EXCEPT in the question. Underline those words if you see them to remind yourself. Example: Which is not true about Bob? a. Bob was on time to meet Jimmy b. Bob was a wanted criminal c. Bob knew the policeman was Jimmy the whole time d. Bob followed through with his promise Urry 2009

17. Multiple Choice Tip # 8 READING • If an answer option has an overgeneralization such as, “always, never, everybody” it usually is not the correct answer. Example: Which is true about Bob’s arrest in the story After Twenty Years? a. Everybody knew Bob was a criminal b. Everybody knew Jimmy was a policeman c. It was revealed toward the end of the story that Jimmy was the policeman d. Bob never found out about Jimmy Urry 2009

18. Multiple Choice Tip # 8 READING • If an answer option has an overgeneralization such as, “always, never, everybody” it usually is not the correct answer. Example: Which is true about Bob’s arrest in the story After Twenty Years? a. Everybody knew Bob was a criminal b. Everybody knew Jimmy was a policeman c. It was revealed toward the end of the story that Jimmy was the policeman d. Bob never found out about Jimmy Urry 2009

19. Multiple Choice Tip # 9 READING • Budget your time! • Watch the clock! Consider whether or not you will need to complete an extended response during the session • ISAT test session is 55 • minutes • Complete the questions you find easiest first. Urry 2009

20. Multiple Choice Tip #10 READING • Don't keep on changing your answer. Usually, your first choice is the right one, unless you misread the question. Urry 2009

21. READING Multiple Choice Tip #11 • If two answers are synonyms (similar), then it is usually neitheranswer “The vicinity was one that kept early hours.” In this sentence what does the word vicinity mean? a. climate b. area c. weather d. people Example: Urry 2009

22. READING Multiple Choice Tip #11 • If two answers are synonyms (similar), then it is usually neither answer “The vicinity was one that kept early hours.” In this sentence what does the word vicinity mean? a. climate b. area c. weather d. people Example: Urry 2009

23. READING Multiple Choice Tip #12 • If two answers are antonyms (opposite), then the answer isusually one of the two. Example: “A candle was burning dimly in the prisoner’s room.….Nothing could be seen but his back, the hair on his head, and his hands.” In this sentence, dimly likely means: a. Weakly b. Strongly c. Colorfully d. Blankly Urry 2009

24. READING Multiple Choice Tip #12 • If two answers are antonyms (opposite), then the answer isusually one of the two. Example: “A candle was burning dimly in the prisoner’s room.….Nothing could be seen but his back, the hair on his head, and his hands.” In this sentence, dimly means? a. Weakly b. Strongly c. Colorfully d. Blankly Urry 2009

25. Additional Tips During the Test Urry 2009

26. Test-Taking Tip #13 Remember to use the resources around the room to help you! Urry 2009

27. Test-Taking Tip #14 • Read the Directions…twice! • Directions: Choose the best answer for each statement. Then, include two pieces of text evidence and commentary to support your answer. • Which of the following best describes the waiting man at the beginning of the story? • Unconcerned • Determined • Casual • Reassuring • Support: • At the beginning of the story, the waiting man was reassuring. In the text it stated, “’It’s alright officer. I’m waiting for an old friend.’” To me this shows that the waiting man didn’t want the officer to think he was doing anything wrong, so he quickly told the officer what he was doing. This shows that he was reassuring because he tried to make the officer feel comfortable. Urry 2009

28. Test-Taking Tip #14 • Read the Directions…twice! • Directions: Choose the best answer for each statement. Then, include two pieces of text evidence and commentary to support your answer. • Which of the following best describes the waiting man at the beginning of the story? • Unconcerned • Determined • Casual • Reassuring • Support: • At the beginning of the story, the waiting man was reassuring. In the text it stated, “’It’s alright officer. I’m waiting for an old friend.’” To me this shows that the waiting man didn’t want the officer to think he was doing anything wrong, so he quickly told the officer what he was doing. This shows that he was reassuring because he tried to make the officer feel comfortable. Urry 2009

29. Test-Taking Tip #15 • When a question is long and wordy, pause and put it in your own words. • Ask yourself: What is the question asking? • Example: • In this section, Emerson talks about obstacles facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. Identify one obstacle facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. Which obstacle do you feel has a greater impact on a person’s self-reliance? Defend your reasoning in at least 3 sentences. • Identify the question(s) you have to answer. Urry 2009

30. Test-Taking Tip #15 • When a question is long and wordy, pause and put it in your own words. • Ask yourself: What is the question asking? • When appropriate, break the question into parts! • Example: • In this section, Emerson talks about obstacles facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. Identify one obstacle facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. Which obstacle do you feel has a greater impact on a person’s self-reliance? Defend your reasoning in at least 3 sentences. • Identify the question(s) you have to answer. Urry 2009

31. Test-Taking Tip #16 • When appropriate, break the question into parts! • Example: In this section, Emerson talks about obstacles facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. • Step One: Identify one obstacle facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. • Make notes to yourself and/or find a quote from text • Step Two: Which obstacle do you feel has a greater impact on a person’s self-reliance? • This is your opinion – but be sure you can support it. • Step 3: Defend your reasoning in at least 3 sentences. • Support personal opinion with evidence from the text Urry 2009

32. Test-Taking Tip #17 • Pay attention to the title of a passage. • The title can give you hints about the meaning or theme of a passage. • Example: “Primal Compassion” posed the question, do primates like Binti have compassion? The title revealed the author’s bias in favor of Binti. Urry 2009

33. Test-Taking Tip #18 • Don’t be intimidated by a challenging text or vocabulary. • Often times you do not need to understand every word of the passage in order to answer the question correctly. • This is why it’s important to read the questions first! Urry 2009

34. Test-Taking Tip #19 • Chew mint gum! • Studies show mint gum can improve focus! Urry 2009

35. Test-Taking Tip #20 • If you are bored 0r losing focus, change your state. • Shift your position while sitting • Stand up or sit differently • Studies show this can help you refocus! Urry 2009

36. Test-Taking Tip #21 ALWAYS CHECK OVER YOUR ANSWERS WHEN YOU FINISH!!!! Urry 2009

37. Follow these tips and you should be Confident! You will be great!