Test Taking Tips: A Recipe for Success!

1. Test Taking Tips: A Recipe for Success! By Stacy Avera , Instructional Coach and Darline Ellis, Reading/Writing Coach

2. Greetings! We are your happy Chefs, and we are what they call the Master Chefs of Test Success. Today, we are here to teach you the importance of doing your best work during tests. We have earned our title through many years of hard work, and we want you to trust that we know what it takes to cook up some an amazing successes on the FCAT this year. Every day, you prove to your teachers that you understand what you are being taught! You have the exact “ingredients” to be Successful!

3. Having the right ingredients for FCAT testing is key… Let me give you an example… If I add too much garlic to my pizza sauce, my guests will look like this! I HATE garlic! Yuck!

4. That’s why we take our time with our cooking (teaching) and your teachers do too! They add just what you need to your day to make it complete. Mmmm, tasty! We want our customers to look like this instead.

5. Here’s what you should look like when you’re done taking the test! Let’s learn some helpful tips so that you can look like this! Ready?

6. Recipe for FCAT Success begins here!!!

7. Here are some tips from Master Testers. • Attendance is important! • Be sure to be here and on time on test days. Students taking test on make-up days tend to score lower.

8. Get a good night’s rest!Marinate overnight… • Sleep helps your mind organize information, and allows your brain to function at top speed.

9. Eat well before the test. • Have a good protein based breakfast. You want your body to be ready for those tough questions. • Sugar will take you up and drop you down really hard. • So stay away from sugary meals.

10. Get your positive attitude ready • Be serious, but chill at the same time. • You’ve done the preparation and hard work of learning. Now its time to present what you have learned. • Say “I can do this!” and get started. • Voila’!

11. Leave the racing to the racecars! • It never makes sense to rush through a test to finish quickly. Taking your time means winning when it comes to grades.

12. Don’t worry • When everyone is done around you: take a deep breath, and get back to work. • Just because it may take a longer time for you to get an answer doesn’t mean you aren’t getting the right answer. You’re doing great!

13. Read all of the directions completely • You can be sure to do your best when you really know what the question is asking you. • If you don’t understand, raise your hand and ask the teacher to explain. If they are allowed to explain the directions, they will. • Don’t Be Frustrated or you’ll crash and burn!

14. Read all of the choices • Read the whole passage once before you answer any of the questions. • Read it carefully and pay attention to details. • Look at the pictures, graphics and key words to help you understand the passage. • Go back to the passage for clues to help you answer the questions. • Why are the mountains in front of the house once Miss Bilberry has moved? • Miss Bilberry has been tricked by her pets. • Miss Bilberry moves close to her old house. • Miss Bilberry discovers different mountains. • Miss Bilberry ends the journey where she began.

15. Mark the best answerFollow the Recipe exactly! • Read ALL of the answer choices • Make sure that you are bubbling your answers correctly • Keep a steady pace and do not let more difficult questions affect and steal your valuable time

16. Practice Relaxation~From boiling to blanching~ • Breathing: Take a deep breath and slowly let it out • Body Awareness: If you feel tense, relax that muscle • Visualization: Visualize something peaceful • Positive Thinking: • Think positive thoughts • Relax!

17. Do your own work – Stay Focused • It doesn’t help anyone to claim other peoples’ work as your own. Do YOUR best. • If you cheat your test will be invalidated!

18. Math Strategies • Read the whole question • What is the question asking you to do? • Look for words that give you clues • Try to work out the problem • Look at all the answer options and choose the BEST answer Mr. Desai has 112 art students. He gave each student 150 dried beans to use for a project. What is the total number of dried beans Mr. Desai gave his students? A. 267 B. 1,680 C. 5,600 D. 16,800

19. Double check your work! • Use all of your resources to complete the problem (ruler, formula sheet, etc.) • It is so easy to make a silly mistake, and never notice it. • Use the 50/50 Chance strategy – eliminating two answer choices improves the odds of choosing the correct answer

20. Check back over your work • 1st check-up: Make sure you have one answer for every question • 2nd check-up: GO BACK and make sure that the answer you chose match up with the answer you bubbled in • 3rd check-up: DON’T change an answer unless you find you’ve made an error or you can support the change. Your first answer (gut feeling) is usually the correct answer.

21. Use the BAM Strategy…go back and check all your answers to make sure they are correct and…BAM! Remember to “kick it up a notch!” You’ll be proud that you did.

22. It’s almost time! Go out there, and show everyone that you’re a MASTER TESTER!

23. Remember, Your family, teacher, school administration and everyone believes you can do it! Do your best to cook up something great on FCAT 2.0!