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Expert advice for multiple-choice test strategies & FRQ guidance. Optimize your scoring opportunities with practical tips!
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Multiple Choice Hints: If you have NO idea skip the question! You are deducted ¼ point for each wrong answer! If you can only eliminate 1 choice… skip the question! If you can eliminate 2 choices then you should guess. You are beating the odds. Pick the answer that makes the most sense! Make sure you read ALL the answer choices before you answer. Often times there are more than one correct answer…but there is a BETTER answer! You should plan on skipping approximately 15-20 questions. I don’t know all the answers…so I’m sure you don’t either. The test is designed that way! There will be questions on the test that I never taught you and others that you just can’t remember. These are the ones you should skip! The test gets easier as you go. The last 50 will be easier than the first 50. Some students like to go backwards.
Multiple Choice Hints: 7. Go through the entire test booklet circling all the answers you find the easiest. Circle any questions that you think you know but that you need to go back and spend some time thinking about. After you have done all the ones that you find easiest, then go back to the ones that you had circled. Now, go fill out your scantron with the answers you have. 8. Any time left over and you can go back to the ones that were really hard… usually ones that require some calculation, and see if there are any that you can figure out. 9. Check and make sure that you haven’t left more than about 20 blank…otherwise you won’t have enough positive points to earn you credit on the exam. • You can write all over the test booklet, so underline key words.. Words like “EXCEPT” or which is “NOT” the correct answer. This will help you to focus on what the question is asking you. • You might want to cross out incorrect answers as you go so that you can narrow down you choices. • Don’t rush! You have 90 minutes to take the test. You will not get out early if you finish early… you must sit there until the 90 minutes are up. If you have time left over, you may want to go back and check your answers to make sure you didn’t make a careless mistake.
FRQ Hints: • The maximum number of points you can get on each FRQ is 10 points. After you have answered all the FRQ’s go back and see if you can “find” where the points come from. If you only get to 8 or 9 points, chances are you forgot to respond to some part of some question. See if you can find what you forgot! • I recommend answering the FRQ’s in this order… 4, 1, 3, 2. 3. Question 1 will most likely be a DBQ. Question 2 will probably be the math question and question 3 and 4 are usually “typical” FRQ’s that are looking to see what you know about some environmental issue. 4. Make sure you show all your work on any math questions…even if that work could be done in your head! No work= no credit! 5. Make sure all your answers are on the answer document and not the test booklet. The test booklet does not go to Cincinnati..it comes back to me. 6. Use the test booklet to brainstorm, then answer on the answer document! 7. All answers must be in complete sentences! No credit for incomplete sentences!
FRQ Hints: When the question asks you to “identify”… this can be done in one sentence. When the question asks you to “describe”, “discuss” or “explain” you need about 3 sentences for each answer. When the question asks you to “identify and describe”, etc. you need about 4 sentences!
FRQ Hints: • When the question asks for an “Environmental” benefit or cost… you talk about animals, plants, soil, air, etc. Do not talk about humans! • When the question asks for a “societal” benefit or cost… you talk about people, cities, crops, etc. • When the question asks “what could the government do?”… you answer with something about writing a law or educating the public. • When the question asks “human health” effects… you talk about asthma, emphysema, nervous systems issues like birth defects, brain damage, or cancer. These cover most environmental health hazards. Obviously, if you know the effect, then write the correct effect…otherwise guess! • When the question asks for “economic” benefits or costs… you talk about money and jobs.
FRQ Hints: • Do not skip any parts of the FRQ… this is different than from multiple choice… if you don’t know…put something down that you think might be right! • If the question says to give “TWO” reasons… only the first two things you right down are graded. Same if it says “ONE” reason…only the first is graded. • If the question says “Identify and describe TWO reasons…” that means that you need 4 sentences for the first reason and another 4 sentences for the second reason… 8 sentences all together! • Do not restate the question or give an opening paragraph and conclusion. This is NOT an English essay… it is a “free response”… that means short answer, complete answer, complete sentence! • Pace yourself… you have approximately 22 minutes for each FRQ. Don’t spend too much time on one, you will run out of time on the other. This is why I say to answer the math question (probably question 2) last. Most students spend a lot of time answering the math question. Also, there will be some questions on the math question that are not math. Answer those first, then go back and try to answer the math. Remember, you are not allowed a calculator on this exam so show all your work!
FRQ Hints: Do not answer a question with “it is bad for the environment” or it will “harm biodiversity”. These are too vague. You need to explain HOW it is bad for the environment or HOW it will harm biodiversity. Also, don’t say it will cause “pollution”… any third grader can say that.. Be specific, name a particular chemical, etc. Show the grader that you know some science facts… you do! I taught you! Do not answer the FRQ’s with one giant “super paragraph”. Label your answers with 1a. 2c. Etc. That way the grader knows exactly what you are trying to say! Remember that there are environmentalists grading your response…always go with the answer that is best for the environment unless it asks you to do otherwise. Sometimes they want you to show “both sides of an argument”. An example of this is “describe on incentive that the government of a country could offer its citizens that would favor a reduction in the growth rate of its population. Explain how this incentive would work, and describe one possible drawback.” They are looking for you to play “Devils advocate”. Go with the most obvious answer. The grader doesn’t give you “extra” points because you know some obscure fact or law that you learned about on Discovery Channel. Try to give the answer that MOST of the nation will give. If you don’t know a law… always fall back on the Endangered Species Act, The Clean Air Act or the Clean Water Act. These usually work if you can support you answer!
