TAKS Testing Strategies

1. TAKS Testing Strategies

2. Step #1 • Turn each page • Read the titles • Notice how many questions you are to answer • Look and evaluate the graphic • Read each open-ended questions • Read essay question

3. Step #2 • Read the essay question • Brainstorm ideas • Write your first draft on the scratch paper provided Note: After you have completed the multiple choice, and open ended questions you will revise and edit your rough draft. Then rewrite your essay on the official essay document. (Make sure you do not do the revision and editing section of the test until you are finished with your essay in case you want to use the dictionary).

4. Step #3 • Reading selections • Read all of the questions and answer the questions you can answer without reading the whole selection • Circle the questions you cannot answer without reading the whole selection. • When you find an answer in the reading selection make sure you write the question number in the side margin, so you can easily check your answers later • When you are answering any of the multiple choice questions use the strategy of elimination. (Dash- ,Dash-, Slash/, Slash/) • Out of four there will be two that are absolutely not the answer and two that could possibly be the answer. Use a slash/ for the two that are absolutely not the answer. Use a dash- for the two that could possibly be the answer. Then of the two that are possibly the answer, choose the one that best answers the questions.

5. Step #4 • Now that you have answered all the questions that you could without reading the selection, you will need to reread all of the questions you circled and open ended questions. These are the questions that you could not answer without reading the whole selection. • Now you will read the selection with these questions in mind this is what we call reading with a purpose. • Keep the questions in mind while you are reading as you find the answers be sure you write the question number in the margin of the reading selection so you can easily check you answers later.

6. Visual Questions • Take some time and look over the visual • What kind of visual is it? Web page, advertisement, greeting card, cartoon, flyer • What is the purpose? • Who is the target audience? • It it effective? • Use the slash slash dash dash strategy

7. Step #1Open Ended Questions As you read mark any passage you think addresses the open ended questions • 1. Answer the question with a complete sentence • 2. Use a quote from the reading selection that supports your answer • For Example: In paragraph three characters namestates, “Direct Quote Here.” OR In paragraph three the author describes,”Direct Quote Here.” • 3. Explain how the quote answers the question • For example: This quote shows that…(Explain how this quote supports your answer.) • Be sure you write a first draft on the scratch paperthat is provided for each of your open ended questions. Revise and edit then rewrite your responses on the official test document.

8. Step#2 • Now go back and revise and edit you essay first draft then rewrite you final draft on the official test document. • Now you can put away your dictionary and break the seal for the revision and editing selection. • Note: If you break the seal to the Revision and Editing selection you my no longer use a dictionary on any selection of the test.

9. Revision and Editing • Take your time and think about the grammar rules you have studied. • Mark the grammar passages to visualize what corrections should be made. • Use the slash/ slash/ dash- dash- strategy and answer the question the best that you can.