1. From a Student’s Perspective

2.  Go to bed on time.  Put a few number 2 pencils with erasers in your backpack.  Solve family/friend problems before the testing date.  Talk to your parents about any concerns that you might have about the test.

3.  Start your day as you always do.  Eat a good breakfast.  Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school.  Think Positive!

4.  If you do not understand the directions, ask for help.  Read the question and all answer choices before selecting an answer.  Do not change your answers unless you are very uncertain about your first answer choice.

5.  Don’t 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.

6.  Slash the Trash! Read ALL of the answer choices! Eliminate any choice(s) that you know are not the correct answer. The choice is obviously “trash!”  If you can eliminate two wrong answers, your chance of choosing the right answer is greater.

7.  Once you have chosen your answer, plug it in and make sure that it makes sense! (This works really well with vocabulary questions.)

8. Charts and maps provide information that you can use to answer questions! Analyze ALL information provided before answering the questions.

9.  If the directions say read…READ! Pay close attention to signal words in the directions, such as explain, interpret, and compare.

10.  Don’t guess blindly, but if you have time to think about the best answer choice, make it!  Don’t get lured into a charming answer – it is important to read the entire question because test makers like to trick you. One of the choices may look likely when there may be one that is more appropriate to the question.

11.  EXAMPLE: What is the amount of an American coin that is greater in value than a nickel ($.05)?  (a) $.06 (b) $.07 (c) $.08 (d) $.10  The answer is (d), but it is easy to get tricked by (a) if you do not read the entire piece and pay close attention to what the question is asking.

12.  Underline key words  Number the parts of the ?  Plan how you will answer  Answer using specific details  Check off each part as you do it  Keep up the great work

13.  Make sure you understand what the question is asking.  Be sure you are responding to the questions that is being asked.  “Jail” the Detail! Highlight, underline or circle the details in the questions. This helps you focus on exactly what the question is asking your to do.

14.  Predict what the answer is BEFORE you read the answer choices.

15.  Highlight key parts, sentences, or words in the passage so that you will be able to spot things quickly in the passage when answering the questions.  Read the question and all answer choices. By doing this, you will know what you are looking for as you read.  Go back to the story and find the answer before you select the answer. This process will help you get more questions correct.

16.  When using scratch paper on a math test, double check to make sure that you have copied the problem correctly.  Show your work and check your work. Draw out visual representation(s) when you can.

17.  Line up place value correctly on your scratch paper (thousand, hundreds, tens, ones) or the answer will be incorrect.  If your answer does not match one of the answer choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again.

18.  When you have completed the segment/session, go back and spend your time on those questions about which you know nothing or almost nothing.  As you go back through, do not change all the answers. Remember: Your first guess is usually right.

19.  Fill in bubbles fully and erase stray marks on paper/pencil tests.  Double-check the test number in your test booklet against the answer sheet every few questions to be sure you haven’t gotten on the wrong number for any paper/pencil tests.

20. If you SNOOZE, You will LOSE!  Don’t leave a question unanswered. You will not have ANY chance of getting it right.

21.  If your arm tires during testing it is probably due to the grip that you have on your pencil.  Relax the grip and give those muscles a break.  Do not do arm exercises during testing as this disturbs others.

22.  If you get to a couple of questions that you just don’t know, don’t give up! Keep trying your best!