1. Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

2. Twas the Night Before Testing Go to bed on time. Try to deal with things that cause you stress (family or friend problems) before the testing date. Talk to your parents or teachers about any concerns that you might have regarding the test.

3. The Morning of Testing Start your day as you always do Eat a good breakfast Arrive on time Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school Think Positive! Think Positive!

4. Multiple Choice Questions Listen to the directions as your teacher reads them. If you do not understand them, ask your teacher when he/she asks if there are any questions. all Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything.

5. Multiple Choice Questions Try to supply your own answer before reading the choices given. Answer every question. Make the most intelligent selection you can.

6. The Process of Elimination After you have read through all of the answer choices, go back and eliminate choices that you know are incorrect. I know C isn’t the answer!

7. The Process of Elimination If you can eliminate two wrong answers, your chance of choosing the right answer is greater.

8. If you have to guess: The length of choices can be a clue. Choose the longest. If two choices are similar, choose neither. If two choices are opposites, choose one of them.

9. Statements that begin with always, never, none, except, most, or least - are probably NOT the answer. Underline these or other key words if you are allowed to write on the test paper.

10. Key Words key wordsphrases Find key words or phrases in the question that will help you choose the correct answer. Underline them in the question. Look for them in the text.

11. Reading Passages If the test requires you to read passages and then answer questions about what you read, read the questions first first. By doing this, you will know what you are looking for as you read. This also helps you go faster on the test.

12. Reading Passages clues When there are several questions about a reading passage or chart, look for clues in other questions that will help you with those items about which you are unsure.

13. Math Computation When using scratch paper on a math test, double check to make sure that you have copied the problem correctly from the test booklet!

14. Math Computation Line up place values correctly on your scratch paper (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones) or the answer will be incorrect.

15. Math Computation If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again. You can also plug in the answer choices to see which answer solves the problem.

16. Pace Yourself 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.

17. A Matter of Time If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions. As you go back through, do not change your answers… Remember: Your first guess is usually right.

18. Final Tips Fill in bubbles fully, write neatly, and erase stray marks. 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.

19. The Death Grip 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.

20. it's okay to not know everything Remember it's okay to not know everything — unlike class tests, these tests will have some questions designed to challenge the limits of your knowledge at a grade level above your current grade.

21. Relax! If you become anxious during the test, try some relaxation techniques (deep breathing, mental imagery) Think positive—tell yourself that you will do well: “I can do this. I know I will do well.”