3 Test-taking Strategies Do you know how to test efficiently and effectively?

Math Skills Inventory Pre-test Today we will take an assessment that will help us decide which skills to focus on for the rest of the year. For each item please try your best and show the strategy you used to get your answer. 3/11

Math Skills Inventory data entry Today we are going to use the CPS pads to enter our answers to the skills test. This will help us to find the skills we need the work on most as a whole class and as individuals. 3/22

Strategies to improve your test- taking We are going to be learning about test taking strategies. There are 3 important strategies to make test taking easier. These strategies help with efficiency (quickness) and effectiveness (accuracy). They are take-away-two, move on and choose the right strategy.

Strategies to improve your test- taking cont. Choosing the right strategy is extremely important. Knowing which strategy to use when you look at a problem saves time. If you know how to use the strategy accurately you will not only finish the test but you will pass the test.

3 Test-taking strategies Use your CPS response pads to answer some questions about test-taking strategies.

When working on an assignment or an assessment, have you ever run out of time? A. Yes B. No

When working on an assignment or an assessment, have you ever chosen the wrong answer because you were rushing. A. Yes B. No

You felt bad when this happened, like you could have gotten the right answer if you had more time. A. True B. False

Do you ever decide to move on when you are stuck and then come back to that question later? A. Yes B. No

You can normally take-away-two answers that don't make sense so you then have two good answers to choose from. A. True B. False

You know strategies to help you test more efficiently (quicker) and more effectively ( with accuracy). A. True B. False

Choose an appropriate Test- taking Strategy There are 3 important strategies to apply when taking a multiple choice test. Knowing the strategies is the first step. Choosing an appropriate strategy for each situation is the second step. Being able to apply the strategy with accuracy is the final step.

3 Test-taking Strategies Choose an appropriate Problem Solving Strategy Take-away-2 Move on

Choose an appropriate Problem Solving Strategy There are 7 main strategies to choose from when solving a word problem. Knowing the strategies is the first step. Choosing an appropriate strategy for each problem is the second step. Being able to apply the strategy with accuracy is the final step.

Take-away-2 This strategy works in multiple choice testing situations. You should always cover up the answers and try to solve the problem first. If your answer still is not there, look over your work for computation errors. If you are still having trouble apply take-away- two. When you take away two unreasonable answers you are left with two reasonable answers. This gives you a 50% of picking the right answer

Move on Move on is a time management strategy. You should always be aware of how much time you spend on any one item. If you are stumped, you can’t think of a strategy or take-away-two easily, after reading the question twice you should move on. Return to the item after you have finished the remaining items.

How well do you know your strategies? We will now take a short quiz to see if you can identify situations where these strategies can be applied. Can you choose the appropriate strategy?

“ I just did a problem like this on the last page and I know I solved it correctly.” Should I move on? A. Yes B. No

“The problem is 7 x10 and my options are a. 20 b. 75 c.127 d. 70” Can I easily take-away-two? A. Yes, because I know my divisibility rules. B. No, because they are all reasonable answers.

“The problem is , can I apply a problem solving strategy A. No, because it is not a word problem. B. Yes, I can always use a strategy.

“ I can not think of an appropriate strategy for this question and I’m frustrated.” Should I move on? A. Yes B. No

“The problem is A candle-making kit contains 5 scents and 4 colors of wax. How many combinations of candles can you create using one color and one scent?” Can I use a strategy A. Yes B. No

“All of my possible answers seem very reasonable.” Can I easily take- away-two? A. Yes B. No

How did you do? Where you able to analyze the situation and make the right choice? Learning these strategies brings you one step closer to being more effective and efficient on tests and your daily assignments.