Test Strategies Making the Grade on Standardized Tests

Teachers realize that tests aren’t fun. But you must try!

Why Try? ARMT/SAT tells us what progress you have made. We compare your scores from year-to-year. Are you progressing? Scores are used to make determinations about class placement. Accelerated Math?

Average scores compare DMS to other schools We compete with other schools in football, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball and more… including ACADEMICS. These scores compare AMS with Opelika, Valley, Montgomery, Birmingham…and ALL schools in the state. Let’s win!

When taking SAT/ARMT, just remember PIRATES! Pirates? Yes! Pirates!

PIRATES is a mnemonic! A mnemonic device ( pronounced "neh-mon-ik") is a memory aid. Common mnemonics are often verbal, something such as a very short poem or a special word used to help a person remember something, particularly lists, but may be visual, kinesthetic or auditory. You may think mnemonics stand for the obvious, but in stressful times, such as standardized tests, you may forget the obvious. Mnemonics provides a back-up to what you know is good practices! Wiki says: Confucius says:

So what does PIRATES stand for? Prepare; Inspect; Read, Remember, Reduce; Answer or abandon; Turn back; Estimate; Survey.

Prepare to Succeed Come to school prepared for the test- go to bed early the night before tests; eat a sensible breakfast; go to the bathroom before the test. Listen to instructions given by your teacher. Know what is expected of you. Know how much time you have and what question to end on. Make sure you have the materials you need- pencil, scratch paper.

Inspect the Instructions Read the instructions. What is required of you? –Best answer? Likely means there will be more than one answer that could work, but you must find the BEST answer. –NOT question? This question asks you to find what is NOT instead of what IS. –Special instructions? This may ask you to look at a specific passage, such as the second paragraph, rather than the entire selection. –ALWAYS answer essay questions!

Read, Remember, Reduce Read the whole question and all the possible answers. Remember what you were taught about this particular subject. Reduce answer choices by removing those that aren’t possible.

Answer or Abandon. Answer the question or abandon (guess). Do not spend too much time on any given question or you may run out of time. –60 questions/60 minutes– approximately 1 minute per question. This will vary but spending more than 5 minutes on any given question may result in failure to finish!

Turn back! At the end of the test, turn back to questions you struggled with. –Should you skip questions and turn back to answer them? That depends on you. Many students find that it is easier to answer ALL questions as best as possible and return to review. Other students would rather skip questions they do not know. The most important tip to remember if you skip questions, be sure you are marking the correct number in your answer document.

Estimate! Estimate answers you do not know! ACE those questions! –Avoid absolutes. Absolutes are always, never, all, none. In life, there are few absolutes. –Choose the longest or most detailed choice. –Eliminate similar choices. Example- Area question. Answers include 24 cm 2 and 24 cm. Eliminate 24 cm because it does not include the required “squared” for area.

Survey your test when finished. Make sure you answered all the questions. Erase stray marks. Make sure it is ready to turn in.

Remember Pirates! Prepare; Inspect; Read, Remember, Reduce; Answer or abandon; Turn back; Estimate; Survey.

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.”