2. How to Survive the Graduation Exam (AHSGE) A Survivor’s Manual for Lauderdale County Students

4. Location Lauderdale County Schools

5. Tribe Members JanaB.J. And ALL students seeking an Alabama High School Diploma

6. The Grad Exam is a multiple choice test that is given to all 10th grade students, many 11th grade students, and unfortunately, some 12th grade students. Are you going to be one of the Ultimate Survivors!

7.  Reward Challenge for this test – An Alabama High School Diploma. If you fail to meet this challenge, you don’t walk!!

8. Prepare to survive – the challenge!

9. Challenge #1

10. How to Survive 1. Know what to expect. The test is given for 5 days. The test is given for 5 days. It will test reading, language, math, science, and social studies. It will test reading, language, math, science, and social studies. It is not timed. It is not timed. Answers are on a bubble sheet. Answers are on a bubble sheet. Every student in Alabama must survive this test. You are not alone!! Every student in Alabama must survive this test. You are not alone!!

11. 2. Check your attitude. Nervousness is natural. Studies show a little nervousness helps you be more alert. Nervousness is natural. Studies show a little nervousness helps you be more alert. The challenge is accomplished one question at a time. The challenge is accomplished one question at a time. Very few people get it all right, so don’t worry if some questions seem too hard. Very few people get it all right, so don’t worry if some questions seem too hard. Stay relaxed. If you start to feel nervous, take a few deep breaths. If you think you can do well, you can do well. Stay relaxed. If you start to feel nervous, take a few deep breaths. If you think you can do well, you can do well. Keep a positive attitude. Confidence is half the challenge. Keep a positive attitude. Confidence is half the challenge.

12. 3. Know why you need to survive. To find out how much you have learned. To find out how much you have learned. To see how we compare to other schools in our district, other districts in our county, and other counties in our state. To see how we compare to other schools in our district, other districts in our county, and other counties in our state. Survival of this test will bring you a diploma! Survival of this test will bring you a diploma!

13. Challenge #2

14. Steps to take BEFORE the Test Get a good night’s sleep. Get a good night’s sleep. Eat a normal breakfast. Don’t go wild on coffee or colas or you’ll spend your time wanting to go to the bathroom. Eat a normal breakfast. Don’t go wild on coffee or colas or you’ll spend your time wanting to go to the bathroom. Get to school on time. Get to school on time. Dress comfortably. Dress in layers in case the room temperature change. Dress comfortably. Dress in layers in case the room temperature change. Bring two #2 pencils. Bring two #2 pencils. Relax. This is not a good day to tell your parents you want to pierce your nose! Relax. This is not a good day to tell your parents you want to pierce your nose!

15. Tip from a 12 th Grader SURVIVE the Test the 1 st time!!

16. Steps to Take DURING the Test 1. Listen to and read instructions carefully. Be sure you understand. 2. Expect some questions to be easy and some to be hard. Answer the easy questions first to give your brain a chance to warm up.

17. Survival Tips As soon as you get your scratch paper, write down your hints. As soon as you get your scratch paper, write down your hints. Do not mark on your answer sheet until you have completed the test with your answers marked in your test booklet. Do not mark on your answer sheet until you have completed the test with your answers marked in your test booklet. Underline key words such as always, except, not, correct, or incorrect. Underline key words such as always, except, not, correct, or incorrect.

18. More Survival Tips The first time through the test, answer only those questions you know for sure are the correct answers. Don’t sweat the questions that you don’t know You are looking for the points you need to pass the test. Mark out choices you know are not correct. This will narrow your choices. The first time through the test, answer only those questions you know for sure are the correct answers. Don’t sweat the questions that you don’t know You are looking for the points you need to pass the test. Mark out choices you know are not correct. This will narrow your choices. The second time through the test, take your time and work the problems you previously skipped. You will know more of the answers this time. The second time through the test, take your time and work the problems you previously skipped. You will know more of the answers this time. Third time through the test, make an educated guess. Third time through the test, make an educated guess.

19. And More Survival Tips Do not leave any answers blank. Do not leave any answers blank. This test is not timed. Take as long as you need to finish the test. Be the last one out if you need the time instead of the first one back in the next testing time! This test is not timed. Take as long as you need to finish the test. Be the last one out if you need the time instead of the first one back in the next testing time! Use your answers to get your answers. Many questions contain information that will help you determine your answer to that or other questions. Use your answers to get your answers. Many questions contain information that will help you determine your answer to that or other questions.

20. Question Strategies Read every word of the question twice. Read every word of the question twice. Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible choices. Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible choices. Mark out answers you know aren’t right. Mark out answers you know aren’t right. Read all the choices before choosing your answer. Read all the choices before choosing your answer. If you have a hunch about an answer, go with the hunch. If you have a hunch about an answer, go with the hunch. If you don’t have a clue about the answer, GUESS and select an answer. If you don’t have a clue about the answer, GUESS and select an answer.

21. More Question Strategies If you are just guessing, guess the same position letter each time. If you are just guessing, guess the same position letter each time. Don’t keep on changing answers. Usually your first choice is the right answer unless you misread the question. Don’t keep on changing answers. Usually your first choice is the right answer unless you misread the question. A positive choice is more likely to be right than a negative choice. A positive choice is more likely to be right than a negative choice. If you are stuck on a question, skip it and come back to it. If you are stuck on a question, skip it and come back to it.

22. This test is not timed. You are required to stay 90 minutes, but you will have as long as you need to take the test. You are required to stay 90 minutes, but you will have as long as you need to take the test. Don’t waste time but don’t rush to finish. Don’t waste time but don’t rush to finish. Use as much time as you need. Use as much time as you need.

23. Stay Focused It doesn’t matter if others finish before you. It doesn’t matter if others finish before you. Don’t rush. There is no prize for finishing early. Don’t rush. There is no prize for finishing early. Keep your mind focused on what you are doing. Keep your mind focused on what you are doing. Remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. The turtle finished the race by continuing steadily.

24. What else do you need to know to be a Survivor? Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer to every question. The Grad Exam is designed to cover ALL of the Alabama standards. Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer to every question. The Grad Exam is designed to cover ALL of the Alabama standards. Some of the information may not have been covered yet in your class. You may not be at that level yet. Some of the information may not have been covered yet in your class. You may not be at that level yet.

25. Can my score be reduced if I don’t bubble my sheet properly? YES! YES! Know how to mark the answer sheet. Know how to mark the answer sheet. Fill in the bubble completely, making the mark heavy and dark. Fill in the bubble completely, making the mark heavy and dark. Stay on the right line. You may use a provided sheet of paper to keep your place and make sure you are marking the bubble for the right number. Stay on the right line. You may use a provided sheet of paper to keep your place and make sure you are marking the bubble for the right number. Erase any stray marks. Erase any stray marks.

26. Is there an advantage to learning test strategies? Yes! There is! Yes! There is! The more you know about a test or about test taking will make you more confident in your abilities. The more you know about a test or about test taking will make you more confident in your abilities. Better preparedness will give you a better attitude about test taking. Better preparedness will give you a better attitude about test taking. Your test score is about what you have learned and HOW you test. Any advantage is a help. Your test score is about what you have learned and HOW you test. Any advantage is a help.

27. What do I do when I finish? Ask yourself these questions. Did I answer every question? Did I answer every question? Did I bubble in completely? Did I bubble in completely? Did I erase any small check marks I put on my test to keep track of missed or skipped questions? Did I erase any small check marks I put on my test to keep track of missed or skipped questions? Did I double check for misread questions? Did I double check for misread questions? YES?... Then relax. You did everything you need to do.

28. What if I’m absent ? You will have missed a chance to be a survivor!

29. Even though a survivor usually never changes clothes and may think they have lucky shirts, socks or underwear, please wash them!

30. Ignorance does not provide immunity. MYTHS about Grad Exam “I know they say I won’t walk, but they don’t mean it.” (WRONG!) “I know they say I won’t walk, but they don’t mean it.” (WRONG!) “Well, so and so said he slept through reading and passed.” (WRONG! Check his score!) “Well, so and so said he slept through reading and passed.” (WRONG! Check his score!) Making Christmas tree and smiley face patterns work. (WRONG!) Making Christmas tree and smiley face patterns work. (WRONG!)

31. The State has spoken!

32. Will your torch stay lit?

33. 200520062008