2. Strategies for Taking Tests

3. ‘Twas the Night Before Testing Go to bed on time or early Get a good night’s rest!

4. The Morning of Testing Eat a good breakfast. Be on time! Think Positive!Think Positive!

5. Multiple Choice Questions Read the question before you look at the answer. Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible answers, this way the choices given on the test won't throw you off or trick you. allRead the question and all answer choices before marking anything.

6. Multiple Choice Questions Eliminate answers you know aren't right. If there is no guessing penalty, always take an educated guess and select an answer. Don't keep on changing your answer, usually your first choice is the right one, unless you miss-read the question.

7. Multiple Choice Questions In "All of the above" and "None of the above" choices, if you are certain one of the statements is true don't choose "None of the above" or one of the statements are false don't choose "All of the above". In a question with an "All of the above" choice, if you see that at least two correct statements, then "All of the above" is probably the answer. Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most information.

8. The Process of Elimination After you have been through all of the questions once, go back and find questions you have some knowledge about and eliminate choices that you know are incorrect. I know C isn’t the answer!

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

10. Pace Yourself Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and then move on.

11. Skip, Return, Check If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.

12. Key Words key wordsphrasesFind key words or phrases in the question that will help you choose the correct answer.

13. Are we communicating? Make sure you understand what the question is asking. Be sure you are responding to the question that is being asked.

14. 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.

15. Reading Passages cluesWhen 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.

16. 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!

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

18. Math Computation If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again.

19. Math Computation  Draw pictures to help solve math problems. Students who mark on the test booklets score higher. Read each problem. Ask yourself what are they asking me to do.

20. A Matter of Time As you go back through, do not change all answers. Remember: Your first guess is usually right.

21. It’s About Time Don’t spend too much time rewriting or obsessing about neatness.

22. Final Tips Keep a positive attitude throughout the whole test and try to stay relaxed, if you start to feel nervous take a few deep breaths to relax. Always read the whole question carefully, don't make assumptions about what the question might be. Don't worry if others finish before you; focus on the test in front of you.

23. Final Tips Show your work. Give enough detail so that both you and the grader can tell what you're trying to do. Even if you can do the problem in your head, don't. Be alert for grammatical inconsistencies between the questions’ stem and the answer choices on multiple-choice questions. A choice is almost always wrong if it and the stem do not make a grammatically correct sentence.

24. Ways in Which You Can Help Your Child Talk with your child about the importance of doing their best on their Assessment. Encourage your child to do the following during testing: listen carefully to the instructions, follow directions, and use the test-taking strategies learned Encourage your child by reminding them that they are prepared to do well on the FSA/EOC and that you have confidence that they will do just that. Encourage your child to prepare by utilizing i-Ready, Achieve, ALEKS, Algebra Nation, Kahn Academy or other course sites daily.

25. The most important thing that you can tell your child is… To RELAX!