© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

Chapter 12: Test Taking

PowerPoint by JoAnn Yaworski

and Mimi Markus

Bridging the Gap, 8/eBrenda Smith

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

In this Chapter You Will Learn:

How to prepare for a testHow to take a test Strategies for standardized reading testsStrategies for multiple choice, content area

and essay questions

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Preparing to Study for a Test

How will the test look?What material will be covered?How will you study?When will you study?What grade are you honestly working

to achieve?

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Before Taking a Test

Get plenty of sleep the night beforeArrive five or ten minutes early and get

settledKnow what to expect on the testHave confidence in your abilitiesKnow how the test will be scoredPlan your attack

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During the Test

ConcentrateRead and follow directionsSchedule your timeWork rapidlyThinkDon’t be intimidated by students who

finish early

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After the Test

Analyze your preparationAnalyze the testAnalyze your performance

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Strategies for Standardized Reading Tests

Read to comprehend the passage as a whole

Anticipate what is coming nextRead rapidly, but don’t allow yourself to

feel rushedRead with involvement to learn and enjoySelf-test for the main idea

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Recognizing the Major Question Types

Main ideaDetails Implied meaningPurpose

– Factual– Opinion– Fiction

Vocabulary

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Main Idea Questions

Main ideas are stated in any of the following forms:

The best statement of the main idea is…

The best title for this passage is…The author is primarily concerned

with…The central theme of the passage is...

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Finding Detail Questions

The author states that…According to the author…According to the passage…All of the following are true

except…A person, term, or place is...

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Implied Meaning Questions

The author believes (or feels or implies)…

It can be inferred from the passage…The passage or author suggests…It can be concluded from the passage

that…

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Purpose of the Passage Questions

Factual: to inform, explain, describe, enlighten

Opinion: to argue, persuade, condemn, ridicule

Fiction: to entetain, to narrate, to describe, to shock

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Factual

Identification: Gives the facts about science, history, or other subjects

Strategy: If complex, do not try to understand each detail before going to the questions

Example: TextbookPurposes: To inform, to explain, to

describe, or to enlighten

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Opinion

Identification: Puts forth a particular point of view

Strategy: Sort out the opinions of the author and the opinions of the opposition

Example: Newspaper editorialPurposes: To argue, to persuade, to

condemn, or to ridicule

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Fiction

Identification: Tells a storyStrategy: Read slowly to understand the

motivation and interrelationships of characters

Example: Novel or short storyPurposes: To entertain, to narrate, to

describe, or to shock

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Vocabulary

Vocabulary items:Test your general word

knowledgeTest your ability to use context

to figure out word meaning

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Strategies for Multiple-Choice Items (Part 1)

Consider all alternatives before choosing an answer. Anticipate the answer and look for something close

to it Avoid answers with 100 percent words Consider answers with qualifying words Choose the intended answer without overanalyzing True statements must be true without exception If two options are synonymous, eliminate both

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

Strategies for Multiple Choice Items (Part 2)

Study similar options to determine the differences Use logical reasoning if two answers are correct Look suspiciously at directly quoted pompous phrases Simplify double negatives by canceling out both Use can’t-tell responses if clues are insufficient Validate true responses on “all of the following except” Note oversights on hastily constructed tests:

– grammar errors

– clues from other parts of the test

– absurd ideas and emotional words

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Strategies for Content Area Exams

Multiple-choice itemsShort-answer itemsEssay questions

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Strategies for Essay Questions

Translate the questionAnswer the questionOrganize your responseUse an appropriate styleBe aware of appearancePredict and practiceView your response objectively for

evaluating pointsAfter the test, read an “A” paper

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Key Words in Essay Questions

Compare Contrast Define

Describe Diagram Discuss

Evaluate Explain Illustrate

Interpret Justify List

Outline Prove Relate

Review Summarize Trace

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Locus of Control

Take responsibility, take control, and accept credit for your success.

Externalizers feel fate, luck or others control what happens to them

Internalizers feel they have control over what happens to them

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Longman

Visit the Longman English Pages

Take a Road Trip to Hollywood!

Be sure to visit the Test Taking

module in your

Reading Road Trip CD-ROM

for multimedia tutorials, exercises, & tests.

http://www.ablongman.com/englishpages