Test Taking Strategies… …getting ready for PSSA and beyond. PSSA and beyond.

Test Taking Test Taking Strategies…Strategies…

……getting ready forgetting ready for

PSSA and PSSA and beyond.beyond.

General Guidelines:General Guidelines: Gathering knowledge of the truth is Gathering knowledge of the truth is the best preparation for tests.the best preparation for tests.

• Concentrated hours of effective study to Concentrated hours of effective study to force facts into your memory is the best force facts into your memory is the best way to prepare for any test.way to prepare for any test.

• Teachers sometimes try to test your Teachers sometimes try to test your memory of material by slightly altering memory of material by slightly altering it. So test-taking skills can help!it. So test-taking skills can help!

General Guidelines:General Guidelines:Always arrive early for a test and Always arrive early for a test and take a moment to relax.take a moment to relax.

• Reducing your anxiety will boost your Reducing your anxiety will boost your confidence.confidence.

• Use this time to focus your mind and Use this time to focus your mind and think think positive thoughts.positive thoughts.

General Guidelines:General Guidelines:Listen attentively to last minute Listen attentively to last minute instructions given by the teacher. instructions given by the teacher.

• Missing instructions causes extreme Missing instructions causes extreme anxiety.anxiety.

• Teachers sometimes make last minute Teachers sometimes make last minute changes in the directions.changes in the directions.

General Guidelines:General Guidelines: Plan how to use allotted time.Plan how to use allotted time.

•Estimate how many minutes will be Estimate how many minutes will be needed to finish each section.needed to finish each section.•Set a pace which will ensure Set a pace which will ensure

completing the whole test on time.completing the whole test on time.•Start with the easiest section to build Start with the easiest section to build

confidence.confidence.

General Guidelines:General Guidelines: Read the test directions carefully, Read the test directions carefully, watching for details. watching for details.

•You may find that more than one You may find that more than one answer may be possible. answer may be possible.

•For example, a key detail in the For example, a key detail in the directions directions may require you to may require you to answer only one answer only one of two essay of two essay questions.questions.

General Guidelines:General Guidelines: Maintain a positive attitude.Maintain a positive attitude.

•Don’t let more difficult questions raise Don’t let more difficult questions raise your your anxiety level.anxiety level.•Move on - find success with other Move on - find success with other questions.questions.•Guess and move on, if you are not Guess and move on, if you are not penalized penalized for wrong answers.for wrong answers.•Avoid watching for patterns.Avoid watching for patterns.

General Guidelines:General Guidelines: Rely on your first impressions.Rely on your first impressions.

•The answer which comes to mind The answer which comes to mind first is often correct.first is often correct.

•Nervously reviewing questions Nervously reviewing questions and and changing answers can do changing answers can do more more harm than good.harm than good.

General Guidelines:General Guidelines: Plan to finish with time for review.Plan to finish with time for review.

•Return to difficult questions you marked Return to difficult questions you marked for for review.review.•Proofread your essays, paying attention to Proofread your essays, paying attention to

grammar and spelling.grammar and spelling.•Make certain you answered all questions. Make certain you answered all questions.

(Check the back!)(Check the back!)

General Guidelines:General Guidelines: Consider every test a practice session.Consider every test a practice session.

•Test taking is an art which needs Test taking is an art which needs refinement.refinement.•Examine each test section thoroughly.Examine each test section thoroughly.•Identify your “fault patterns”.Identify your “fault patterns”.•Talk with your teachers about your scores.Talk with your teachers about your scores.

Guidelines for: Guidelines for: ANSWERING MULTIPLE-ANSWERING MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONSCHOICE QUESTIONS

Formulate your own answer before Formulate your own answer before reading the options.reading the options.•Focus on finding an answer without the help of Focus on finding an answer without the help of the the alternative answers.alternative answers.


Eliminate unlikely answers first.Eliminate unlikely answers first.•Eliminating two alternative answers may Eliminating two alternative answers may increase increase your probability to 50% - or your probability to 50% - or better!better!


Select numbered answers from the Select numbered answers from the middle range, not the extremes.middle range, not the extremes.•If the height of a mountain is requested, If the height of a mountain is requested, eliminate 20, 000 ft (the high) and 3,000 ft (the eliminate 20, 000 ft (the high) and 3,000 ft (the low). Then choose between 8,000 ft and 11, 000 low). Then choose between 8,000 ft and 11, 000 ft.ft.


Choose answers that are longer and Choose answers that are longer and more descriptive.more descriptive.•Longer (true) answers stand out and contain more Longer (true) answers stand out and contain more detail.detail.•Shorter (false) answers are created quickly as Shorter (false) answers are created quickly as

“throw-aways”.“throw-aways”.•Descriptive detail is given to help you identify the Descriptive detail is given to help you identify the correct correct answer.answer.


Similar answers give you a clue to Similar answers give you a clue to the correct answer!the correct answer!•One of the answers is correct.One of the answers is correct.•The other answer is disguised.The other answer is disguised.


Beware of “NOT TRUE?”Beware of “NOT TRUE?”•Reverse your procedure to eliminate the “truth”.Reverse your procedure to eliminate the “truth”.•Use true-false methods to find the “false” Use true-false methods to find the “false”

alternative answer.alternative answer.

Guidelines for: Guidelines for: ANSWERING ESSAY ANSWERING ESSAY QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Organize your thoughts before you Organize your thoughts before you begin writing.begin writing.•Make a short outline on a separate piece of Make a short outline on a separate piece of paper.paper.•Use the topics and the key introductory words.Use the topics and the key introductory words.


Paraphrase the original question to Paraphrase the original question to form your introductory statement.form your introductory statement.•This process helps you to get the question This process helps you to get the question straight straight in your mind.in your mind.•Restating the question also helps the teacher Restating the question also helps the teacher to to see HOW you understood what is see HOW you understood what is being asked.being asked.


Format a clear and focused response.Format a clear and focused response.•A COMPLETE answer has a main idea, supporting A COMPLETE answer has a main idea, supporting

details, and illustrative examples from details, and illustrative examples from the text. the text. •Form a clear thesis and place it as near to the Form a clear thesis and place it as near to the

beginning as possible.beginning as possible.•Provide clear explanations to back up the main Provide clear explanations to back up the main

concept, using text references.concept, using text references.


Write clearly!Write clearly!•Write or print clearly.Write or print clearly.•Be neat; don’t smudge your paper.Be neat; don’t smudge your paper.•Reread your writing to be sure your answer Reread your writing to be sure your answer makes makes sense and is logical. Be sure sense and is logical. Be sure you have answeredyou have answered the question that was the question that was asked.asked.•Save some space for a brief, but adequate Save some space for a brief, but adequate summary.summary.


Use lists or bullets wherever possible.Use lists or bullets wherever possible. •Numbers or bullets allow your points to be seen Numbers or bullets allow your points to be seen easily.easily.•Never bury your lists or key points in the middle of Never bury your lists or key points in the middle of a a paragraph.paragraph.•If you must use a long paragraph, If you must use a long paragraph, underlineunderline your your key key points.points.

A MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ

1. The right answers in multiple choice questions tend to be:

A. Short.

B. At least a paragraph long.

C. Longer and more descriptive.

D. Hard to decipher.

1. The right answers in multiple choice questions tend to be:

C. Longer and more descriptive.


2. When guessing on a multiple choice question with numbers in the answer:

A. Always pick the most extreme.

B. Pick answers in the middle range.

C. Skip it.

D. Always pick “D”.

2. When guessing on a multiple choice question with numbers in the answer:

B. Pick answers in the middle range.


3. What is the process of elimination in a multiple choice question?

A. Skipping the entire question

B. Eliminating the wrong answers

C. Just guessing

D. Copying from another student’s paper

3. What is the process of elimination in a multiple choice question?

B. Eliminating the wrong answers


4. What section should you do last when taking a test?

A. Put your name on the paper

B. The easiest

C. The last part of the test

D. The most difficult because you have already completed the objective questions.

4. What section should you do last when taking a test?

D. The most difficult because you have already completed the objective questions


5. What should you NOT do when you are taking a multiple choice test?

A. Pay attention to patterns.

B. Use the provided scratch paper.

C. Read each question carefully.

D. Read all answer choices.

5. What should you NOT do when you are taking a multiple choice test?

A. Pay attention to patterns.


6. How could one concentrate more on the question?

A. Think about it for a long time.

B. Try to find the answer without looking at the alternatives first.

C. Don’t concentrate - it doesn’t help.

D. Look around the room often.

6. How could one concentrate more on the question?

B. Try to find the answer without looking at the alternatives first.


7. What is a good method for guessing?

A. Use the process of elimination.

B. Always pick answer choice “C”.

C. Look at your friend’s paper.

D. Choose answers that make an interesting pattern on the answer sheet.

.

7. What is a good method for guessing?

A. Use the process of elimination.

.


8. What should you NOT do when taking a test?

A. Answer the questions as fast as possible.

B. Read all of the printed directions carefully.

C. Read each question carefully.

D. Don’t listen to last minute instructions.

8. What should you NOT do when taking a test?

A. Answer the questions as fast as possible.


9. What is good advice when doing open-ended questions?

A. Answer as briefly as possible.

B. Keep details to a minimum.

C. Explain your thinking using main ideas and supporting details.

D. Leave questions you don’t know blank.

9. What is good advice when doing open-ended questions?

C. Explain your thinking using main ideas and supporting details.


10. What should you rely on when taking a test?

A. Your neighbor

B. Your knowledge

C. Nothing

D. MTV

10. What should you rely on when taking a test?

B. Your knowledge

Questions…are there Questions…are there questions???questions???

Test Taking Strategies… …getting ready for PSSA and beyond. PSSA and beyond.

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