TEST TAKING HINTS AND STRATEGIES FOR STANDARDIZED TESTS
Are more likely to use appropriate strategies when taking tests; and are more "test-wise" than their peers.
Have positive self-esteem
Have greater self-confidence in their abilities
Do not feel intimidated by tests
Feel well prepared for tests
Are persistent with regard to their school work and doing well on tests
Have been exposed to a variety of testing situations
What does research indicate about students who are successful in testing situations?
The research also suggests students who are test-wise are more successful in testing situations because they:
are able to follow instructions and directions; are familiar with item formats; know how to avoid common mistakes; know how to use their time effectively and efficiently; can maximize their scores by informed and educated
guessing; have been exposed to a variety of testing situations; and can apply test-taking strategies to solve different
kinds of problems.
1. Following direction closely 2. Budget time appropriately 3. Check work carefully 4. Reading the entire stem and ALL answer choices 5. Answer easier questions first and persist to the end
Test-taking strategies and provide students with ample opportunities to practice them in classroom.
6. Make educated guesses 7. Using “real test-liked” item formats for practice 8. Review the practice items and answer choices with the teacher or other students 9. Practice using answer sheets
Read the test items carefully and completely Strike out wrong answers Mark answers clearly and consistently Change your answers cautiously Take educated guesses Look for clues Do not spend time thinking about how the
question could have been written better Check for clues in other questions
Strategies for Multiple Choice Questions
Every part of a true sentence must be "true"If any one part of the sentence is false, the whole sentence is false despite many other true statements.
Notice ABSOLUTES such as all, none, not, always, never, no, equal, Notice QUALIFIERS such as
most, some, usually, sometimes, great, much, little more, less
Strategies for True-False Questions
Read carefully Analyze the question Map your ideas Create an outline Reflect the question in opening sentence Write like a reporter Proofread
Strategies for Essay Questions
Highlight, underline, or circle the key details in the questions. This helps you focus on exactly what the question is asking you to do.
“Jail” the Detail!
Predict what the answer is BEFORE you read the choices.
Be Slick and Predict!
Read ALL of the answer choices! Eliminate any choice(s) that you know are not the correct answer. The choice is obviously “trash!”
SLASH THE TRASH!
Once you have chosen your answer, plug it in and make sure that it makes sense! (this works really well with vocabulary questions).
Plug it in, Plug it in!
Charts and Maps provide information that you can use to answer questions! Analyze ALL information provided before answering the questions!
Be Smart With Charts & Zap the Maps!
Don’t leave a question unanswered. You will not have ANY chance of getting it right.
If you SNOOZE, You will LOSE!
When you have completed the test, go back and check your work!
Check It Out!
Trace – Indicate how something developed Summarize - Provide the principal (main)
points Relate - Show links between/among topics Prove - Confirm a point with facts/details Justify - Give the reason or purpose of a
statement Interpret - Show that you understand the
meaning
COMMON TEST TERMS
Illustrate - Indicate some examples Describe and Explain – Clarify the subject with major details and evidence Criticize, discuss, evaluate – Give positive and
negative elements of subject and draw conclusion Contrast - Finding differences Compare - Usually means looking for similarities Analyze - Break subject into sections and deal
with each one
Don’t : Over-study Study up to the last minute Wait until the day before the test to seek help
Reducing Test Anxiety: Do’s & Dont’s
Do: Get enough sleep Do practice tests
beforehand Get there on time Take a deep breath Positive Self-talk Pace yourself Answer each question Visualize yourself
being successful on the test.
Cohen, A. D. (2006). The coming of age of research on test-taking strategies. Language Assessment Quarterly, 3(4), 307-331.
Frederiksen, J. R. & Collins, A. (1989). A systems approach to educational testing. Educational Researcher, 18(9), 27-32.
Gulek, C. (2003). Preparing for high-stakes testing. Theory into Practice, 42(1), 42-50. Kilian, L. J. (1992). A school district perspective on appropriate test-preparation practices: A
reaction to Popham's proposals. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 11(4), 13-26. Ritter, S. & Idol-Maestas, L. (1986). Teaching middle school students to use a test-taking
strategy. Journal of Educational Research, 79(6), 350-357
http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/Schools/Chalkley_ES/SOL/test_taking_strategies.htm
www.uwp.edu/departments/learning.assistance/documents/testanxiety
www.uc.edu/learningassistance/documents/Test_Taking_Strategies
Zatz, S. & Chassin, L. (1985). Cognitions of test-anxious children under naturalistic test-taking conditions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53(3), 393-401.
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