Test-Taking Skills and Test-Taking Skills and PreparationPreparation

Test-Taking SkillsTest-Taking Skills

Skills related not to subject Skills related not to subject knowledge but attitude and knowledge but attitude and how a person approaches the how a person approaches the test.test.

1.1. Establishing a good attitudeEstablishing a good attitude

2.2. Knowing the different kinds of test itemsKnowing the different kinds of test items

3.3. Knowing the keywords and phrasesKnowing the keywords and phrases

4.4. Following directionsFollowing directions

5.5. Moving from item to item without wasting timeMoving from item to item without wasting time

6.6. Difficult questions and “educated guessing”Difficult questions and “educated guessing”

Follow the Oral DirectionsFollow the Oral Directions

This explanation is extremely This explanation is extremely important to hear and important to hear and understand because the teacher understand because the teacher (Test Administrator) is not (Test Administrator) is not allowed to repeat instructions allowed to repeat instructions once the test starts.once the test starts.

Quickly Scan Each Quickly Scan Each Test SectionTest Section

This will give you an idea of This will give you an idea of what’s coming up in the allowed what’s coming up in the allowed time for the section.time for the section.

Pace Yourself and Don’t Spend Pace Yourself and Don’t Spend Too Much Time On Any One ItemToo Much Time On Any One Item

If you have 30 minutes to complete a section that has 15 problems, use no more than 2 minutes per problem on average.

15 Problems X 2 Min. = 30 Min.

Learn To Manage Your TimeLearn To Manage Your Time

Bring a watch to monitor time or Bring a watch to monitor time or look at the wall clock so you look at the wall clock so you know when half, and then all of know when half, and then all of your time is up.your time is up.

Don’t focus only on the time. Don’t focus only on the time. Too much time clock watching Too much time clock watching can be counter-productive. can be counter-productive.

Read the Directions CarefullyRead the Directions Carefully

There are many “description” words There are many “description” words that are absolutely essential to that are absolutely essential to understand and pay close attention understand and pay close attention to.to.

UnderlineUnderline these words in the these words in the directions so you can refer back to directions so you can refer back to them. them.

During timed tests, some directions During timed tests, some directions are hard to remember if there are are hard to remember if there are multiple questions. multiple questions. UnderliningUnderlining the the keywordskeywords is extremely helpful! is extremely helpful!

KEY WORDS & PHRASESKEY WORDS & PHRASESCourtesy of Wikipedia: Courtesy of Wikipedia: 1.1. Keyword categoriesKeyword categories2.2. What is it Signaling?What is it Signaling?3.3. Examples.Examples.

1. Conclusion or Cause and Effect1. Conclusion or Cause and Effect2. A summation of the thesis 2. A summation of the thesis 3. Examples are as follows: therefore; thus; in conclusion; 3. Examples are as follows: therefore; thus; in conclusion; believes; so; consequently; it can be seen that; can conclude believes; so; consequently; it can be seen that; can conclude that; claims that.that; claims that.

1. Continuation 1. Continuation 2. More support for the same claim is coming up2. More support for the same claim is coming up3. Examples are as follows: and; also; moreover; furthermore; 3. Examples are as follows: and; also; moreover; furthermore; plus; in addition; at the same time; as well as; equally; besides; plus; in addition; at the same time; as well as; equally; besides; what is more; both...and; equally important; not only...but also.what is more; both...and; equally important; not only...but also.

1. Contrast (Linguistics)1. Contrast (Linguistics)2. A comparison of similarities and differences 2. A comparison of similarities and differences 3. Examples are as follows: but; despite; yet; however; 3. Examples are as follows: but; despite; yet; however; alternatively; still; although; unless; otherwise; not; though; while; alternatively; still; although; unless; otherwise; not; though; while; nevertheless; by contrast; notwithstanding; rather; conversely; in nevertheless; by contrast; notwithstanding; rather; conversely; in spite of; on the other hand; contrarily.spite of; on the other hand; contrarily.

KEY WORDS & PHRASESKEY WORDS & PHRASES

1. Emphasis 1. Emphasis 2. What is considered important 2. What is considered important 3. Examples are as follows: I think; above all; essentially; 3. Examples are as follows: I think; above all; essentially; clearly; most of all; especially; primarily; particularly; in large clearly; most of all; especially; primarily; particularly; in large measure; indeed.measure; indeed.

1. Evidence 1. Evidence 2. An upcoming claim2. An upcoming claim3. Examples are as follows: because; for; since; the reason is 3. Examples are as follows: because; for; since; the reason is that.that.

1. Illustration/Exemplification 1. Illustration/Exemplification 2. That an example is being given as support for a claim.2. That an example is being given as support for a claim.3. Examples are as follows: for example; for instance; 3. Examples are as follows: for example; for instance; specifically; to illustrate; such as; In the words of; To "name"; For specifically; to illustrate; such as; In the words of; To "name"; For "name"; According to "name"; as "name" says."name"; According to "name"; as "name" says.

1. Sequence 1. Sequence 2. That there is a structure or order that has been formulated in 2. That there is a structure or order that has been formulated in the writing the writing 3. Examples are as follows:Firstly,...,Secondly,...Thirdly,...Lastly; 3. Examples are as follows:Firstly,...,Secondly,...Thirdly,...Lastly; Next; Finally; On the one hand; Recently.Next; Finally; On the one hand; Recently.

Don’t panic if your mind Don’t panic if your mind goes blank on one goes blank on one question. Remember question. Remember you can put a star next you can put a star next to it and go back to it to it and go back to it later. Don’t forget to later. Don’t forget to also star the answer also star the answer document until you document until you bubble later on.bubble later on.

Check Your Answers After Check Your Answers After Completing Each Section!Completing Each Section! Make sure you recheck these answers Make sure you recheck these answers

before you move on to the next section before you move on to the next section (USE ALL OF THE TIME GIVEN FOR (USE ALL OF THE TIME GIVEN FOR EACH SECTION).EACH SECTION).

If you still have time left over, check over If you still have time left over, check over all of your answers that you did not put a all of your answers that you did not put a star or check next to. This will help star or check next to. This will help eliminate the simple mistakes that we eliminate the simple mistakes that we make when we rush or did not read the make when we rush or did not read the directions correctly.directions correctly.

Answer All of the Answer All of the Test QuestionsTest Questions

If you can’t make up your mind If you can’t make up your mind between 2 answers or have no between 2 answers or have no clue at all, make an clue at all, make an educatededucated guess.guess.

If you limit it down to 2 choices, If you limit it down to 2 choices, you have a 50% chance of you have a 50% chance of guessing the correct answer!guessing the correct answer!

Recognize When the Correct Recognize When the Correct Answer is Not Given or There is Answer is Not Given or There is More Than One Correct AnswerMore Than One Correct Answer

When you see “When you see “none of the none of the aboveabove” as one of the answer ” as one of the answer choices, check to see if there is choices, check to see if there is one correct answer or none of one correct answer or none of them are correct.them are correct.

When you see “When you see “all of the aboveall of the above” ” as one of the answers, check to as one of the answers, check to see if there is one correct see if there is one correct answer or if all of them are answer or if all of them are correct.correct.

““None of the Above”None of the Above”

Always notice if “none of the Always notice if “none of the above” is listed as one of the above” is listed as one of the choices for an answer! choices for an answer!

You can usually limit your You can usually limit your answer choices down to one answer choices down to one possible correct answer possible correct answer other than “none of the other than “none of the above”.above”.

““All of the Above”All of the Above” Always notice if “all of the Always notice if “all of the

above” is listed as one of the above” is listed as one of the choices for an answer.choices for an answer.

Put checks next to all answers Put checks next to all answers that you think are correct.that you think are correct.

If you think that more than one If you think that more than one of the answers are definitely of the answers are definitely correct, then the correct answer correct, then the correct answer will most likely be “all of the will most likely be “all of the above”. above”.

Strategies For Dealing With Strategies For Dealing With Reading PassagesReading Passages

1) Read the questions before 1) Read the questions before reading the passage.reading the passage.

This will give you a good This will give you a good idea of what to look for in idea of what to look for in the passage.the passage.

Scan the PassageScan the Passage

2) Refer to the passage to find the 2) Refer to the passage to find the answers.answers.

Scan over the passage until Scan over the passage until you find a specific word or you find a specific word or passage that is related to the passage that is related to the question. question.

The sentence before and after The sentence before and after will usually give you enough will usually give you enough information to answer the information to answer the question correctly. question correctly.

Always Look Back Always Look Back at the Passageat the Passage

3) Don’t simply rely on your 3) Don’t simply rely on your memory from scanning or memory from scanning or reading the passage once.reading the passage once.

Always refer back to the Always refer back to the passage when moving on passage when moving on to the next questionto the next question

Look For Negative Words Look For Negative Words in the Questionsin the Questions

““Which one is not included…”Which one is not included…”

““What is the opposite of…”What is the opposite of…”

““All of these happened All of these happened except…”except…”

Main Idea &Main Idea &Topic SentenceTopic Sentence

The main idea and/or The main idea and/or topic sentence is almost topic sentence is almost always stated at the very always stated at the very beginning of the passage, beginning of the passage, and sometimes listed and sometimes listed again at the end.again at the end.

Relax, Get Plenty of Rest the Night Relax, Get Plenty of Rest the Night Before the Test, and Eat a Healthy Before the Test, and Eat a Healthy Breakfast the Morning of the TestBreakfast the Morning of the Test

Maintain Silence During Testing - Maintain Silence During Testing - This Causes Distractions for OthersThis Causes Distractions for Others

Deep Breathing Exercises Deep Breathing Exercises Reduce AnxietyReduce Anxiety

Practice breathing in real slow Practice breathing in real slow and exhaling real slow if you feel and exhaling real slow if you feel nervous or anxious before or nervous or anxious before or during the test. during the test.

You are Now Ready toYou are Now Ready to the Test the Test

Be ConfidentBe Confident Use the Time WiselyUse the Time Wisely Fill in All Answers and Fill in All Answers and

Check ThemCheck Them