1. Get Ready Before Testing
- Get plenty of rest the night before each testing day.
- You need 8 to 10 hours of sleep, so go to bed by 10:00 PM.
- Avoid the morning rush.
- Set out clothes the night before. Get to school a few minutes earlier than you usually do.
- Eat a good nutritious breakfast the morning of each testing day.
- Example of a good breakfast could be milk with cereal, eggs, fruits, etc.; junk food is not a good option for breakfast.
2. Always Listen to the Directions Given by the Instructor
- Read the directions written on the test.
- Read the questions and all the answer choices before making anything.
3. Use Your Time Wisely
- Do not spend too much time on any one question.
- It is important to answer every question even if you are not sure of the answer.
- Use all your time; there are no extra points for finishing early.
- Save time at the end to review your test and make sure you have not left out any answers.
- Answer the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped.
4. Eliminate the Wrong Answers
- If you can not figure out which answer is correct, try to eliminate (get rid of) the answers that you know are wrong.
- Eliminate obviously wrong answer choices.
- Eliminate choices that are partly correct.
- Eliminate items that are correct by do not answer the question.
5. When in Doubt, Make an Educated Guess
- Educated guessing means using everything you know to attempt to answer the question.
- A random guess on multiple choice questions (i.e., possible answers A, B, C, and D) gives you 25% chance of getting the right answer.
- An educated guess gives you chance of answering a multiple choice question correctly up to 75%.
6. Absolute Words that Tend to be False or Wrong
- The following words are usually false or wrong: All, Always, Best, Entirely, Every, Everyone, Must, Never, None, Only, and Worst.
7. General Words that Tend to be Correct or True
- The following words are usually correct or true: Generally, Few, Frequently, Many, Most, Often, Probably, Seldom, Some, Sometimes, and Usually.
8. Look for Clues
- When the answer is not clear, look for clues (i.e., context, tense, word type, and grammar) in the question and the answer choices.
- The context of a ward include all the words and sentences that surround it and the situation in which the word is used.
- Clue words in test questions are:
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Who? = Person
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What? = Things
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Where? = Place
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When? = Time
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Why? = Reason
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Which? = Choice
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How? = A way something is done
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How many? = Number
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9. Negatives & Double Negatives
- The effect of negatives is to make the sentence the opposite of what it would be without the negative
- Negatives = hardly, no one, none, not, and scarcely
- Prefixes such as: un-, non-, dis-, and in-
- Simplify the question by getting rid of double negatives.
- Simplify this following statement:
- Most people are not unafraid of snakes.
- Most people are afraid of snakes.
- Simplify this following statement:
10. Estimate
- In mathematics, estimating is an approximate answer obtained by rounding the numbers before you add, subtract, multiply, or divide.
- Estimate obviously wrong answers first and then estimate.
11. Questions with Graphs, Charts, and Tables
- Read all the titles, labels, and other given information.
- Check the units of measurement.
- Look for a pattern, trend, or comparison in the graph or table.
12. Questions with Maps
- Read the title of the map.
- Check the map key (i.e., legend).
- Look at the map scale; if you need to find the distance.
- Re-read the question again.
13. Reading a Story
- Answer about where and when the story takes place are found at the beginning.
- Answer about a problem of the story are usually found in the middle.
- Answers about how the problem was resolved are usually at the end.
- When reading a passage remember to:
- Read the question first to determine what you are looking for as you read the selection.
14. Finding the Big Idea
- Events and characters that make up the story.
- The purpose of the story.
- The point the author is trying to make.
- Tip: Look for the big idea in the first two paragraphs of the story.
15. Do not Misbubble
- If you reach a hard question and can not make your educated guess, an easier one is just around the corner.
- Write light next to the question you are skipping and move on to the next question.
- At the end of the text, go back to the question with a mark next to them and see if you can try to answer it.
- Make sure you answer every question.
