Strategies for Taking
Standardized Tests

‘Twas the Night Before Testing
• Go to bed on time .
• Put a few number 2 pencils with erasers in your backpack.
• Solve family/friend problems before the testing date.
• Talk to your parents about any concerns that you might have about the test.

The Morning of Testing
• Start your day as you always do.
• Eat a good breakfast.
• Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school.
• Think Positively!

The Time is Now to….

“Jail” the Detail!
• Highlight, underline, or circle the details in the questions. This helps you focus on exactly what the question is asking you to do.
Mr. Detail

Be Slick and Predict!
• Predict what the answer is
BEFORE you read the choices.
“I think the answer is …”

Slash the Trash!
• Read ALL of the answer choices!
Eliminate any choice(s) that you know are not the correct answer and
“trash” them.

The Process of Elimination
• After you have been through all of the questions once, go back and find questions you have some knowledge about and eliminate choices that you know are incorrect.
I know C isn’t the answer!

The Process of Elimination
• If you can eliminate two wrong answers, your chance of choosing the right answer is greater.

Plug it in, Plug it in!
• Once you have chosen your answer, plug it in and make sure that it makes sense! (This works really well with vocabulary questions.)

Be Smart With Charts & Zap the Maps!
• Charts and Maps provide information that you can use to answer questions!
Analyze ALL information provided before answering the questions!

Extra! Extra! Read All About
It!
• If the directions say read…. READ! Pay close attention to signal words in the directions, such as explain , interpret , and compare or except , not , and best

Be a Whiz…with the Grid!
• Beware! If the answer is not bubbled in exactly right… YIKES! It will be wrong!
• Make sure that all stray marks are completely erased from the answer sheet.

Keep On Keeping On!
• If you get to a couple of questions that you just don’t know, don’t give up! Keep trying your best!
• If you did not mark that as a sure answer question, go back at the end.

If you SNOOZE, you LOSE!
• Don’t leave a question unanswered. You will not have ANY chance of getting it right .
• You are not penalized for guessing.

Check It Out!
• When you have completed the test, go back and check your work!
• Use all the time. It was given for a reason.

Practice for the Test
• www.pearsonaccess.com
• www.tn.gov
(practice test and item sampler)
• TCAP Coach book
• Test Preparation pages in the textbook
• Journey Across Time workbook
• Practice test booklet

Review Important Vocabulary
• Using PowerPoint games
• Flash cards (created by the students)
• Pass-It-On activity
• I have…, Who has….
• Concept Maps