MEAP Test Strategies
Know what they will ask of you!
• Read Passages
• Multiple Choice Questions
• Writing about someone else’s
writing
–Strengths & Weaknesses
–Compare & Contrast
–Did the writer develop the main
idea?
The test is written in Academic
Language
• Academic Language = Very Formal English that
many people do not speak regularly.
• For example:
– Which mood is communicated by this sentence…
– According to this section, what was NOT a factor…
– What is the best summary of this selection…
– According to this selection, which of these is a
fact?
– Which of the following correctly describes what
the selection is mainly about?
Reading Strategies
• Wonder what questions will be asked
as you read.
–Read like a Reader
• Stay focused on the text as you read.
• Reread Selection
Multiple Choice Strategies
• Process of Elimination
– Eliminate or Get Rid Of answer choices
– The Almost Right Answer
• In math decimal may be in the wrong place
• In English, the name of characters could be switched
around.
• Right Fact/Wrong Answer
– Answer choice includes facts from the reading and
it “looks right”
– When you look at facts from the selection, reread
to eliminate wrong answers.
Writing
• Organize your ideas before you begin
• Do you express your main point or your thesis
at the beginning?
• Make sure you are responding to the question
they ask you. Focus on what they are looking
for.
• Support with Evidence – Use Quotes.
Attic – Main idea,
opinion, Introduction
Middle – Supporting
details,
strengths/weaknesses,
etc.
Basement –
Connection,
conclusion, restate.
Managing Scantron Sheets
• Keep track of what number you are on and
the number on the scantron sheet.
• Write your answers in the test booklet
– Eliminate improbable answers
• ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS
– DO NOT LEAVE ANY ANSWERS BLANK!!!!!!!!!
– After every five questions check to see that you
are aligned