STRATEGIES FOR TAKS READING
PASSAGES:
1. Read the story “empty handed”.
2. Circle the title.
3. Circle any underlined vocabulary words in
the passage.
4. Read the passage again.
5. Read the first question and all of the
answer choices.
6. Eliminate any answer choices you know are
not correct.
7. Go back to the story to verify the correct
answer.
8. Fill in the bubble and go to the next
question to repeat the steps.
Begin with story #1, then skip to
story #4, next is story #2 and
finally do story #3.
*If you do these strategies for every single question, you
will know that you have the right answers. DO NOT mark
an answer unless you have found evidence in the passage
to prove your answer.
This test is not timed. You may only read a book or
put your head down on your desk when you are
done. So, why not take your time on every passage
(usually there are 4) and make sure that you get
every single question correct? YOU DO NOT HAVE
TO MAKE UP ANY ANSWERS. THEY ARE ALL IN THE
PASSAGE IF YOU WILL JUST GO BACK IN THE STORY
TO FIND THEM or find the evidence that makes you
think it is the correct answer!
Do not make any marks near any of the answer
ovals or the bars in the center of the test booklet.
Do not leave any answers blank. They will be counted
wrong if you do not mark an answer. If you are just
absolutely not sure of the answer, then eliminate the answer
choices you know are not correct. Try to narrow your
decision down to two and then choose the one you think
is the best.
Answer ovals must be filled in neatly and completely. The
best way to do this is to outline the oval with your pencil
and then fill it in completely dark. A computer grades your
test and it will not pick up your answer unless it is very neat
and dark. If you mark an answer and need to change it,
make sure you erase completely.
Prefixes and Suffixes
A prefix is a letter or a group of letters added at the
beginning of a word to change the meaning or form another
word.
Some examples: Pre- (before)
Dis- (not)
Un- (not)
Re- (again)
A suffix is a word part added after a word to change its
meaning.
Some examples:
-ly
-ness
-ment
-est
Context Clues
Context clues are hints about the meaning of a word that an
author gives in the other words in the passage.
You may not know what a word means, but by reading the
sentence before the word you don’t know, the sentence the
word is in, and the sentence after the word is used, you
should be able to figure out what the word means. This is
called using context clues.
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms are words that mean the SAME thing.
Example: short, little, small, tiny
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Antonyms are words that mean the OPPOSITE of
each other.
Example: light / dark, sweet / sour, wet / dry
Sequence
Sequence means the order in which events happened.
When you are asked what happened after ******, then go
find ****** in the story, underline it and box what
happened after it. Your answer should be in the box you
made.
If you are given a series of events and one is missing in the
middle, then go find the events that are given in the story,
and underline them. Now, box what is left in the passage
between what you underlined. The answer will be
somewhere in the box you made.
Characters
The characters in a story are usually people. In some make
believe stories characters can also be animals or objects
that talk. It is helpful to know how a character is feeling.
Imagine yourself in their situation and think about how you
would feel.
Examples of feelings: Excited, afraid, scared, unhappy,
angry, pleased, strange, amused, happy, caring, lonely,
mad, glad, lucky, sad, pleased, curious, calm, funny,
friendly, thankful, puzzled, sleepy, jealous, comfortable, silly,
frightened, concerned, worried, disappointed, tired, confused,
surprised, upset, serious, joyful, bored, wise, proud, amazed,
satisfied, thrilled
(You need to know what these words mean)
Setting
The setting has two parts:
1. Where is the story taking place?
2. When is the story taking place?
Main idea
The main idea is the most important idea in the passage.
Ask yourself…
Who or what is this about?
What is the most important thing about who/what?
Look at the title and the first and last paragraphs for clues.
Summary
The summary has to have all three parts:
1. a beginning
2. a middle
3. an end
Divide the story into these three parts and label them 1, 2,
and 3. On answer choices you must have something from
all three parts for it to be the summary. Sometimes, you
will be asked to choose the answer that “best completes the
summary”. Just make sure the answer you choose makes
the summary complete (final includes 1, 2, and 3).
Purpose
The purpose is the reason an author writes or the reason
the reader reads.
Cause and Effect
The cause is the first event that happens.
The event or events that happen as a result are effects.
I had to redo my homework because my dog ate it.
Cause: The dog ate the homework. (This is the first thing that happened.)
Effect: You had to redo your homework. (This is the result of the first thing.)
Predicting Outcomes
Predicting outcomes means to use the clues given in the
passage to think ahead about what you think will happen
next in the story.
You may have to verify this answer in several places in the
passage.
Drawing Conclusions
Drawing conclusions means that you make a judgment by
adding up all of the evidence given to you in the story.
Fact and Opinion
A fact is something you can prove.
Mrs. Sullivan has a son named Jackson.
An opinion is what someone thinks or believes.
Mrs. Sullivan has the cutest little boy named Jackson.
(Watch for these words to help you know it is an opinion:
love, best, worst, words that end in –est)
Inference
An inference is a guess based on information in the text
and what you already know.
Graphic Sources
There are many types of graphic sources that could be
presented on the TAKS test in the passage or in the
question: Venn diagrams (not always circles), story maps,
picture maps, charts, graphs, advertisements, newspaper
articles, recipes, menus, telephone books, applications, lists,
invitations, etc.
DO NOT IGNORE ANY OF THESE! On some of our
practices some of you thought that you just skip over that
part of the passage. These are just as important as the
actual passage. Read all of the information they give you
and don’t skip anything.
Top Three TAKS Strategies:
1. Read carefully
2. Verify every answer correctly
3. Read all of your answer choices
before you decide!
Do these, and you WILL do great!!!