TAKS Tutorial
Test-Taking Strategies
Remember that the TAKS
test is untimed! That gives
you plenty of time to do
this first strategy!
Look at the ENTIRE test first BEFORE doing
any problem on it!
Place a code indicator by the problem
number. This procedure will ensure that
you do the test in the order that is BEST
for YOU!
The Code Indicators:
*
√
−
c
I can do this problem
I am fairly sure I can do this
problem
I don’t know how to do this
problem
I can use a calculator to do
this problem
While your mind is FRESH,
you want to do ALL of the
problems that you know
how to do FIRST!
So you don’t waste time or get
overly frustrated, you leave
the problems you do not know
how to do until last. By that
time, you might have jarred a
memory that will help.
Based on information from
past years…
You need to aim for at least 35 correct out
of the 60 problems on the test. (9th and
10th grade tests have fewer than 60) to
pass.
You certainly know enough math to get a
little more than HALF the test correct!!
Other numbers to go for…
• You need about 53 correct out of 60 (90%)
to get commended. Every Honors student
should aim for commended status!
• You need about 42 correct out of 60 to be
exempted from taking the THEA (Texas
Higher Education Assessment) test. You
CANNOT use a graphing calculator on the
THEA.
Strategies for Multiple Choice tests:
• Read ALL of the choices before choosing
an answer
• Eliminate answers you know are not
correct
• Don’t keep on changing your answer.
Usually your first choice is the right one,
unless you misread the question
Strategies for Multiple Choice tests:
• If there is an “All of the
above” option and you
know that at least two of
the choices are correct,
select the “All of the
above” choice
• If there is an “All of the
above” option and you
know that one of the
statements is false, don’t
choose “All of the above”
Strategies for Multiple Choice tests:
• If there is a “None of the
above” choice and you are
certain one of the
statements is true, don’t
choose “None of the above
• If there is a no guessing
penalty (and there is not a
penalty on TAKS), always
take an EDUCATED guess
and select an answer
Strategies for taking Math Tests:
• Read the directions carefully
and don’t forget to answer all
parts of the question
• Make estimates for your
answers…for example, if you
are asked to answer 48 x 12
= ?, you could expect a
number around 500 (50 x 10),
but if you end up with an
answer around 5000, you’ll
know you did something
Strategies for taking Math Tests:
• Make a list or table and look for a match
• Make a graph and look for a match
• Look for a pattern and find a match
• Draw a picture or diagram
Strategies for taking Math Tests:
• Use the answer options
• Guess an answer and check to see if it
works for the situation/problem
• Eliminate options that are too large, too
small, don’t make sense, or don’t answer
the question
Let’s put into practice our
strategies
Here
are some actual TAKS questions for us
to work on.
Read the questions first and place one of the
Code Indicators next to the problem
number.
Now, as we work through the problems oneby-one, think of which strategy could be
used for selecting the correct answer
choice.
5 A function is described by the equation
y = 2x 2 − 5x − 3, in which y is dependent on x. If a
value for the independent variable is selected from the
set {−4, −1, 0, 2, 5}, which of the following is a
corresponding dependent value?
A 9
B −6
C −5
D 0
The strategy to use on this problem is
to make use of the calculator
The set of x-coordinates
5 A function is described by the equation
You are given
y = 2x 2 − 5x − 3, in which y is dependent on x. If a
x-coordinates
to use value for the independent variable is selected from the
set {−4, −1, 0, 2, 5}, which of the following is a
corresponding dependent value?
You are looking for a yA 9
B −6
C −5
D
0
coordinate
that goes with
one
of those given xUse
the
table
feature
of
your
calculator
to
You are given a function rule. Enter it
coordinates.
find
the
y-coordinates
that
go
with
the
into your graphing calculator.
above x-coordinates…
NO
NO
NO
A Match!
NO
48 Thalia played a word game in which she had a
minute to create 5- and 6-letter words from a given
word. The given word was wonderful. Thalia
scored 7 points for each 5-letter word she created
and 15 points for each 6-letter word she created.
Which of the following is not a possible value for
the total points Thalia scored?
F 37
G 46
H 58
J 59
The strategy for this problem is to use
the answer choices to see which ones
are eliminated.
48 Thalia played a word game in which she had a
minute to create 5- and 6-letter words from a given
word. The given word was wonderful. Thalia
scored 7 points for each 5-letter word she created
and 15 points for each 6-letter word she created.
Which of the following is not a possible value for
the total points Thalia scored?
F 37
G 46
H 58
J 59
To have all 5-letter words, these point
values would have to be a multiple of 7:
7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63. To have
all 6-letter words, they would have to be
multiples of 15: 15, 30, 45, 60
None of the options fit this description.
48 Thalia played a word game in which she had a
minute to create 5- and 6-letter words from a given
word. The given word was wonderful. Thalia
scored 7 points for each 5-letter word she created
and 15 points for each 6-letter word she created.
Which of the following is not a possible value for
the total points Thalia scored?
F 37
G 46
H 58
J 59
That means these possible point values are a
combination of 5-letter and 6-letter words.
My suggestion: keep subtracting 15 pts from
the answer choice until you get a number that
is a multiple of 7. (Or keep subtracting 7 until
you get a multiple of 15.)
48 Thalia played a word game in which she had a
minute to create 5- and 6-letter words from a given
word. The given word was wonderful. Thalia
scored 7 points for each 5-letter word she created
and 15 points for each 6-letter word she created.
Which of the following is not a possible value for
the total points Thalia scored?
F 37
-15
22
G 46
-15
31
H 58
-15
43
J 59
-15
44
-15
7*
-15
16
-15
28*
-15
29
possible
-15
1
not possible
possible
-15
14*
possible
53 Which of the following
polynomial equations best
represents this graph?
A
B
C
D
(x + 6)(x − 2) = y
(x − 2)(x − 16) = y
(x − 6)(x + 2) = y
(x + 2)(x + 16) = y
The strategy to use on this problem
is to use the answer choices with the
calculator. We want to graph the
answer choice until we find the one
that matches this graph.
53 Which of the following
polynomial equations best
represents this graph?
A
B
C
D
(x + 6)(x − 2) = y
(x − 2)(x − 16) = y
(x − 6)(x + 2) = y
(x + 2)(x + 16) = y
First, I’ll match up the
window on my
calculator with the
scale of this graph.
This one looks
like it is a match.
It has the same
x-intercepts and
the vertex
appears to be in
the same place
53 Which of the following
polynomial equations best
represents this graph?
A
B
C
D
(x + 6)(x − 2) = y
(x − 2)(x − 16) = y
(x − 6)(x + 2) = y
(x + 2)(x + 16) = y
You really should
check the other answer
choices. Do not jump
the gun—be certain!
Nope, not B.
You cannot
even see the
entire graph.
53 Which of the following
polynomial equations best
represents this graph?
A
B
C
D
(x + 6)(x − 2) = y
(x − 2)(x − 16) = y
(x − 6)(x + 2) = y
(x + 2)(x + 16) = y
Not C, either.
The x-intercepts
and the vertex
do not match.
53 Which of the following
polynomial equations best
represents this graph?
A
B
C
D
(x + 6)(x − 2) = y
(x − 2)(x − 16) = y
(x − 6)(x + 2) = y
(x + 2)(x + 16) = y
Definitely not D.
Our first answer
was the correct
one.
56 The table below shows the relationship
between x and y.
Which function best represents the
relationship between the quantities
in the table?
F y = 2x + 1
G y = 2x 3 + 1
H y = 2x 2 − 3
J y = 2x 2 + 4x + 1
The best strategy to use on this problem
is to enter the answer choices into our
calculator and find a matching table of
values.
56 The table below shows the relationship
between x and y.
Which function best represents the
relationship between the quantities
in the table?
F y = 2x + 1
X
G y = 2x 3 + 1
H y = 2x 2 − 3
J y = 2x 2 + 4x + 1
While the
first three
ordered
pairs match,
the point
(2, 17) is not
in this table.
56 The table below shows the relationship
between x and y.
Which function best represents the
relationship between the quantities
in the table?
F y = 2x + 1
X
G y = 2x 3 + 1
H y = 2x 2 − 3
J y = 2x 2 + 4x + 1
This table
matches the
problem
table
perfectly!
56 The table below shows the relationship
between x and y.
Which function best represents the
relationship between the quantities
in the table?
To be sure, we
F y = 2x + 1
X
can check the last
G y = 2x 3 + 1
two choices.
H y = 2x 2 − 3
J y = 2x 2 + 4x + 1
Nope
Nope
G is the correct
answer choice
20 What are the coordinates of the x-intercept of the
function graphed below?
F (4, 0)
G (−3, 0)
(0, 4) J (0, −3)
The best strategy to
use on this problem
is to study the
answer choices and
eliminate the ones
that do not make
sense.
H
20 What are the coordinates of the x-intercept of the
function graphed below?
F (4, 0)
G (−3, 0)
(0, 4) J (0, −3)
H
This problem refers to
x-intercepts. X-intercepts
have zero for a y-coordinate.
This knowledge will allow
us to eliminate H and J.
20 What are the coordinates of the x-intercept of the
function graphed below?
(4, 0)
(-3, 0)
F (4, 0)
G (−3, 0)
(0, 4) J (0, −3)
H
If you will use the formula
chart as a straight edge and
extend the line until it hits
the x-axis, you will find the
one of the remaining options
is not reasonable.
Choice F is the correct one.
27 A diagonal walkway through a park is 18 meters
long. If the park is a square, how long is one of its
sides to the nearest tenth of a meter?
A 9.0 m
C 18.0 m
B 12.7 m
D 25.5 m
The best strategy to use with this
problem is to draw and label a picture
so that you can SEE what the problem
is asking.
18 m
x meters
x meters
27 A diagonal walkway through a park is 18 meters
long. If the park is a square, how long is one of its
sides to the nearest tenth of a meter?
A 9.0 m
C 18.0 m
B 12.7 m
D 25.5 m
The park is a square.
The walkway is a diagonal
and it is 18 meters long.
18 m
x meters
x meters
27 A diagonal walkway through a park is 18 meters
long. If the park is a square, how long is one of its
sides to the nearest tenth of a meter?
A 9.0 m
C 18.0 m
B 12.7 m
D 25.5 m
You can now see that you have an
isosceles right triangle to work with. A
right triangle means that you can use
the Pythagorean Theorem. The
formula is written on the math chart if
you don’t remember what it is.
Even with the formula chart, you do need to
remember that “c” is the hypotenuse (longest
side of the right triangle).
18 m
x meters
x meters
27 A diagonal walkway through a park is 18 meters
long. If the park is a square, how long is one of its
sides to the nearest tenth of a meter?
A 9.0 m
C 18.0 m
B 12.7 m
D 25.5 m
Using the Pythagorean Theorem we
have: x2 + x2 = 182 so
2x2 = 324
x2 = 162
x = 12.727…
Rounded to the nearest tenth, we get 12.7
dividing by 2…
now square root
18 m
x meters
x meters
27 A diagonal walkway through a park is 18 meters
long. If the park is a square, how long is one of its
sides to the nearest tenth of a meter?
A 9.0 m
C 18.0 m
B 12.7 m
D 25.5 m
If you are taking the Exit Level (11th
grade) test, you should also know
about 45o-45o-90o triangles. You could
use your knowledge about those
triangles to answer this problem, as
well.
18 m
x meters
x meters
27 A diagonal walkway through a park is 18 meters
long. If the park is a square, how long is one of its
sides to the nearest tenth of a meter?
A 9.0 m
C 18.0 m
B 12.7 m
D 25.5 m
The hypotenuse is the length of the
shorter legs (which are the sides of the
park) multiplied by the square root of 2.
If you divide the walkway hypotenuse
by the square root of 2, you will get the
sides of the park.
57 The midpoint of the diagonals of rectangle PTQW
is (−0.5, 1). The coordinates of P are (−3.5, 6).
What are the coordinates of Q?
A (−2, 3.5)
B (−6.5, 11)
C (−1.5, 2.5)
D (2.5, −4)
Again, the strategy that you
want to use with this problem is
to eliminate answer choices
that do not make sense with the
information given to you in the
problem.
57 The midpoint of the diagonals of rectangle PTQW
is (−0.5, 1). The coordinates of P are (−3.5, 6).
What are the coordinates of Q?
A (−2, 3.5)
B (−6.5, 11)
C (−1.5, 2.5)
D (2.5, −4)
Look at the way the diagonal is
drawn in the figure. Study the
coordinates of P and midpoint C.
Do you notice how the x-coordinates are getting larger as the
diagonal moves to the right? Do you notice how the ycoordinates are getting smaller as the diagonal moves down?
57 The midpoint of the diagonals of rectangle PTQW
is (−0.5, 1). The coordinates of P are (−3.5, 6).
What are the coordinates of Q?
A (−2, 3.5)
B (−6.5, 11)
C (−1.5, 2.5)
D (2.5, −4)
In your answer options, choice B
is to the LEFT of point P, not to
the right as point Q is located.
Can you also see, by their x-coordinates, that choice A and
choice C are located BETWEEN points P and C?
57 The midpoint of the diagonals of rectangle PTQW
is (−0.5, 1). The coordinates of P are (−3.5, 6).
What are the coordinates of Q?
If you would
A (−2, 3.5)
B (−6.5, 11)
C (−1.5, 2.5)
D (2.5, −4)
rather, you could
eliminate those
same options
looking at the ycoordinates.
Answer choice B has a ycoordinate that is HIGHER than
point P, not lower as point Q is
located.
Can you also see, by their y-coordinates, that choice A and
choice C are located BETWEEN points P and C?
So, study the Code Indicators
If you do not like ours, feel free to make up your
own.
Go through the test first, deciding which
problems that you want to do first.
Do the ones you know how to do first!!!!
Use your strategies to help you.
You only have to get a little more than half of the
problems correct! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!