CRCT/Test Taking Strategies

CRCT/Test Taking CRCT/Test Taking StrategiesStrategies

CRCT/Test Taking CRCT/Test Taking StrategiesStrategiesAshley JimersonAshley Jimerson

Lisa HendrixLisa Hendrix

How do I better understand and help my students prepare for the

CRCT?

What is the purpose of the CRCT?

• Measures how well students acquire the skills and knowledge described in the GPS and QCCs

• Yields information on academic achievement

• Diagnoses student strengths and weaknesses as related to GPS/QCC

• Gauges the quality of education throughout Georgia

What Content Areas are Tested?

• Grades 1-8 take the CRCT• All grades are assessed in reading,

language arts, and math• Grades 3-8 are also assessed in science

and social studies• Grade 3: reading (must pass)• Grade 5 & 8: reading and math (must

pass)

CRCT ScoringQCC-Based CRCT GPS-Based CRCT

Subjects/Grades Math, grades 1-5, 7,8Science, grades 1-5, 8Social Studies, grades 1-8

Reading, grade 1-8English/language arts,

grades 1-8Mathematics, grade 6Science, grades 6-7

Scale Score Range 150 to 450 650 to 950

Performance Levels: Does Not Meet the

Standard Meets the Standard Exceeds the Standard

Below 300

300 to 349At or above 350

Below 800

800 to 849At or above 850

Predicted Performance on the CRCT

3rd Grade Reading• ITBS: Below 25th percentile• Performance Series: Below a scale score of 2150

5th Grade Reading & Math• ITBS: Below 25th percentile• Performance Series: Below a scale score of:

– Reading 2490– Math 2390

Required to have a spring conference

What if a student doesn’t pass?

• Attend Summer School (June 4-29)– Receive services and are tested only

in the area not passed• Re-take the test without Summer

School• Conference is held if re-take is not

passed to determine next step of promotion or retention.

Online Assessment• See handout for Teacher, Student,

and Parent directions

• Https://www.georgiaoas.org• Login: Student or Teacher ID and

password

Practice Assessment• Schoolbox has CRCT practice books.• Contains:

– Grade & Subject area specific standards– Practice pages– Mini-tests & Final tests– Answer key

Test Taking Strategies• Think positive!• Read all the answers before marking one• Process of elimination• Don’t guess blindly-make an educated guess• Skip, return, check• Underline/notice key words and phrases• Respond to the question that is being asked• Reading Passages: read the questions FIRST• If your answer doesn’t match- rework it• CHECK over your answers• Your first guess is usually right

On the CRCT

Explain means:

• In your own words, tell how or why• Tell about• Discuss

On the CRCT

Summarize means:• Give the short version• Tell the main ideas or the most

important parts• Sum it up

So, what happened was . . .

On the CRCT

Compare means:• Give all the likenesses or

similarities between two or more things

• How are they alike?

On the CRCT

Contrast means:• Tell all of the differences between

two or more ideas• How are they different?

On the CRCT

Describe means:• Tell about using the five senses

(touch, smell, scent, sound, and look)

• Paint a picture using words

On the CRCT

Predict means:• Tell what you think will happen

next• Make a guess about the next event• Think ahead

On the CRCT

Support means:• Back up with details• Give reasons for• Give the facts about• Defend your ideas/ beliefs

On the CRCT

Evaluate means:• Tell the value of• In your words, tell the good

and bad parts• Put in rank order• Judge or rate

On the CRCT

Analyze means:• Break into parts• Study the individual pieces• Take apart• Look at closer

On the CRCT

Infer means:• Read between the lines• Make an educated guess• Look for hidden information• Figure outBe a detective!

• Put together• Come up with• Create• Make• Design

On the CRCT

Formulate means:

Well, in my opinion . . .

On the CRCT

Trace means:• Write in order from beginning to

end• List in steps• Outline• Track or follow