VSUP Visuals

Test Making / Taking TipsTest Making / Taking Tips

Part Deux ! Part Deux !

Multiple-Choice Test-Taking Multiple-Choice Test-Taking Strategies Strategies

Read question carefullyRead question carefullyUnderlineUnderline – Highlight – Circle important terms. – Highlight – Circle important terms.Eliminate!Eliminate! – – Eliminate!Eliminate! – – Eliminate!Eliminate!– Get rid of choices you know are incorrect atGet rid of choices you know are incorrect at11st st glanceglance

doing so improves chances of selecting a correct answerdoing so improves chances of selecting a correct answer

Only change answers if you are absolutely sure Only change answers if you are absolutely sure the current answer is incorrect – the current answer is incorrect – Don’t second Don’t second guess yourself!guess yourself!Use time wisely – Pace yourself Use time wisely – Pace yourself Browse test and determine time to spend on each Browse test and determine time to spend on each question.question.Don’t ignore an obvious answerDon’t ignore an obvious answerAvoid patterns (i.e. selecting “C” just because…)Avoid patterns (i.e. selecting “C” just because…)

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What about questions with What about questions with graphics?graphics?

Many questions on the SOLs have graphs, charts, maps, time lines, Many questions on the SOLs have graphs, charts, maps, time lines, or political cartoons that you need to use to find the answer.or political cartoons that you need to use to find the answer.

Read the title, labels, and keys. They each give important Read the title, labels, and keys. They each give important information for understanding the graphic. information for understanding the graphic. 

Look closely at all the details. You can find a ton of information in Look closely at all the details. You can find a ton of information in the graph, chart, or map if you look at the specifics as well as the the graph, chart, or map if you look at the specifics as well as the big picture.big picture.

Strategies for Using GraphicsStrategies for Using GraphicsThanks, NYC ! Thanks, NYC !

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5topic.cfm?TopicID=304

Discuss with a partner…Discuss with a partner…

More fun with visuals…More fun with visuals…

Let’s look at math….

Thank you, Dan Mulligan!

Importance of the question reflecting the

knowledge, skills & vocabulary.

Importance of MODELING, GUIDED

PRACTICE then INDEPENDENT

PRACTICE in the question.

Importance of MODELING, GUIDED

PRACTICE then INDEPENDENT

PRACTICE in the question.

Aligned Assessment Items areGrounded in a specific essential knowledge & skillFormatted in the style of an SOL test item

Key words italicizedNumeric choices are in ascending/descending orderCompletion questions use a raised dash

Importance of COMPREHENDING

the question. RARE

RARE

R restate

A analyze (what do you know that will help answer the question)

R respond (answer the question)

E explain (does your answer make sense?)

Importance of EXTRANEOUS

information in the question.

ASKING the question in a VARIETY of

FORMATS.