6-8 Learning Community6-8 Learning CommunitySmarter Balance Test Smarter Balance Test

StrategiesStrategies Understanding the Understanding the

challengechallenge Test taking Test taking

strategies that strategies that workwork

Doing our bestDoing our best Being confidentBeing confident

Tools and Strategies to Prepare for the SBFT•Training Tests

•Practice Tests

http://sbac.portal.airast.org/ca/practice-test-ca/

Commonly asked Commonly asked questions questions regarding regarding

standardized tests.standardized tests.

Why do we spend so Why do we spend so much time reviewing the much time reviewing the

instructions?instructions? If you do not If you do not understand how to take understand how to take the test, YOU could the test, YOU could make a major mistake make a major mistake that could negatively that could negatively affect your score.affect your score.

If you have any If you have any questions about how to questions about how to take the test ASK THE take the test ASK THE TEACHER. ItTEACHER. It’’s our job s our job to answer the to answer the questions you have.questions you have.

Getting StuckGetting Stuck

What should I What should I do if I get stuck do if I get stuck on a question? on a question? Should I work Should I work at it for a while, at it for a while, or should I skip or should I skip it?it?

Getting StuckGetting Stuck

With the Smarter Balance With the Smarter Balance test – you will not be able to test – you will not be able to move to the next question if move to the next question if you do not answer a you do not answer a question.question.

Try to eliminate wrong Try to eliminate wrong answersanswers

GUESS!!!!!GUESS!!!!! If you run out of time, make If you run out of time, make

sure you answer every sure you answer every questionquestion..

GuessingGuessing

If I donIf I don’’t know t know the answer the answer should I guess, should I guess, or is it better or is it better to leave the to leave the answer blank?answer blank?

GuessingGuessing YES!!! Guess, but only if YES!!! Guess, but only if

you donyou don’’t know the t know the answer. answer. Guessing is the Guessing is the last thing you do, not last thing you do, not the first!the first!

Try to eliminate any Try to eliminate any obviously wrong answers obviously wrong answers first.first.

You are not marked You are not marked down for wrong answers, down for wrong answers, so a guess is better than so a guess is better than a blank space.a blank space.

GuessingGuessing ““All of the AboveAll of the Above”” is usually is usually

right.right. ““None of the AboveNone of the Above”” is usually is usually

wrong.wrong. If the choice uses words like If the choice uses words like

““nevernever”” and and ““alwaysalways”” it is it is usually wrong.usually wrong.

Once you guess, stick with your Once you guess, stick with your answer. Only change if you are answer. Only change if you are absolutely sure you are wrong.absolutely sure you are wrong.

If you get 5 If you get 5 ““All or None of the All or None of the aboveabove”” in a row….you may want in a row….you may want to go back and double check.to go back and double check.

Why do we have to take Why do we have to take these tests?these tests?

The state of California The state of California wants to know how wants to know how much you know much you know compared to other compared to other students in the same students in the same grade.grade.

Your teachers need to Your teachers need to know what you know know what you know and what you still need and what you still need to learn. That way, to learn. That way, they will be able to they will be able to teach you better.teach you better.

How well are we How well are we expected to do on the expected to do on the

test?test? You should always You should always

try to do your best.try to do your best. Your scores on Your scores on

these tests will these tests will influence the influence the classes you are classes you are assigned next year. assigned next year.

Remember, this year, the test is Remember, this year, the test is being used to “test the being used to “test the questions” not you. Do not feel questions” not you. Do not feel bad if you cannot answer all the bad if you cannot answer all the questions. This is a practice test questions. This is a practice test – BUT STILL TRY TO DO YOUR – BUT STILL TRY TO DO YOUR BEST!BEST!

What if there is a What if there is a question we havenquestion we haven’’t t

covered in class?covered in class? That is expected. The standardized That is expected. The standardized

tests are designed to test every state tests are designed to test every state standard. standard.

Since the test is administered before Since the test is administered before the end of the year, some of the the end of the year, some of the information may not have been information may not have been covered yet in your classes. covered yet in your classes.

Do your best on what you do know Do your best on what you do know and remember from class.and remember from class.

What about test What about test anxiety?anxiety?

Test anxiety!Test anxiety! It is normal to be It is normal to be

nervous. nervous. Just slow down and relax.Just slow down and relax. Take a few deep breaths. Take a few deep breaths. Very few people get it all Very few people get it all

right.right. Remember: No one has Remember: No one has

ever died from taking the ever died from taking the standardized test.standardized test.

Take the tests one day at Take the tests one day at a time.a time.

Fight Test Anxiety!Fight Test Anxiety!

If you have a If you have a positive attitude positive attitude going into the going into the test, chances are test, chances are you will do better.you will do better.

Having a positive Having a positive attitude will only attitude will only make you feel make you feel better.better.

What can I do to be What can I do to be physically ready?physically ready?

Get a good nightGet a good night’’s sleep! You need to be s sleep! You need to be rested and ready for the challenge of the rested and ready for the challenge of the new day. new day.

This does not mean sleep in and get to This does not mean sleep in and get to school late, it means go to bed earlier.school late, it means go to bed earlier.

Eat a good breakfast. Eat a good breakfast. Stay away from soda, candy and coffee. Stay away from soda, candy and coffee.

They will make you too hyper to take the They will make you too hyper to take the test.test.

What is the What is the Smarter Balance Field Smarter Balance Field

Test?Test? www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKerb7

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