Urry 2009

Test Taking Tips

Urry 2009

Before the Test

Urry 2009

Before the Test: PreparationPay attention during notes and review

activities so you learn the information correctly.

Actively participate during class and ask questions as they come up.

Review any notes the night before a test right before you go to bed – research shows that this can be very helpful in remembering key information

Get enough SLEEP the night before a test

Wear comfortable clothes the day of the test

Eat a healthy breakfast the day of the test

Urry 2009

Answering Multiple Choice

Questions

Urry 2009

Multiple Choice Tip #1Read the M.C. questions before

reading the passage THEN, when reading the passage/story… Underline/highlight important information in the

passage that may help you answer your multiple choice questions.

READING

Read the passage:

“It’s alright officer,” he said reassuringly.

“I’m just waiting for a friend. It’s an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain if you’d like to make certain it’s all straight.”

Question:What is the author’s purpose for writing the passage above?

a. To inform readers about New York during the time period after gold was discovered in New York.

b. To persuade readers to keep in touch with old friends.

c. To express thoughts about the hardships of friendship.

d. To entertain readers by telling an interesting story about two friends meeting up after twenty years.

Urry 2009

Multiple Choice Tip #1Read the M.C. questions before

reading the passage THEN, when reading the passage/story… Underline/highlight important information in the

passage that may help you answer your multiple choice questions.

READING

Read the passage:

“It’s alright officer,” he said reassuringly.

“I’m just waiting for a friend. It’s an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain if you’d like to make certain it’s all straight.”

Question:What is the author’s purpose for writing the passage above?

a. To inform readers about New York during the time period after gold was discovered in New York.

b. To persuade readers to keep in touch with old friends.

c. To express thoughts about the hardships of friendship.

d. To entertain readers by telling an interesting story about two friends meeting up after twenty years.

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Multiple Choice Tip #2

Highlight Key Words in the question

READING

1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage?

a. Lazy

b. Curious

c. Bossy

d. Helpful

Example:

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Multiple Choice Tip #2

Highlight Key Words in the question

READING

1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage?

a. Lazy

b. Curious

c. Bossy

d. Helpful

Example:

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Multiple Choice Tip #3

Read all the choices before choosing your answer.

READING

1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage?

a. Lazy

b. Curious

c. Bossy

d. Helpful

Example:

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Multiple Choice Tip #4

Eliminate (cross out) answers you know aren’t right.

READING

1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage?

a. Lazy

b. Curious

c. Bossy

d. Helpful

Example:

“Slash the Trash!”

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Multiple Choice Tip #4

Eliminate (cross out) answers you know aren’t right.

READING

1. Which of these best describes the policeman at the beginning of the passage?

a. Lazy

b. Curious

c. Bossy

d. Helpful

Example:

“Slash the Trash!”

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Multiple Choice Tip #5

Choose the BEST answer. If one answer is partly right, but another is completely right, choose the one that is completely right.

READING

2. In the passage, why does the policeman ask, “ ‘Going to call time on him sharp?’ ”?a. He hopes to show compassion and friendliness.

b. He wants to know how long he will wait.

c. He hopes to make Bob feel bad that his friend is late.

d. He wants to know how long he has to arrest him.

Example:

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Multiple Choice Tip #5

Choose the BEST answer. If one answer is partly right, but another is completely right, choose the one that is completely right.

READING

2. In the passage, why does the policeman ask, “ ‘Going to call time on him sharp?’ ”?a. He hopes to show compassion and friendliness.

b. He wants to know how long he will wait.

c. He hopes to make Bob feel bad that his friend is late.

d. He wants to know how long he has to arrest him.

Example:

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Multiple Choice Tip #6Plug in EVERY answer to see

which one fits bestThis tip is especially

important on vocabulary questions!

READING

Example: 3. When they came into this glare, each of them

turned simultaneously to gaze upon the other’s face. In this sentence, simultaneously means?

a. turned slowly

b. turned at different times

c. turned at the same time

d. turned away

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Multiple Choice Tip #7

Pay attention to negative words such as NOT or EXCEPT in the question. Highlight or Underline those words if you see them to remind yourself.

READING

Example:Which is not true about Bob?

a. Bob was on time to meet Jimmy

b. Bob was a wanted criminal

c. Bob knew the policeman was Jimmy the whole time

d. Bob followed through with his promise

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Multiple Choice Tip #7

Pay attention to negative words such as NOT or EXCEPT in the question. Underline those words if you see them to remind yourself.

READING

Example:Which is not true about Bob?

a. Bob was on time to meet Jimmy

b. Bob was a wanted criminal

c. Bob knew the policeman was Jimmy the whole time

d. Bob followed through with his promise

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Multiple Choice Tip # 8If an answer option has an

overgeneralization such as, “always, never, everybody” it usually is not the correct answer.

READING

Example: Which is true about Bob’s arrest in the story After Twenty Years?

a. Everybody knew Bob was a criminal

b. Everybody knew Jimmy was a policeman

c. It was revealed toward the end of the story that Jimmy was the policeman

d. Bob never found out about Jimmy

Urry 2009

Multiple Choice Tip # 8If an answer option has an

overgeneralization such as, “always, never, everybody” it usually is not the correct answer.

READING

Example: Which is true about Bob’s arrest in the story After Twenty Years?

a. Everybody knew Bob was a criminal

b. Everybody knew Jimmy was a policeman

c. It was revealed toward the end of the story that Jimmy was the policeman

d. Bob never found out about Jimmy

Urry 2009

Multiple Choice Tip # 9Budget your time!

Watch the clock! Consider whether or not you will need to complete an extended response during the session

ISAT test session is 55 minutes

Complete the questions you find easiest first.

READING

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Multiple Choice Tip #10READING

Don't keep on changing your answer. Usually, your first choice is the right one, unless you misread the question.

Urry 2009

Multiple Choice Tip #11READING

If two answers are synonyms (similar), then it is usually neither answer

Example:“The vicinity was one that kept early hours.” In this sentence what does the word vicinity mean?

a. climate

b. area

c. weather

d. people

Urry 2009

Multiple Choice Tip #11READING

If two answers are synonyms (similar), then it is usually neither answer

Example:“The vicinity was one that kept early hours.” In this sentence what does the word vicinity mean?

a. climate

b. area

c. weather

d. people

Urry 2009

Multiple Choice Tip #12READING

If two answers are antonyms (opposite), then the answer is usually one of the two.

Example: “A candle was burning dimly in the prisoner’s room.

….Nothing could be seen but his back, the hair on his head, and his hands.” In this sentence, dimly likely means:

a. Weakly

b. Strongly

c. Colorfully

d. Blankly

Urry 2009

Multiple Choice Tip #12READING

If two answers are antonyms (opposite), then the answer is usually one of the two.

Example: “A candle was burning dimly in the prisoner’s

room.….Nothing could be seen but his back, the hair on his head, and his hands.” In this sentence, dimly means?

a. Weakly

b. Strongly

c. Colorfully

d. Blankly

Urry 2009

Additional Tips During

the Test

Urry 2009

Remember to use the resources around the

room to help you!

Test-Taking Tip #13

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• Read the Directions…twice!

Test-Taking Tip #14

Directions: Choose the best answer for each statement. Then, include two pieces of text evidence and commentary to support your answer.

1. Which of the following best describes the waiting man at the beginning of the story?a. Unconcernedb. Determinedc. Casual d. Reassuring

Support:

At the beginning of the story, the waiting man was reassuring. In the text it stated, “’It’s alright officer. I’m waiting for an old friend.’” To me this shows that the waiting man didn’t want the officer to think he was doing anything wrong, so he quickly told the officer what he was doing. This shows that he was reassuring because he tried to make the officer feel comfortable.

Urry 2009

• Read the Directions…twice!

Test-Taking Tip #14

Directions: Choose the best answer for each statement. Then, include two pieces of text evidence and commentary to support your answer.

1. Which of the following best describes the waiting man at the beginning of the story?a. Unconcernedb. Determinedc. Casual d. Reassuring

Support:

At the beginning of the story, the waiting man was reassuring. In the text it stated, “’It’s alright officer. I’m waiting for an old friend.’” To me this shows that the waiting man didn’t want the officer to think he was doing anything wrong, so he quickly told the officer what he was doing. This shows that he was reassuring because he tried to make the officer feel comfortable.

Urry 2009

When a question is long and wordy, pause and put it in your own words.

•Ask yourself: What is the question asking?

Example:

In this section, Emerson talks about obstacles facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. Identify one obstacle facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. Which obstacle do you feel has a greater impact on a person’s self-reliance? Defend your reasoning in at least 3 sentences.

• Identify the question(s) you have to answer.

Test-Taking Tip #15

Urry 2009

When a question is long and wordy, pause and put it in your own words.

• Ask yourself: What is the question asking?

•When appropriate, break the question into parts!

Example:

In this section, Emerson talks about obstacles facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. Identify one obstacle facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant. Which obstacle do you feel has a greater impact on a person’s self-reliance? Defend your reasoning in at least 3 sentences.

Identify the question(s) you have to answer.

Test-Taking Tip #15

Urry 2009

When appropriate, break the question into parts!

Example: In this section, Emerson talks about obstacles facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant.

Step One: Identify one obstacle facing the person who is trying to be self-reliant.

• Make notes to yourself and/or find a quote from text

Step Two: Which obstacle do you feel has a greater impact on a person’s self-reliance?

• This is your opinion – but be sure you can support it.

Step 3: Defend your reasoning in at least 3 sentences.

• Support personal opinion with evidence from the text

Test-Taking Tip #16

Urry 2009

• Pay attention to the title of a passage.

• The title can give you hints about the meaning or theme of a passage.

• Example: “Primal Compassion” posed the question, do primates like Binti have compassion? The title revealed the author’s bias in favor of Binti.

Test-Taking Tip #17

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• Don’t be intimidated by a challenging text or vocabulary.

• Often times you do not need to understand every word of the passage in order to answer the question correctly.

• This is why it’s important to read the questions first!

Test-Taking Tip #18

Urry 2009

• Chew mint gum!

• Studies show mint gum can improve focus!

Test-Taking Tip #19

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• If you are bored 0r losing focus, change your state.

•Shift your position while sitting

•Stand up or sit differently

•Studies show this can help you refocus!

Test-Taking Tip #20

Urry 2009

ALWAYS CHECK OVER YOUR

ANSWERS WHEN YOU FINISH!!!!

Test-Taking Tip #21

Follow these tips and you should be Confident! You will

be great!