Believe, Achieve and Succeed at Test Time Standardized Test Taking
Types of Tests Taking tests is a big part of school. There are many different types of tests in school. Some subjects are tested often like spelling or math. Some tests are given at the end of an activity, like a chapter test in reading
Characteristics The BIG Tests They often take a week to complete. Everyone has to be quiet. Have to use number 2 pencils. Each section is often timed. Answers are bubbled on an answer sheet.
What is this kind of test called? These kinds of tests are called: Standardized Tests
Why do students have to take standardized tests? Standardized tests are one way of measuring your performance, or how well you are learning at school.
What do the scores on a standardized test tell you? Your scores can tell you which subjects you do well in. They can also tell you which area you might still need to work on.
Quiz Below are listed some questions about why it is important to do as well as you can on tests. What are the reasons you can come up with? What do you want to show? Who is counting on you? Who do you want to make proud? How will you feel knowing that you did your best?
How Can Test Taking Help Teachers? Standardized tests also help your teachers do their best. The tests let them know how well they are explaining and teaching. If a lot of students do poorly in a subject on the test, then the teacher knows that they should spend more time going over that subject.
How Does Taking Tests Help Schools These tests also measure how well your school is doing. They are like a report card for schools and teachers. At test time you and your classmates are teaming up with your teachers to show everybody what a great bunch of teachers and learners you really are.
How can you do your best on the test? Set Goals for yourself. Be a good student. Prepare yourself for test day. Know the right things to do during the test. Stay calm and relaxed at test time.
Think Ahead Thinking about making some goals for yourself will help you be successful in school and at taking tests. Think about what you would like to learn about. Think about what your goals are for school
Match the types of Goals What is your goal for a project or a report that has just been assigned? What is your goal for this grading period? What is your goal for the school year? 1. Short-term goal 2. Mid-term goal 3. Long-term goal
Aim for Success Be there! Make sure you do not miss any days during the test. Pay attention so that you know what you are supposed to be doing. Ask for assistance when appropriate. Use your time wisely Focus on completing the test.
Get ready the right way Wear comfortable clothes (not to heavy, light, loose or tight) Make sure your supplies are ready (pencils, paper, erasers) Get up on time so that you do not have to rush to get to school Go to bed on time or even early so you will get a good night s sleep and be rested
Have a Good Morning Make sure you wake up early enough to have breakfast. You need to refuel to get your brain and body moving again. Leave for school or the bus a little early so that you get to school on time.
Be Sharp Before the test make sure you: Take a restroom break. Make sure you have the supplies you need. Make sure your pencils are sharp. Clear away from your desk anything that will distract you.
Positive Self-talk Right before the test is a good time to remind yourself that you ve got what it takes to do your best on the test. Here are some power words you can tell yourself to boost your confidence: I believe in me! I m sharp! I m ready to do my best! I can do this!
During the Test Know What to Do Listen to or read test rules and directions carefully. Then follow them. Ask your teacher about any test-time rules or test directions that you do not understand. Focus on one question at a time Do the easy questions first. Put check marks next to the harder questions and come back to them later. Take care when filling in answer bubbles. Make sure the answer number matches the question number.
During the Test Make Smart Choices Read all the answer choices to each question before choosing one. The correct answer could be the last one. If you don t know an answer, try this: First rule out the choices that you know are wrong. Then, select the best answer from the choices that are left.
More Smart Choices If you have time, check over your answers before turning in your test. Make sure that you have answered every question. It doesn t matter who finished the test first or last. What matters is doing your best. Don t change any answers unless you re sure they re wrong. Your first answer is most likely the correct one. If you change an answer, erase the old mark completely.
Don t Stress the Test: Stay Calm and Relaxed Taking the test can make you nervous. When you get nervous, your body shows signs of stress. Here are some ways that your body can tell you that you are getting nervous. Headache or Dizziness Sweaty Hands Pounding Heart Shaky Legs Butterflies in your stomach It is normal to be little nervous. But it is important to know how to relax so that you don t get stressed.
Relax for the Test Discover some things you can do to help you relax just before and during the test. 1. Take a couple of slow deep breaths. 2. Squeeze your toes tightly and then let them go. 3. Make fists with your hands, squeeze, and then let go. 4. Rub your neck and shoulders. 5. If your teacher allows water bottles, take a couple of swallows of water. 6. Quietly chew on gum or candy if your teacher permits you to have some.
Relax Every Day You don t have to wait for test day to try to manage your stress. There are things you can do everyday to help you relax. Stretching is one of them. Spend a few minutes stretching each afternoon or evening to get rid of the tension from the day. Try these stretches:
Head Tilt Stand with shoulders relaxed. Slowly tilt your head towards your right shoulder. Then slowly roll your head forward so your chin is down. Next, roll your head to the left. Go back the other way and repeat 10 times.
Shoulder Roll Stand up straight. Lift your shoulders toward the ceiling. Then move them slowly back, down, forward and up again. Roll five times then go five times in the other direction.
Back Arch Sit in a chair with your hands at your sides. Slowly reach your hands towards the floor in front of your feet. Let your head drop towards the floor. Count to 10, then straighten up. Repeat two or three times.
Do the Best you Can Remember, a test is just a test! One test does not measure how smart you are or what great students you are. JUST DO THE BEST YOU CAN
Milestones Grade 5 EOG Assessment Guide
Test-Taking Strategies
Jail the Detail! Highlight, underline, or circle the details in the questions. This helps you focus on exactly what the question is asking you to do. Mr. Detail
Be Slick and Predict! Predict what the answer is BEFORE you read the choices. I think the answer is
Slash the Trash! Read ALL of the answer choices! Eliminate any choice(s) that you know are not the correct answer. The choice is obviously trash!
Plug it in, Plug it in! Once you have chosen your answer, plug it in and make sure that it makes sense! (this works really well with vocabulary questions).
Be Smart With Charts & Zap the Maps! Charts and Maps provide information that you can use to answer questions! Analyze ALL information provided before answering the questions!
Extra! Extra! Read All About It! If the directions say read. READ! Pay close attention to signal words in the directions, such as explain, interpret, and compare.
Be a Whiz with the Grid! Beware! If the answer is not bubbled in exactly right YIKES! It will be wrong!
Keep On Keeping On! If you get to a couple of questions that you just don t know, don t give up! Keep trying your best!
If you SNOOZE, You will Don t leave a question unanswered. You will not have ANY chance of getting it right. LOSE!
UNPACK the Question! Underline key words Number the parts of the? Plan how you will answer Answer using specific details Check off each part as you do it Keep up the great work
Check It Out! When you have completed the test, go back and check your work!
Questions