1	A Test? No Sweat! Test Taking Skills: Achieving Success
2	Test-Taking “Do’s and Don’ts” Do organize all of your materials before you start to study. Do start studying several days in advance so that you have time to review difficult concepts and ask your teacher for help. Do look over the test before you start to answer any questions. Do answer the easiest questions first. Do answer all of the questions if you have time.
3	"Do look for help from..." Do look for help from other questions. Sometimes one question will “give away” the answer to another. Do check your work before you turn it in so that you can catch careless errors. Don’t cram! You may forget everything you study after the first few minutes. You may “blank out” on the test. Don’t forget to read all of the directions very carefully. You don’t want to be penalized for a mistake in procedure.
4	"Don’t waste time on a..." Don’t waste time on a question you can’t answer. You may run out of time to answer questions you know. Don’t change an answer unless you are very sure that your first choice isn’t correct. Don’t rush through the test.
5	Preparing for and Taking Tests: Objective Questions
6	There are four main kinds of objective questions: Multiple Choice Matching 3. Short Answer 4. True/ False Why are multiple choice and matching easier?
7
8	Example: Multiple Choice Process of Elimination Anne Hutchinson was driven from the Massachusetts Bay Colony because she taught people: To live by the Golden Rule. How to buy a good used car. Survival skills in desert climates. To stand up for their beliefs, come what may.
9	Use the same process of elimination steps for the following questions:
10	Matching
11	True ~ False
12
13	Test Taking Tips for Math Read through the question carefully: If you try to start solving the problem before reading it all the way through, you may end up doing unnecessary work. Make sure you know exactly what is being asked. Decide whether to do the problem or skip it for now: If you have no idea what to do, skip the problem. Spend your time on the problems you can solve.
14	"If you get stuck," If you get stuck, make an educated guess: If you are not sure what to do, or if you tried solving a problem but got stuck, cut your losses. Eliminate whatever choices you can and then guess. Calculator Tips: Think first. Know your calculator Decide on the best way to solve the problem. Only then, use your calculator Make sure you follow the order of operations.
15	Preparing For and Taking Tests: Essay Questions An essay question requires the same skills that you use to write a paragraph. An essay question asks you to write at least one paragraph and often several paragraphs during the test time itself.
16
17	How To Organize Your Essay Test Answer Read the question carefully. Rephrase the question into a statement. That will be the topic or thesis statement of your response. Jot down a brief outline or web of your answer. Write your answer. Don’t forget a concluding sentence. Read it over carefully and make any corrections or necessary changes if you have time.
18	Essay Test Answers Don’t forget a topic sentence: Think LA Class! Expository format! Rephrase the question into a statement. Example: Prompt: Using details from Scrooge’s past, discuss what might have caused his negative attitude about Christmas. “There are several events from Scrooge’s past that might have caused his negative attitude about Christmas.”
19	How To Use Your Time Divide the time according to how many essay questions you have to answer and how much time you have. Example: 20 minutes to write one answer. Thinking and outlining – 5 minutes. Writing the essay – 13 minutes. Reading/Revising/Correcting – 2 minutes
20	Sample ISAT 8^th Grade Reading Test
21	Critical Reading Strategies Critical reading questions have a specific order: The first few questions ask about the beginning of the passage, the last few about the end. Most reading passages are composed of one big idea and then supporting details. Five Step Method to Find Your Answer: Read the question (and all of your answer choices).– Ex: What’s the main point of the passage. Locate the material you need Re-scan the answer choices Select your answer
22	"On a piece of loose-leaf" On a piece of loose-leaf, in ink, respond to the test taking strategies you learned about today. What new things did you pick up that you might use the next time you take a test? Be specific in your explanations and examples.