Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

 
The Night Before Testing … 

* Go to bed on time.

* Talk to your parents about any worries you might have about testing.

* Limit caffeine and sweets that might make it hard to get to sleep.

 
The Morning of Testing …

* Start the day as if it was any other day.

* Eat a good breakfast.

* Thank about what you will do to relax after test time is finished.

 
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OTHER HINTS:

Multiple Choice Questions 

* Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you don’t understand the question.

* Read the question and ALL of the answer choices before writing anything.

* Don’t go back and change an answer unless you are very unsure about your first choice.

* Try to answer every question. If you aren’t sure, read the question again and then make the best guess you can.

Pace Yourself 

* Answers the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to any that you skipped.

* Don’t spend too much time on a single question. Do your best, then move on to the next question.

Reading Passages 

* In parts of the test where you must read passages and then answer questions about what you read, consider reading the questions first.  By doing this, you’ll save time because you will already know what you are looking for as you read.

* When there are several questions about a reading passage, map, or chart, be sure to check for clues in other questions. Sometimes information in one question can help you figure out the correct answer to another one.

 
Math Computation 

* If you use scratch paper on a math test, double-check to make sure that you copied the problem correctly from the test!

* Be sure that you have lined up place value (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones) correctly on your scratch paper, or your answer will not be correct.

* If your answer does not match one of the choices, read the problem again, then copy the numbers again, and try solving it a second time.

 
“A Matter of Time” 

* If any time is left when you have answered all of the questions in a section, spend it on the things that you felt were least familiar – those questions about which you knew nothing or almost nothing.

* As you go back through a section, do not change all of your answers. You should only change an answer if you are very unsure about the first one, and another one seems like a better choice.

* Remember: Your first guess is usually right.

“The Process of Elimination” 

When you’re not sure about an answer, try to eliminate choices that you know are NOT correct. If you can get rid of two wrong answers, you have a much better chance of choosing the right one.  
 

“Skip, Return, Check” 

If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions. Skim your answer sheet to be sure that you have not skipped lines, or written two answers on one line.

 
“Key Words” 

When reading questions, look for key words or phrases that will help you choose the correct answer. 
 
“The Death Grip” 

If your arm gets tired during testing it is probably because you’re holding your pencil too tightly. Relax your grip and give your muscles a break! Please be considerate and try not to do arm exercises during testing – it’s very distracting to others.

Final Tips 

*** Fill in the bubbles fully, write neatly, and erase stray marks. ***

Double-check the question number in your test booklet against the answer sheet every few questions, to be sure you haven’t skipped a line or written two answers on the same line. On these tests, it’s worth taking a little extra time to be sure that you are putting your answer in the right place!

 
Most importantly, RELAX and remember that it's okay not to know everything — unlike regular tests on materials you have studied, these kinds of tests will have some questions made to challenge your knowledge at a grade level (or more) above your current grade.

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