This document provides tips and strategies for taking multiple choice, true/false, and matching questions on standardized tests like the SAT. Some key points include: 1. For multiple choice, mark answers you're sure of first, eliminate wrong answers, and make an educated guess from the options remaining. 2. For true/false questions, the entire statement must be true or it's false. Watch for double negatives or absolute terms like "always" that could make a statement false. 3. For matching, read both lists first to identify similar items, then match words to their describing phrases rather than starting with words. Cross out matches to limit guessing options. The document emphasizes using logic and process of

1. How to take multiple choice (Like the SAT):
1. Study the notes and readings the night before the test, so the
ideas (and where they are written down if it is open book/open
notes) is fresh in your mind.
2. Mark the correct choice on the ones you are sure of. (should be
about half or more of all the multiple choice- if every student
knows them all, the test will not “discriminate”- every student gets
a perfect score! Guessing with some insight is required for the
tougher questions.)
3. When you HAVE to guess, first cross off any answers you KNOW
are wrong. About a third of the time, you can cross off all but one
answer, Mark that one right.
4. When left with two or more, comparing and contrasting them will
give some clues. Pick the one that is the best answer of those
presented. List all of these questions and go back only at the end
and if it is open book, notes etc, dig up the references. If not, re-
read the question and try using a different paradigm to approach
the question. (Studies show your first answer is right slightly more
often than the one you change to when you go back.)

2. How to take True/ False:
1. EVERY PART OF A QUESTION MUST BE TRUE, OR THE
WHOLE QUESTION IS FALSE.
a.Check each part of the multiple choice answer separately to
see if any part is false. If so, that answer is false, even if it is
better than the others ecept for the thing that is wrong.
b. If you are getting lost in the long phrases (icons for an
idea—e.g. “party of the first part”) just circle the first phrase
everywhere it appears, put a square around the second one
everywhere it appears (create simple “icons” for long phrases)
2. As a result of the above, look for “always” or “never” – the
original question answer was intended to be false, but the
question didn’t work, because students would point out the
exceptions that were true, so the test designer added “always”
or “never” so the exceptions KEPT IT FALSE, instead of
making it sometimes true.

3. 3. Pay special attention to names, dates, and numbers that are similar and
could be easily confused (1429 for 1492, Sam and Pam)
4. Watch for double negatives. In many languages, the second negative does
not change the meaning. However, in English, the two negatives cancel each
other, and the statement becomes a “positive”.
“Tom said he did not have any in the bag.” (he had none)
“Tom said he did not have nothing in the bag” (he did have SOME)

4. How to take MATCHING tests
• Read through both lists quickly before you begin answering. Note any
descriptions that are similar and pay particular attention to the details
that make them different.
• When matching word to phrase, read the phrase first and look for the
word it describes. (much faster than starting with the single word,
reading lots of phases each time.)
• Cross out each answer as you find it – unless you are told that the
answer can be used more than once. (Tests are designed to make you
guess SOME answers- this will give you a short list to guess from,
improve grade a lot.)
If you get stuck when matching, determine the part of speech of the
word being matched. If the word is a verb, for example, try to match it
with another verb in one of the the phrases.
• Fill in the blanks with capital letters rather than lowercase letters since
they are less likely to be misread by the person correcting the test.

5. We all have heard the tip that the SAT and ACT tests
are designed to allow guessing. What is that about?
Each skill you are tested on is asked 3 times.
The first time is an “easy” question. (1/2 of all
students in mid 11th grade should be sure of the
answer very quickly)
The Second time is “medium”. (¼ of the same
students should get it and know they did.)
The third time is “hard”. None of these students
should be sure they got it, but most can eliminate 1,
many can eliminate 2, and some can eliminate 3
answers before “guessing”.

6. How to eliminate answers before guessing.
First, how not to- If you just pick one of the
answers without any thought, you are “wild
guessing”. That is NOT what is meant. (Even with
wild guessing, you still should get 1/5th of a long
test right. If you knew ½ of the questions, as you
should, and did this type of guess on the rest you
would get 60% right overall, vs a 50% without any
guessing) Many tests discourage wild guessing by
taking off extra points for wrong answers. Lets call
the good (not wild) guessing “Strong” guessing,
which adds points, and explain it next.

7. Lets look at “Strong Guessing” for Math
Here, we pick each of the given answers and substitute it into the problem. Any
that “work” are correct. We may not know how to work the problem forwards,
but “checking” it is always easier to do.
The hard multiple choice questions often require knowledge you don't have to
solve them, or simply take to long to work to the answer,but you will know how
to quickly check all 5 answers offered by the test.
This backward solving technique is being used by all the high scoring students,
and the test writers expect you to get these questions right without running out
of time.
It is ok to start with a hunch for the first one to check, but if more than one
answer may be correct, don't forget to check them all. I have a better idea. If you
must “check”, all 5 answers, and for example, one is 2, the next two are 34 and
38, and the last is 367, toss out the wildly low and high, and pick one of the
middle ones to “check” first. Just remember that if the check result for the lowest
of the “middle” answers is too low, try the next higher of the middle answers as
your next guess. (your first try teaches you what to try next. For this reason, chose
the middle size answer (not always the 3rd answer of 5) to “check” first. At worst
you need only try one more to know which of the two larger (or smaller) ones is
right.

8. Lets look at “Strong Guessing” for Reading
Here, we pick each of the given answers and rephrase the
question as answer, using this choice. Any that don't “work”
are eliminated. If all but one is eliminated, this was an “easy”
question. Usually, there is a sentence in the story that can be
used to eliminate the wrong answers.
If more than one answer may be correct, you must chose the
“best” answer. Here, they are looking for one that means the
closest to what was said.
The hard test questions often require vocabulary or research
you don't know to make the right choice. Look at the
meanings of the root words (for example “super” in
superlative) for a clue. The best root word match in the
choices given is is probably right.

9. What to do on test day
-Eat a good breakfast
-Bring the admission ticket, pencils, calculator you have practiced with,
used every day. (2 line TI-30xIIs, FX 115ES, or equivalent)
-Get there early and find the test room and restroom.
-Drink a small caffeine beverage, eat some trail mix (Raisins, Craisins,
M&Ms, Nuts). The candy is quick brain food, the nuts and dried fruits will
carry you to the end of the test.
-Use the restroom just before going in to the test.
Don't get stuck on a tough problem. Once you have made a picture and or
written down a few ideas, give it the strongest guess you can (just in case
you run out of time) then mark it (one mark for “should take only a little
more time”, or “needs to be rechecked”, two for “can do, but takes more
time”, and 3 for “have no clue”). Go on to the end of the section. With
any time remaining in the section, come back to the one marks, then the
twos, and if any time is left, the 3s.

10. Tips for taking the college entrance exams:
Go to the following web page and watch the slideshow there.
http://www.slideshare.net/sylvanlynchburg/sylvan-learning-center-tutoring-services-of-lynchburg-va-offers-student-tips-for-college-entrance-exams-3329872