This document provides strategies for taking standardized tests. It recommends considering whether questions are explicitly stated or require deeper thinking. Students should carefully read questions and answer choices to determine what type of question is being asked. Process of elimination can help narrow down options, and students should predict answers before looking at choices. Constructed response questions allow students to explain their thinking using evidence from the text. Rubrics are provided to self-evaluate responses. Visual elements like charts and maps provide information to answer questions. Students should try their best on all questions and review their work before submitting.

1. Test-Taking
Strategies/Practice
Adapted from Matt Guffey, Longridge School
Changed by Ms. Vanko! 

2. 1-Consider if the question is ON or UNDER the surface! This will
help you understand what the question is asking you to do and if
it requires more THINKING!
Example question from a scientific text.
All living things adapt to their environment. They must be
able to move, grow, or change to be able to survive in a harsh
environment.
What term(s) could appropriately replace the underlined
word?
A) acclimate
B) allot
C) permit
D) Depart
E) adjust

3. 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
like the one you just
completed.

4. 2-Think critically about what the questions or
directions are asking. WHAT KIND of
question is it?
• If the directions say “read”….
READ! Pay close attention
to key words in the directions,
such as decide, explain,
interpret, analyze, compare.
(LOOK FOR DOK LEVEL
VOCAB!)
Remember there is a highlighting tool you may
use. You may also write down key words or
information on scratch paper.

5. Sample question 2-
You are writing a letter to the principal asking that the student body be
allowed to hold a mock presidential election. Which sentence(s) is/are
written in formal style? Select all that apply.
A ) An election would enable students to become familiar
with the election process.
B) A mock election would encourage students to become
interested in the actual election that is held in the fall.
C ) A mock election would increase student interest in
politics because we would really get a kick out of it.
D ) This would make kids feel important.

6. Look again carefully at the question
You are writing a letter to the principal asking that the student
body be allowed to hold a mock presidential election. Which
sentence(s) is/are written in formal style? Select all that apply.
A An election would enable students to become familiar with
the election process.
B A mock election would encourage students to become
interested in the actual election that is held in the fall.
C A mock election would increase student interest in politics
because we would really get a kick out of it.
D This would make kids feel important.
What type of question would you classify this
as?

7. Be Slick and Predict!
Be sure to carefully read EVERY ANSWER CHOICE.
• Predict what the answer
is BEFORE you read the
choices.
• Even though you predict,
READ ALL answer
choices. Many questions
require more than one
answer choice.
“I think the
answer…”

8. Slash the Trash! (Use the process of
elimination!)• Read ALL of the
answer choices!
Eliminate any choice
that you know is not the
correct answer. Put
them in the trash and
pick the answer that is
left over.
• *Remember you can
use the
strikethrough/cross out
tool to help you do this.

9. Sample Question 3-
Read the following paragraph.
In today's school system, teachers are evaluated for many things. Teacher evaluations
include their lessons, classroom styles, student behavior, and student grades. However,
the people that are with the teachers every day are not a part of the process. Teachers
cannot receive a fair and complete evaluation without the voices of these people–their
students. The students would be able to provide the teachers with a more realistic
evaluation than someone who sees the teacher for just a few minutes.
Which sentence(s) could be added to the paragraph as a main claim? Select all
that apply.
A Teacher can benefit from evaluations prepared by their students.
B There are no benefits to the current teacher evaluations.
C A fair and complete teacher evaluation should include student voices.
D Only students can evaluate teachers.
E Today's school system evaluates lesson plans, classroom style, student behavior, and
student grades.

10. 3B) What do you think that
paragraph’s claim was?
3C) How might you identify a claim?
Answer these
questions on your
packet!

11. What happens if I get a short answer, constructed
response, or essay question?
*Ms. Vanko sees these questions as the BEST
kinds of opportunities. They give you the
chance to explain your thinking using words.
*Even if you are unsure of an answer, you can
convince your reader you do know an answer
by using strong, academic language.
*USE THE TEXT GIVEN TO YOU AS YOUR
GUIDE.

12. 4) Please refer to the constructed
response text and prompt in your packet.
-Read the text.
-Write a short response to the question.
-FOLLOW DIRECTIONS

13. Check out this rubric!
Rubric for a 3-point Constructed Response item
A 3 response:
• Gives sufficient evidence of the ability to explain the impact of a phrase used in
context on the meaning of the text.
• Includes specific inferences that makes clear reference to the text
• Fully supports inferences with clearly relevant information from the text
A 2 response:
• Gives some evidence of the ability to explain the impact of a phrase used in
context on the meaning of the text.
• Includes some specific inferences that makes clear reference to the text
• Fully supports the inferences with clearly relevant information from the text
A 1 response:
• Gives limited evidence of the ability to explain the impact of a phrase used in
context on the meaning of the text.
• Includes some specific inferences but they are not explicit or make only vague
references to the text
• Supports the inferences with at least one piece of information but the relevance of
that information to the text must be inferred

14. 5)Grade your own response
using the rubric. Provide a
rationale for your grade.

15. Score Point 3 Sample:
The phrase “polished in later time” relates to the passage because it shows how a
language spoken by one tribe in Italy developed over time to become Latin. Just
like the language developed over time, Italy developed over time, too. There were
different tribes living there, or different “nations” as the tribes are described in the
passage.
Score Point 2 Sample:
The phrase has to do with the passage because Latin is a language that changed
over time just like the “tribes” of different people, some of them Greek, changed
over time in Italy. The history of Italy changed just like the language Latin to
become something more modern.
Score Point 1 Sample:
The phrase shows that things changed in the language just like Italy and its history
changed or became polished.
Score Point 0 Sample:
People spoke Latin in Italy for a long time.
6)Make an inference about the
samples/scoring. (above)

16. 7) You may have some questions that ask you to
click on an entire sentence, highlight it, or drag it
to another spot on your screen. See the sample
question!

17. Answer:
Student selects either Perhaps it was her
dignity, or her sincerity, or that mighty voice,
but when Sojourner Truth spoke people
listened. OR She spoke out against injustice,
wherever she found it. 1 correct = 1 point
Student selects neither of the above
sentences, 0 correct = 0 points

18. Be Smart With Charts & Zap the
Maps! (These visuals can show up
in BOTH ELA and MATH!)
• Charts and maps
provide information that
you can use to answer
questions. Analyze ALL
information provided
before answering the
questions!

19. Keep On Testing, Keep On
Testing!
• If you get to a question
that you don’t know,
don’t give up.
*Try your best, flag it for
review, and come back to
it later on.

20. If you SNOOZE, You will
LOSE!
• Don’t leave a question
unanswered. You will
not have ANY chance of
getting it right. You must
answer all questions
before moving forward.
• YOU CAN STILL GET
PARTIAL CREDIT FOR
ANSWERS WITH
MULTIPLE CHOICES
TO SELECT!

21. And Finally…“UNPACK” the
Question!
Underline key words.
Number the parts of the question.
Plan how you will answer.
Answer using specific details.
Check off each part as you do it.
Keep up the great work!

22. Check It Out!
• When you have
completed the test,
go back and
check your work!
• CHOOSE THE
REVIEW option
before submitting
your test.