The document provides tips for smart test takers when taking standardized tests. It recommends skimming the passage first before thoughtfully reading while previewing the questions. When reading, test takers should chunk the passage into parts and ask who and what to grasp the main idea. They should also take guesses at unknown words and make predictions before seeing answer choices. The document also explains how to answer different types of questions like details versus general, opposites, same/different, most likely, before/after, and meaning of italicized words. It stresses the importance of flexing reading muscles between passages and questions, working at one's own best pace, and not worrying about others' speeds.

1. FCIM Charts
Week 3

2. Smart Test Takers
• Skim the passage and have expectations based on the genre
• Thoughtfully read by previewing the questions first
• Read by chunking the passage into parts, envisioning, and asking,
“Who?” and “What?”
• Grasp the main idea by scanning the features, making predictions,
and reading to confirm
• Take a stab at unknown or scary words
• Make predictions BEFORE reading the answer choices
• Know how to answer vocabulary questions
• Understand the difference between DETAIL questions and
GENERAL questions
• Find the answer that fits the question BEST

3. Smart Test Takers
• Pay attention to bold words, italicized words, or
words in capital letters
• OPPOSITE/SAME = figure out vocabulary
• SAME/DIFFERENT/SIMILAR =
compare/contrast/character change
• MOST LIKELY = inference – figure out (read
between the lines)
• BEFORE/AFTER = sequence of events
• Italicized words = figure out meaning (often
vocabulary or figurative language)

4. Smart Test Takers
• Flex reading muscles after each
passage and set of questions
• Read one passage and answer the
questions
• Close your eyes, take a deep breath
• Flex your reading muscles and push on:
refocus and reset

5. Smart Test Takers
• Work at out best speed
–Read, answer the questions at your best
pace
–If you notice others around you
finishing early, don’t worry!
–Stick with it, work at your best pace