The document provides strategies for taking multiple choice tests like the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. It recommends using a two-pass system where students spend about a minute on each question on the first pass and focus on questions they were unsure of on the second pass. Students should use process of elimination to rule out obviously incorrect answers and educated guessing when they aren't completely sure of an answer. The document stresses estimating answers rather than working problems out fully to save time and suggests related techniques for math questions.

1. Taking a Multiple Choice Test The Iowa Test of Basic Skills

2. Things that affect test scores Health Fatigue Motivation Emotional strain Test wise-ness Format practice Guessing

3. What is different about the ITBS and other tests you take? Time limits Scored in percentiles, not percents You cannot study for it Some of the items you just won’t know Average score is between 25 th and 75 th Does not affect your report card grades

4. TRUE OR FALSE? If there is a time limit on a test, it’s OK to spend as much time as necessary on a question.

5. FALSE Try not to take too much time on any one question. Why? If you take too long on one, you might not have time to finish!

6. Use a 2-Pass System First Pass : spend about one minute on each question. Second Pass : Go back and spend extra time on the questions you weren’t sure about.

7. Use question “triage” If the question is comprehensible, and doable, do it right away. If it’s or time-consuming, come back to it on the second pass. If it’s out of your “brain range” completely, make your and move on. comprehensible tough best guess

8. TRUE OR FALSE? You should never skip a question, or leave it blank. ?????

9. TRUE A question NOT answered is WRONG!

10. TRUE OR FALSE? As soon as you find the answer you think is right, you can stop reading the rest of the choices.

11. FALSE First, try to think of the correct answer BEFORE you read the choices. Then, read all of the choices. There may be more than one answer that seems correct. You must choose the BEST! If most of the answers seem correct, it might be ALL OF THE ABOVE!

12. For example In Mrs. Torrez’s kindergarten class A. Learning was fun B. There was a computer corner C. We had a playground D. All of the above

13. USE INTELLIGENT GUESSING

14. Look for qualifying words Always Never All None/ No Every Only Everything Anything These are cue words usually used in answers. WRONG

15. For example: You can tell from this reading that beds in the Middle Ages were A. comfortable B. used only by royal families C. sometimes carried in parts D. made out of metal You will find ocean swells A. When the wind blows B. Never travel far C. on calm days D. When waves stop

16. Look carefully for distractors A distractor is an incorrect choice that will be tempting to choose. A distractor may look very much like the right answer.

17. For example: How many cattle were there in the U.S. by the time of the Civil War? A. More than 600,000 B. More than 6,000,000 C. Not given in the reading

18. USE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION Rule out the answers that are way off or obviously wrong. Rule out answers that have qualifying words that might make them wrong. Rule out any answers that mean about the same as another answer.

19. For example, Who is a homesteader? A. A person who works in the home. B. A soldier who protects government land C. Someone who gets land free from the government D. A clerk who runs the government land office

20. Another example What kind of discussion by authorities preceded the opening of the “Unassigned Lands”? A. Bitter B. Prolonged C. Hasty D. Angry

21. More strategies!! Look for related words Use scanning for words that are the same The wrong answer is seldom the LONGEST (not always!) Use what you already know Does it make sense???

22. The fragile plenophlaplant A. Can grow in any soil B. Can withstand a wide variety of temperatures C. Tolerates poor moisture D.Grows best in very special soil

23. Math Strategies Estimate the correct answer Start with the answers and work backwards Work it out twice Use smaller numbers Does it make sense? Choose the “best” answer Use other things you know Read all of the choices 3 x 5 = 15

24. For example Jill had two dollars. She went to the market and spent $ .26 on tangerines and $ .27 on oranges. How much money does Jill have left? A. $1.20 B. $1.74 C. $1.47 D. $ .47 E. $1.36 F. $1.46

25. Another example Albert drives 24 miles every day. How many miles will Albert drive in 5 days? A. 120 B. 95 C. 144 D. 115 E. NH

26. And yet another. . 12 boys in a boy scout troop washed the same number of cars at the carwash. Together they washed 108 cars. How many cars did each scout wash? A. 12 B. 5 C. 10 D. 9 E. NH

27. Estimation! Remember you HAVE to estimate If you try to get the exact answer you WILL run out of time

28. For example. . . Use front end estimation to determine the closest estimate of $6517 - $3480. J. $3000 K. $3500 L. $4000 M. $4500

29. Another example… Use Compensation Sneakers $63.95 SALE 1/3 OFF! The closest estimate of the amount saved by buying sneakers on sale is between _____. A. $1 and $20 B. $20 and $40 C. $30 and $40 D. $40 and $50

30. Remember! Relax and don’t panic

31. Now, let’s see. . . What questions do you have about taking the Iowa test?