1. The document discusses test-taking strategies and how teaching students these strategies can improve their test scores and performance. 2. It provides an overview of effective test-taking strategies like the PIRATES method that teaches students how to prepare, inspect instructions, read and reduce choices, answer or abandon questions, turn back to review, estimate or guess, and survey their work. 3. The document emphasizes that teaching test-taking skills is one of the quickest ways to boost student achievement on tests and ensures tests do not act as barriers, especially for disadvantaged students.

1. Test Taking Strategies Why, What, How Nancy BlairHSTW Consultantnancy.blair@sreb.org

2. What do tests measure? Knowledge of content Test taking skills

4. What -- effective test taking strategies

6. Test-Taking Strategies Habits of Success What are the HABITS that help students . . . Create Relationships Study, Manage Time, and Get Organized Improve Reading and Writing Improve Mathematics Skills Set Goals and Plan for the Future Access Resources

7. Test-Taking Strategies For BEST Test Preparation Provide quality instruction throughout the year Teach Test Taking Strategies and monitor use by students Practice Ethics in Test Preparation Teach HOW to test, not specific test items

8. Test-Taking Strategies All Students Benefit Test strategies benefit all students but especially: 20% who are high test anxious Helps low achieving students from low socio-economic backgrounds: Minorities ESL students Learning disabled students

9. Test-Taking Strategies 1. Achievement tests evaluate 2 kinds of knowledge: subject matter and how to take a test. 2. Students may know the material evaluated by the test, but if they do not know how to take the test they may perform poorly. 3. Problem solving approach to learning test taking skills and strategies in a workshop format is best way. 4. When we teach specific test strategies, the likelihood that tests will act as barriers to students’ academic opportunities will decrease as ease with testing familiarity improves. Testing

11. Student placement decisions

12. Access to some courses

13. Reputation of school

14. Community property values

15. School funding decisions

17. Test-Taking Strategies Relieving Anxiety Relaxation techniques: deep breathing and tensing and relaxing muscles Visualization Positive affirmations (self-talk)

18. Test-Taking Strategies Test Taking Strategies How to understand test directions and test format How to deal with unnecessary information Comprehension strategies for reading Multiple choice questions Budget time wisely Educated guesses Check the test

19. Test Taking Vocabulary Teach the “power verbs” often seen on tests. Review released test items and compile a list of confusing terms students might encounter. Test-Taking Strategies 13

21. I. Inspect the instructions (R.U.N.)

22. R. Read, remember, reduce

23. A. Answer or abandon

24. T. Turn back

25. E. Estimate or guess (A.C.E.)

27. Test-Taking Strategies P.I.R.A.T.E.S. A – Allot time and order to the test On classroom tests that have different types of questions with different point values in different sections, this is especially important.

28. Test-Taking Strategies Affirmations Teach students about “self-talk” “I will stay calm.” “I will pass this test.” “I will be positive about this test.” Don’t forget to give affirmations often “I know you can do this; you are well prepared.” “We have worked very hard this year and you really know this material.”

29. Test-Taking Strategies P.I.R.A.T.E.S. I. Inspect the instructions (R.U.N.) R – Read the instructions carefully U – Underline what to do and where to respond N – Notice special requirements

30. Test-Taking Strategies P.I.R.A.T.E.S. I. R.U.N. Example Circle the letter next to the most appropriate choice. Write “T” in front of statements that are true. Write “F” in front of statements that are false.

32. Read the whole questions

33. Circle or underline important information; cross out unnecessary information

34. Remember what you studied

35. Make notes in the margins

36. Reduce the choices

39. Answer the question or abandon for the momentIf you abandon a question, lightly mark the item left of the number on the answer document so you remember to come back to it.

42. After you finish the test, go back and answer the abandoned items

45. All

46. Always

47. Every

48. No

49. None

50. Never

51. Only

52. Non-Absolutes

53. Few

54. Some

55. Seldom

56. Sometimes

57. Most

58. Many

59. Often

61. Test-Taking Strategies P.I.R.A.T.E.S. The average length of the four-toed cremuth isa) one foot b) twelve inches c) three feet d) eighteen inches

62. Test-Taking Strategies P.I.R.A.T.E.S. S. Survey or look back Survey to ensure ALL questions are answered. Switch an answer only if you’re sure.

63. Test-Taking Strategies Teaching Your Students In some state, students can write on the test booklets; teach them to take advantage of the opportunity. Decide as a team who will teach which strategies. Routinely apply practice strategies to practice materials and on classroom assessments. Decide which strategies ALL teachers will expect students to use on classroom assessments or CRT practice items.

64. Test-Taking Strategies Teaching Your Students Give bonus points for use of thePIRATES strategy If using workbooks that can’t be written in, run off some questions for practice OR have students copy a question on to paper then use the strategy. Practice, practice, practice analyzing the logic of test items – What are the key words in the item? Why are some answers NOT correct? How could you eliminate some choices?

65. Test-Taking Strategies Packets of Information Guidelines for various types of test items Tip sheet – “Eight Ways to Prepare Students for High-Stakes Tests” PIRATES Test Taking Strategy and bookmark template Twelve Words chart Test of Franzipanics

66. Test-Taking Strategies Test of Franzipanics With a partner, apply the strategies we have discussed and try to figure out the correct answer for each item. Let’s use the A.C.E. strategies A – Avoid absolutes C – Choose the longest or most detailed choice. E – Eliminate similar choices

67. Test-Taking Strategies Test of Franzipanics 1. The purpose of the cluss in furmpaling is to remove a. cluss-prags c. cloughs b. tremalis d. plumots No No No A. C. E. No clues using A.C.E., so look for information in the stem to appear in the answer choices.

68. Test-Taking Strategies Test of Franzipanics 2. Trassig is true when a. lusp trasses the vom b. the viskal flans, if the viskal is donwil or zortil c. the belgo frulls d. dissles lisk easily A. C. E. No Yes No Some people pick a. because of the appearance of the root “trass.”

69. Test-Taking Strategies Test of Franzipanics 3. The sigla frequently overfesks the trelsum because a. all siglas are mellious b. siglas are always votial c. the trelsum is usually tarious d. no trelsa are feskable A. C. E. Yes ----- -----

70. Test-Taking Strategies Test of Franzipanics 4. The fribbled breg will minter best with an a. derst c. sorter b. morst d. ignu No No No A. C. E. Look for other clues – the answer has to start with a vowel.

71. Test-Taking Strategies Test of Franzipanics 5. Among the reasons for tristal doss are a. the sabs foped and the foths tinzed b. the kredges roted with the orots c. few rakobs were accepted in sluth d. most of the polats were thonced No No No A. C. E. Look for other clues – the answer should be plural.

72. Test of Franzipanics 6. Which of the following (is, are) always present when trossels are being gruven? a. rint and vost c. shum and vost b. sot and plone d. vost No No Yes A. C. E. Test-Taking Strategies

73. Test-Taking Strategies Test of Franzipanics 7. The mintering function of the ignu is most effectively carried out in connection with a. a raxma tol b. the groshing stantol c. the fribbled breg d. a frally sush No No No A. C. E. Look for other clues – refers back to #4

74. Test-Taking Strategies Test of Franzipanics 8. a. c. b. d. Huh?When all else fails, look at the pattern of the answers: 1-A; 2-B; 3-C; 4-D;5-A; 6-B; 7-C; 8-?

75. Test-Taking Strategies In Closing “It becomes apparent that to even up the score, we should teach all students how to take tests. That’s right; test-taking skills can be learned—if you make it your business to teach them.” Campanile, 1981