- The document provides tips and strategies for taking tests, including the California Standardized Test (CST). - It recommends doing the easy multiple choice problems first, marking difficult problems to return to later, and using context clues and process of elimination to guess answers when unsure. - The main strategies are to read questions before passages to understand what to look for, identify main ideas and details, and use context clues and elimination of incorrect answers to make educated guesses.

1. Be a BETTER Test Taker

2. Tests Tests are ways for your teacher to see if you understand what they have taught you. Your teacher won’t ask questions that you haven’t already discussed in class.

3. Why is the CST Different? The CST is a test taken by every student in California. Each grade level has it’s own test. However, some questions may be from your previous grade level and some might be for the next grade you will be in next year. For Example: If you are in fourth grade you may be asked a few third grade questions (Easy!!) and a few fifth grade questions (Difficult!) Which Means: It may have questions on it that have not been discussed in your class.

4. Do you use any strategies to help you TAKE the test?

5. Always: Read the Directions Read and understand the sample question

6. Long Paragraphs READ THE QUESTIONS FIRST! They will help you understand the main idea They will give you clues on what to look for.

7. Do the _____ problems first. Multiple Choice Problems Answer: the Easy ones!! Answer: make a small pencil mark next to the problem number to remind you to come back when you have time. What should you do if you come to problem you do not know?

8. Read ALL the choices! Example: What bird is a symbol for the United States ? a.) the golden eagle b.) the turkey c.) the peacock d.) the bald eagle

9. Main Idea The Main Idea tells what the paragraph or story is about. The test has many different ways of asking you what the main idea is. This passage is mostly about____. A good title for this passage is _____. A good summary of this story is ____. The author probably wrote this story in order to ___.

10. Details Details answer questions like Who What, When, Where Why and How. Ask your teacher if you are allowed to underline important details as you read them in the paragraph.

11. Read between the lines Draw your own conclusions. . Wolves of the Sea Orcas are considered apex predators. They are sometimes called the wolves of the sea because they hunt in packs like wolves. They are the fastest marine mammal and can hunt animals as large as blue whales although it may take them several hours to wear the larger prey out. You can guess from the story that Orcas: a.)Could not survive in salt water. b.) Usually travel in groups. c.) Like to play.

12. Vocabulary When asked a question about a word that you do not know the meaning, use the REPLACE and CHECK strategy. Example: In times of war, a young man who fought bravely on the battlefield would be rewarded with knighthood. In the sentence, bravely means: a.) cowardly b.) courageously c.) honestly d.) shyly

13. Guessing Rules Eliminate the clearly WRONG choice. Example: What is the most poisonous animal on earth? a.) the box jellyfish b.) the king cobra c.) the jersey dairy cow d.) the black widow spider

14. Guessing Rules Reread the question for Example: In the poem Hey Diddle Diddle what feline animal plays an instrument? A. donkey B. cat C. dog D. spoon clues

15. Guessing Rules For math: estimate! Example: 197 + 203 350 254 400 525

16. All of the Above Example: Choose the answer that describes the city of Lemoore, CA. a.) Engvall Elementary is an elementary school in its school district. b.) It was once located next to the largest lake in the central valley. c.) It has a Starbucks Café. d.) All of the above We know that the a and c are true. If two of the answers are right, then it has to be d. All of the Above .

17. It’s not a race! Don’t rush! Don’t worry about who finished before you! You won’t get a trophy for finishing first!

18. That’s all folks!

19. Quiz What questions should you do first? The hard problems The easy problems The first problem

20. Quiz What should you do when you come to a hard problem? Skip them and don’t come back. Skip them but put a small pencil mark next to the number to remind you to come back. Take your time and finish the problem when you first come to it.

21. Quiz When doing math problems what should you do if you have to guess? Estimate Pick the answer that has your favorite number. Do the problem at least 10 times.

22. Quiz What should you do before starting the test? Sharpen your pencil. Read the directions and sample question. Stay up all night and study.

23. Quiz What should you look for in test paragraphs? The main idea Details Clues All of the above

24. Quiz When guessing, what choices should you read? All of them The first one (when you guess, what’s the use in reading them all) None. Just pick your favorite letter.

25. Quiz When Guessing, what answer should you eliminate? The last one. The first one. The one that is clearly wrong.

26. Quiz When you have a question with “all of the above” as an option what should you look for? At least one of the answers need to be correct. At least two of the answers need to be correct. All of the answers need to be correct.

27. Quiz Why should you reread paragraphs? There are clues in them that can help you with the questions. There are hidden messages in them that can help you take over the world. It will allow you to practice your silent reading skills.

28. Quiz When you do a “long paragraph” question, what should you do first? Read the entire paragraph at least three times Read the questions first: they will give you clues on what to look for in the paragraph. Read only the first and last sentences.

29. Good Bye Now!