Test Taking Tips

Play with the Format

Play with the Format

• "Have students create the answer responses to a question stem, thinking carefully about "wrong" answers and finding the right language to construct the "correct" response."
• "Have students construct the question based on the answer responses."
• "Have students answer one multiple-choice, standardized test type of question to see if they grasped an idea covered in class."
• "Give the class a mixed up practice test, with the questions scrambled and in no apparent order of difficulty. Have teams of students re-order the questions, moving from easiest to hardest, being prepared to explain and defend why a certain question was easy or difficult."
• "Have students debate the merits of the wording of a particular question to find flaws, bias or shortcomings and then rewrite the question with more careful wording."
• http://www.edutopia.org/blog/play-with-standardized-test-prep-matt-levinson

Cooking Analogy

Cooking Analogy

• Taking a test is like baking a cake, there are steps that need to take place before you get the final product, or answer
• This can be the case for playing a new video game or building a model--there are steps in the process
• Have students make a list of what steps need to happen before they get the final cake or move to the next level in a video game or put the finishing touch a model airplane
• Remember, if you miss a step, the cake will not be good or you won't get to the next level or the model will fall apart
• Now, have students make a list of ALL of the steps it takes to study for math or ELA or any other subject
• http://www.edutopia.org/blog/brain-compatible-study-strategies-lori-desaute...

Reflect on your process

• After your next assessment, have your students ask themselves:
• Did I make a careless mistake?
• Did I forget a "step"?
• Am I forgetting how to solve a problem (or concept)?
• What do I need to come up with the right answer?
• Who can help me?
• What are my resources (teacher, friend, someone at home, book, online resources)?
• What will you do differently next time?

Gears to Great Grades

All resources from www.edutopia.org