18-Strategies+for+Different+Test+Formats

** Even More on Study Skills & Test Taking ** = = = = =Different Strategies for Different Test Formats=

Tests are often a blend of several types of questions. Review and practice these strategies for various question types.


 * True-False **
 * 1) Circle key words in the question.
 * 2) Remember: If any part of the answer is false, the whole thing is false.
 * 3) Watch for words like "never," "always," "every," "all," "none," and "only"; they generally indicate a false answer.
 * 4) Rarely leave a blank — a guess has a 50-50 chance of being right!


 * Multiple Choice **
 * 1) Read the whole question carefully and try to decide what the answer is before reading any of the options.
 * 2) Read //all// answer options and then choose the one that most closely matches your answer.
 * 3) When unsure, eliminate answers that are clearly incorrect.
 * 4) If forced to guess, choose the longest, most detailed answer.


 * Open Book **
 * 1) Prepare a sheet with important facts or formulas to avoid spending time looking them up.
 * 2) Mark important pages with sticky notes or paper clips.
 * 3) Practice using the index to look up specific topics.
 * 4) Skip questions when the answer can't be found quickly; mark them to come back to later.
 * 5) //Do not copy// from the book! Use the book as a guide to write answers in your own words.


 * Fill-in-the-Blank **
 * 1) Read the sentence carefully for clues about the type of information needed — a person's name, a number, a fact.
 * 2) Watch for grammar clues. For example, the word "an" before the blank indicates that the answer starts with a vowel.
 * 3) Notice the type of blanks in the sentence. One short blank calls for a single word answer. A longer blank indicates a longer answer, such as a phrase.


 * Matching **
 * 1) Scan the whole column of possible matches rather than stopping at the first likely answer.
 * 2) Answer the questions that you are sure of first.
 * 3) Cross out choices as you use them.
 * 4) Keep going through the columns to make more matches.
 * 5) Avoid guessing until you are absolutely stumped.


 * Essay Questions **
 * 1) Before writing, make an outline to organize main ideas and facts to include in the answer.
 * 2) Focus on only one idea per paragraph.
 * 3) State the main point in the first sentence of each paragraph.
 * 4) Avoid unsupported statements - include relevant details and examples.
 * 5) If time is running out, write at least an outline of the whole answer.

Discovery Tasks

 * 1) Watch the videos that you think will be helpful to you:


 * [|Test-Taking Strategies 1: Eliminating Wrong Answers]
 * [|Test-Taking Strategies 2: Working Backwards]
 * [|Test-Taking Strategies 3: Solving Easy Problems First]
 * [|Test-Taking Strategies 4: Staying Relaxed]
 * [|Test-Taking Strategies 5: Secret Spill (Brain Dump)]
 * [|Test-Taking Strategies 6: Show Your Work!]
 * [|Test-Taking Strategies 7: Tricky Words (Game Changers)]
 * [|Test-Taking Strategies 8: "All" or "None" Answers]

__Content__ //Different Strategies for Different Test Formats// by Nancy Firchow, Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation  __Video__ //Test-Taking Strategies Series// by Jonas Salk High-Tech Academy Middle School Teachers
 * List of Sources**