Test-Taking Tips & Strategies

Preparing for Standardized Tests (CST, CAHSEE, others)

Test Taking Tips

On The Eve Before Testing

Engage in activities that ease your mind (do not play violent video games, or watch horror movies, etc.) Solve family/friend problems before the testing date. Talk to your parents about any concerns that you might have about the test. Make sure you place all necessary materials in your backpack Eat a well-balanced dinner, but not too late (avoid upset stomach) Go To Bed Early (you need about 8 to 9 hours of sleep).

Test Taking Tips

The Morning of Testing Start your day as you always do. Eat a good breakfast* but dont drink a large beverage before hand (Duh!!). Get to school a few minutes earlier than you usually do.. Know what classroom you are to repot to. Think Positive!

Test Taking Tips

Once You Enter Your Classroom Relax!! Ask for procedural help when directions allow it. Your teacher is there to help you. The STAR-CST test is based on California State Content Standards. You have already studied most of the material you will see on the test.

Test Taking Tips

During The Test If you do not understand the directions or are unsure, ask for help! Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything Choose the most appropriate strategy to help you solve the problem.

Test Taking Tips

Pace Yourself Answer the easiest questions first. Dont spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and then move on. Be sure to go back to those questions you skipped.

Test Taking Tips

A Matter of Time If any time remains, spend it on those questions about which you know nothing or almost nothing. As you go back through, do not change all answers; Your first guess is usually

right!!!

Test Taking Tips

Guessing All of the Above is usually right. None of the Above is usually wrong. If the choice uses words like never and always it is usually wrong. Remember, once you guess stick with your answer. Only change if you are absolutely sure you are wrong.

Test Taking Tips

The Death Grip If your arm tires during testing it is probably due to the hard grip that you have on your pencil. Relax the grip and give those muscles a break. Giving your Back a Break Do not break your back with bad posture or tense muscles. Sit properly and relax your back and shoulders If you need to stretch your arm, hands or back during the test, keep it discrete. Do not disturb others!!!

Test Taking Tips

Final Tips Fill in bubbles fully, write neatly, and erase stray marks. Double-check the test number in your test booklet against the answer sheet every few questions to be sure you havent moved on to the wrong question. Remember it's okay not to know everythingunlike class tests, these tests will have some questions designed to challenge the limits of your knowledge (beyond your grade level).

Test Taking Tips

Basic Knowledge + Strategies = Better Odds Follow all the tips. Trust yourself: You know more than you think!!! Apply the strategies.

Test Taking Tips

Some facts about the CST
Math section has 65 questions (all grades) ELA section has 75 questions (grades 6 & 8) and 83 questions (grade 7). There are 5 levels: Advanced (A) * 80 100%] Proficient (P) * 58 81%] Basic (B) * 41 65%] Below Basic (BB) * 27 47%] Far Below Basic (FBB) * 0 33%] Most common Grading Scale : A = 90 -100% B = 80 89% C = 70 79% D = 60 69% F = 0 59% Compare the scale percentages (remember 50% means )

Test Taking Tips

Each Q has 4 possible answers
Ini, mini, mani , mo or Ave Maria Dame Punteria

= or 25%
This way, your chances are for 654 = 17,850,625 for 754 = 31,640,625 for 834 = 47,458,321 (with all answers right)

Test Taking Tips

Above all,
Glance at all the questions first Go for all those questions that you know how to solve (trust what you know). Last, go back to the questions you skipped and apply the strategies.

Why Do We Take These Tests?

Class v. District v. State Tests The STAR-CST test is based on the California State Standards (Same Contract all across the state). CST help teachers and administrators determine areas of strength and weakness, as well as to determine which classes you may take next year. CST is use to calculate your schools API score (a school report card!!!) The API score is also used to rank schools throughout the state. FYI: Our district has the three highest high school API scores in East County!
DO YOUR BEST EFFORT!!!!

Test Taking Strategies

Mathematics & Science

Test Taking Strategies

Math Computations
When using scratch paper on a math test, double check to make sure that you have copied the problem correctly from the test booklet! Line up place value correctly on your scratch paper (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones) or the answer will be incorrect. If your answer does not match one of the choices, re-read the problem, re-copy the numbers, and try solving it again.

Test Taking Strategies

Strategies For Math Elimination Estimation Guess & Check Plug-in Draw

Test Taking Strategies

Elimination
Use your knowledge to eliminate obvious wrong answers. If you eliminate two wrong answers, your chances go from (25% or FFB) to (50% or B)!!!!
652 = 4225, if you still do random choice*

Test Taking Strategies

Elimination (continues)
Example (Math 7th grade):

What is 0.375 as a fraction in lowest terms?

a) b) c) d) 3/80 3/8 3/7 15/4
Which ones may I eliminate?

Test Taking Strategies

Eliminate (continues)
FACTS you should know: numerator/denominator If numerator > denominator, the fraction is more than 1 (improper) If numerator is much, much smaller than denominator, the fraction is closer to ZERO
Which options could you eliminate now? Explain a) b) c) d) 3/80 3/8 3/7 15/4

Test Taking Strategies

Eliminate (continues) If you eliminated (a) and (c), you are correct!

Two options left = 50% chance (50% = Basic)

Test Taking Strategies

Estimate
You know this strategy as rounding off. Is 127 closer to 120 or 130? 127 is closer to 130!!!

Test Taking Strategies

Estimating
Example: Rosa bought 3 cans of fruit for $2.79 each. What did she pay for all the cans? (a)$ 0.93 (b)$ 5.79 (c)$ 8.17 (d)$8.37
1) Round off $2.79 2) Multiply by 3 3) Choose correct answer.

Test Taking Strategies

Estimating
1) Round off $2.79 to dollars $3.00 2) Multiply by 3 3 x $3.00 = $9.00 3) Choose correct answer. (a) (b) (c) (d) $ 0.93 $ 5.79 $ 8.17 $8.37

Test Taking Strategies

Estimating (d) Is the correct answer ($8.37 is the closest answer to $9.00)

Test Taking Strategies

Guess and Check This strategy best work in solving equations. Choose any one of the four choices, Substitute your choice into the variable Solve the equation If both sides are EQUAL, you got it! If both side are different, repeat the process

Test Taking Strategies

Guess and Check Example: What is the value of x in 3x 10 = 17 a)x = 27 b)x = -7 c) x = 7 d)x = 9

Test Taking Strategies

Guess and Check If we guess (a) x = 27 Then, 3(27) 10 = 17 (substitute & multiply) 81 10 = 17 71 = 17 But this is not the correct answer. So, Guess and Check another choice

Test Taking Strategies

Guess and Check If we guess (b) x = -7 Then, 3(-7) 10 = 17 -21 10 = 17 -31 = 17 But this is not the correct answer. So, Guess and Check another choice

Test Taking Strategies

Guess and Check If we guess (c) x = 7 Then, 3(9) 10 = 17 27 10 = 17 17 = 17 This is the correct answer!!!

Test Taking Strategies

Plug-in
This strategy is similar to Guess & Check. But it requires a bit of extra effort Example: Twice as many people visited a museum on Tuesday that did on Monday, and 5 more people visited on Wednesday that did on Tuesday. A total of 125 people visited the museum over the three days. How many visited on Tuesday? a) 48 people b) 30 people This is really c) 60 people hard!!! d) 24 people

Test Taking Strategies

Plug-in
Translate to algebraic terms: Twice as many people visited a museum on Tuesday that did on Monday, and 5 more people visited on Wednesday that did on Tuesday. A total of 125 people visited the museum over the three days. How many visited on Tuesday?
Monday
(no specific number of visitors)

x 2x 5 + (2x) = 125

Tuesday = Twice as many as Monday Wednesday = 5 more than Tuesday Total visited museum = 125

Translating is is the tricky part

Test Taking Strategies

Plug-in This strategy is similar to Guess & Check. Translate and write equation Choose any one of the four choices, Substitute your choice Solve the equation you came up with If both sides are EQUAL, you got it! If both side are different, repeat the process

Test Taking Strategies

Plug-in
a) 48 people
Monday
visitors) (no specific number of

x 2x 5 + (2x) 125

48 2(48) 5 + (96)

48 96 101 245

Tuesday = Twice as many as Monday Wednesday = 5 more than Tuesday Total visited museum = 125

Since 125 245, (a) is not the right answer

Test Taking Strategies

Plug-in
b) 30 people
Monday
visitors) (no specific number of

x 2x 5 + (2x) 125

30 2(30) 5 + (60)

30 60 65 155

Tuesday = Twice as many as Monday Wednesday = 5 more than Tuesday Total visited museum = 125

Since 125 155, (b) is not the right answer

Test Taking Strategies

Plug-in
c) 60 people
Monday
visitors) (no specific number of

x 2x 5 + (2x) 125

60 2(60) 5 + (120)

60 120 125 305

Tuesday = Twice as many as Monday Wednesday = 5 more than Tuesday Total visited museum = 125

Since 125 305, (c) is not the right answer

Test Taking Strategies

Plug-in
d) 24 people
Monday
visitors) (no specific number of

x 2x 5 + (2x) 125

24 2(24) 5 + (48)

24 48 53 125

Tuesday = Twice as many as Monday Wednesday = 5 more than Tuesday Total visited museum = 125

Since 125 = 125, (d) is the right answer!!!

Test Taking Strategies

Draw (Sketch)
This strategy helps you see the situation for a better understanding of the problem. Example (Algebra- Quadratics):

Eli tossed a water balloon up into the air from the high slide at a water park, at a velocity of 96 feet/sec. The slide is 32 ft above the ground. The equation h(t) = -16t2 + Vot + h0 represents the path of the water balloon. Where h(t) = the height of the object from the ground after t seconds; V0 = initial velocity; and h0= initial height. How long will it take the water balloon to reach the surface of the water below?

Test Taking Strategies

Draw (Sketch)
Eli tossed a water balloon up into the air from the high slide at a water park, at a velocity of 96 feet/sec. The slide is 32 ft above the ground. The equation h(t) = -16t2 + Vot + h0 represents the path of the water balloon. Where h(t) = the height of the object from the ground after t seconds; V0 = initial velocity; and h0= initial height. How long will it take the water balloon to reach the surface of the water below?

Test Taking Strategies

Draw (Sketch) Drawing does not solve the problem, but it helps us take a step closer. Once you understand it, then you may choose another strategy to solve the problem (i.e. guess & check)