Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

1. Strategies for Taking Standardized Tests

2. What We Know About theEOG Assessment for English Language Arts and Reading Format • 48 questions for grade 6 • 3-4 hours • 6 reading passages:  a balance of literature including poetry and informational text • Selections are longer (some are more than 3 pages) • Readability levels span from middle school through high school 

3. What We Know About theEOG Assessment for English Language Arts and Reading Trends in Reading Skills • Summarizing • Central idea/main idea • Meanings of words in context • Author’s choice and author’s purpose • Details that are “right there” • Figurative language (identifying and analysis) • Evidence to support claims and ideas

4. What We Know About theEOG Assessment for English Language Arts and Reading Questions and Tasks • Reading Literature • Reading Information

7. Questions Stems from 2013 released versions of READY EOG Assessments and Extend 2 for 6-8 English Language Arts and Reading

8. Questions Stems from 2013 released versions of READY EOG Assessments and Extend 2 for 6-8 English Language Arts and Reading

9. What’s different about the EOG/EOC • You will take the calculator inactive and active on the same day. • After you finish the inactive section check it over to make sure you have answered and bubbled in all questions.

10. What’s different about the EOG/EOC • Once you start the active section you cannot go back to the inactive section. If you go back and look at questions or change any answers it will be a misadministration! • Gridded response questions are on the inactive section.

11. How many questions are on the EOG/EOC?

12. What is on the EOG? Content Standard                  % of EOG                        Number Sense                                  27-32     Expressions and Equations                         27-32 Ratios and proportional Relationships           12-17              Geometry                                                12-17    Statistics and Probability                            7-12   

13. Grid-In Questions

14. Grid-In Questions

15. Calculators • No one can help you with a calculator question or issue during the EOG. • If your calculator is not doing what you want-clear it and try again – 2nd-0 – 7 – 1 – 2. • If your calculator dies-raise your hand and you can get a new one.

16. Social Studies MSL’s(Measure Student Learning) StandardMultiple Choice Constructed Response History 13% - 24% 0% - 5% Geography 13% - 24% 0% - 5% Geographer Tools 3% - 14% 0% - 5% Economy 6% - 18% 0% - 5% Civics & Government 13% - 24% 0% - 5% Culture 10% - 21% 0% - 5% Total Percent of Items 87% - 92% 8% - 13% Total Percent of Score 75% - 80% 20% - 25%

17. Social Studies MSL’s(Measure Student Learning) Score 0 – No response or the response does not address the prompt Score 1 – Identifies only one of the three requirements of a level three performance Score 2 – Fulfills only two of the three requirements of a level three performance Score 3 – Identifies the Quran, Arabic, and one lasting impact.

18. Social Studies MSL’s(Measure Student Learning) Example Question: They will be asking the students to do 3 things. Each item is worth 1 pt. Using the excerpt below, identifythe holy book of the Islamic faith, the language in which it was originally written, and a lasting impact of this relationship. The Quran is the Holy Book of Islam The Quran was written in Arabic Arabic is spoken across the globe

19. 6th Grade Science MSL (Measure of Student Learning) MSL’s, often referred to as Common Exams, are assessments that will be used to measure student academic growth in subjects not currently assessed with state end-of-grade assessments.

20. Brief summary of the May 2013 MSL for 6th Grade Science Topics: Waves, Matter, Energy, Solar System, Lithosphere, Plants, Ecosystems Format: Question Type Total Percent of Score Multiple Choice 80%-90% Constructed Response 10%-20%

21. Sample: Constructed Response Question: Soil composition is important. What is one contributing factor for why soil composition can vary from one location to another? Explain your answer. Score 0 No response or the response does not address the prompt Score 1 Fulfills only 1 of 2 requirements of a level 2 performance Score 2 Identifies a contributing factor as to why soil varies from one location to another; provides an explanation for how that contributing factor causes soil to vary

22. ‘Twas the Night Before Testing • Go to bed on time. (get at least 8 hours of sleep) • Put a few number 2 pencils with erasers in your backpack. • Solve family/friend problems before the testing date. • Talk to your parents about any concerns that you might have about the test.

23. The Morning of Testing • Eat a good breakfast. • Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school. • Think Positive!

24. Multiple Choice Questions • Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything.

25. Multiple Choice Questions • Do not change your answers unless you are very uncertain about your first answer choice. • Answer every question-no answer counts as a wrong answer. Make the most intelligent guess you can.

26. Pace Yourself, Don’t Rush • Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and then move on. • Answers the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped. • Don’t worry if others finish before you. Focus on the test in front of you.

27. I know C isn’t the answer! The Process of Elimination • After you have been through all of the questions once, go back and find questions you have some knowledge about and eliminate choices that you know are incorrect and cross them out.

28. The Process of Elimination • If you can eliminate two wrong answers, your chance of choosing the right answer is greater.

29. Answering Questions • Don't guess blindly, but if you have time to think about the best answer choice, make it!

30. Key Words • Find key words or phrases in the question that will help you choose the correct answer.

31. Skip, Return, Check • If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all questions.

32. Math Computation • When using scratch paper on a math test, double check to make sure that you have copied the problem correctly from the test booklet!

33. Are we communicating? • Make sure you understand what the question is asking. • Be sure you are responding to the question that is being asked.

34. Math Computation • Line up place value correctly on your scratch paper (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones) or the answer will be incorrect.

35. Math Computation • If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again.

36. 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. • Remember: Your first guess is usually right.

37. It’s About Time • Don’t spend too much time rewriting or obsessing about neatness. • Remember you can get extra time so don’t rush! You have 4 hours total to take the math EOG.

38. The Death Grip • If your arm tires during testing it is probably due to the grip that you have on your pencil. • Relax the grip and give those muscles a break. • Do not do arm exercises during testing as this disturbs others.

39. Final Tips • Fill in bubbles fully, write neatly, and erase stray marks. • Double-check the question number in your test booklet against the answer sheet every few questions to be sure you are bubbling the correct problem.

40. Thank you, Mr. Know-it-all! • Remember it's okay not to know everything — unlike class tests, these tests will have some questions designed to challenge the limits of your knowledge.

41. Scores • Since this year is the first year for the new EOG, scores will not be available until the fall (around October). • Teachers cannot tell you if you passed or failed yet.

42. Good Luck! • Relax and don’t stress! You are prepared and I know you will do well! Created by Stacey Johnson Information from http://www.testtakingtips.com/and jc-schools