Created by: Mrs. J. Rojas (with the use of Kaplan Strategies)

Test Taking Strategies Created by: Mrs. J. Rojas (with the use of Kaplan Strategies)

Word Strategies For Synonyms: WORD CHARGE and WORD ASSOCIATION ELIMINATION strategies Multiple Meaning Words 3 steps for Multiple Meaning Questions The 3 C’s 3 Language Question Types General Strategies for The Language Test Underlined Questions Using Elimination and Backsolving TEST TAKING STRATEGIES One Step At A A Time 4/07

Word Strategies:Synonyms • A synonym is a word that means the same thing as another word. • Rug = Carpet • Synonyms only need to have approximately the same meaning as the tested word - your not looking for an exact match. Boy = Male

Using WORD CHARGE • Know whether the word has a positive or negative charge (good or bad). Some words that have neither charge are neutral = N. • Useful = • Nasty= • Beautiful= • Close= + = helpful +, ---, or N --- = mean + = lovely N = shut

Using WORD ASSOCIATION • Another way of figuring out what a word means. • Where did I hear this word before?? • For Example - Catastrophe (- word charge) • Artificial (N word charge) “the earthquake was acatastrophe”(disastrous) “artificialflavors and colors”(fake, constructed)

4-STEPS for Synonyms OR

ELIMINATION STRATEGIESEasy TIPS for eliminating wrong answers! • If an answer means the oppositeof your prediction, eliminate it! • If two answer mean the same thing, eliminate them both! • If an answer looks or sounds just like the vocabulary word in the main question, it can usually be eliminated.

Multiple Meanings Words Using Substitution and Elimination • Multiple meaning questions test your understanding of secondary definitions - when a word has more than one meaning. Substitution: Solve the question by plugging a synonym into both the sentence and the answer choice. Ex. - I want to play the guitar in my brother’s band, so he says he and his friends are going to band together to teach me! Elimination: Rule out answer choices that include the wrong parts of speech. Ex. - In his inaugural address, the president will address the issue national security.

3 Steps for MULTIPLE MEANING QUESTIONS

VOCABULARY IN CONTEXTTHE 3C’S • When you come across a difficult word, you can figure out the meaning by looking at the words that surround it - its CONTEXT. • Ex.- FEIGNED and ILLICIT • Andy feigned being sick so he could • stay home from school. PRETENDED or ACTED • The thief kept hisillicit things in a closet • of his basement. ILLEGAL or UNLAWFUL

THE 3C’sSTRUCTURAL CLUES • STRUCTURAL CLUES • because and as a result • due to • nevertheless • despite • even though • however • Ex. • Though Tom likes broccoli, his sister • ________ it.

THE 3C’sCOMMAS When you see a comma in a sentence, match the ideas on either side! • Pay ATTENTION to COMMAS!! • Generally used to LINK two related concepts. • Think of a comma as an • =sign. CALM A ____________ person by nature, Worren often laughed uncontrollably at parties. Old and broken, the skateboard was in need of ________________. REPAIR

THE 3C’sWORD CHARGE • You can predict whether a missing word has a positive or negative feeling. Words used on these tests often have a positive or negative feeling - use this fact to your advantage!! Anais did her work so _________that she completed the project ahead of schedule diligently

3 LANGUAGE QUESTION TYPES

Language Test Strategy:SKIP AROUND Don’t panic if you come to a hard question. If it’s too hard, skip it. Remember to come back to it later. • Are you an experienced test-taker???? • If yes, then that means you skip over hard questions in order to spend more time on the easier ones. Which ones would you skip first? monocotyledonous fun historiographically disestablishmentarianism

PACING • TIME is extremely tight on • the Language test. • Spend time on the questions • you are most comfortable • with. • Give yourself a time limit • for each question.

EDUCATED GUESSING • ELIMINATE as many wrong answers as you can. • GUESS from the choices that remain • Use everything you KNOW even when your stuck! • NEVER leave an answer blank. “When can I stop making wild guesses and start making educated guesses?”

UNDERLINED QUESTIONSELIMINATION STRATEGIES “CORRECT AS IS” • Choice (D) always reads: “Correct as is.” • If you think there is an error, (even if you don’t know what it is) rule out this choice immediately. • If a sentence sounds wrong, it probably is - Go with your instincts! Bear in mind, most questions contain grammatical errors.

UNDERLINED QUESTIONSELIMINATION STRATEGIES “DOUBLE TROUBLE” CHOICES • Eliminate DOUBLE TROUBLE choices • Rarely more than one error in a sentence • Eliminate the answer choice that tries to correct more than one thing. The film Are We There Yet? was Release in 2006. A were release in 2006. B was released in 2006. C were released in 2006. D correct as is

UNDERLINED QUESTIONSELIMINATION STRATEGIES “BACKSOLVING AND GUESSING” • After you eliminate Correct as is and Double Trouble • Use your ears! • Plug each answer choice back into the sentence • If you eliminated two answer choices- your chances of success are 50%!!

Created by: Mrs. J. Rojas (with the use of Kaplan Strategies)