Test-Taking Strategies
You should do this if you don’t know an answer right away instead of getting stuck.
What is skip it and come back later?
This is the dictionary definition of a word.
What is denotation?
This is how the poet feels as shown through the words they chose.
What is tone?
This is the (usually universal) lesson or message of a story.
What is theme?
This means showing a strong opinion instead of being neutral.
What is bias?
This strategy helps you narrow down choices by crossing out wrong answers.
What is eliminate incorrect answers?
This is the feeling or emotion a word suggests.
What is connotation?
“The wind whispered through the trees” is an example of this.
What is personification?
This part of the plot includes the main conflict and builds tension.
What is rising action?
This type of source can be trusted and is believable.
What is credible?
You should look for these in the question to understand what it’s really asking.
What are key words?
Which word has a more positive connotation: “cheap” or “affordable”?
What is affordable?
Words like “softly,” “calm,” and “gentle” help create this kind of tone.
What is peaceful (or calm)?
This is the most exciting or important moment in a story.
What is the climax?
“This terrible rule should be removed immediately!” shows this.
What is bias?
This strategy helps you prove your answer using the passage.
What is finding text evidence?
This word has a more negative connotation: “slender” or “skinny.”
What is skinny?
This is the deeper meaning or message of a poem, usually something universal.
What is theme?
Which is a theme? “Friendship is important” OR “Two friends go to the park.”
What is “Friendship is important”?
This is a problem if a source only includes one side of an issue.
What is lack of multiple perspectives (or bias)?
If two answers seem correct, you should do this to choose the best one.
What is compare them carefully using the text?
“The room was small” to “The room was cozy” changes this.
What is connotation (tone/feeling)?
When a poem compares two things using “like” or “as,” it is called this.
What is a simile?
This part of the plot shows how the conflict is resolved.
What is resolution?
This would make a source MORE credible: a random opinion or expert research?
What is expert research?