Test-Taking Strategy
Do this while reading so your brain does not have to remember everything later.
What is take notes?
Say the full READ method in order.
What is Restate and answer, cite Evidence, Analyze your quote, Draw a conclusion?
This sentence states the main idea or argument of an essay.
What is a thesis statement?
A direct quote and a paraphrase both need this if the idea comes from a source.
What is a citation?
Read this before the passage so you know what information to look for.
What are the questions?
Use this strategy when you can rule out answers that are clearly wrong.
What is process of elimination?
This part of READ keeps students from starting an answer with “because” or a fragment.
What is restate and answer the question?
This opening sentence or idea is designed to grab the reader’s attention.
What is a hook?
This means putting information from a source into your own words.
What is paraphrasing?
Check these parts of an informational text because they often contain answers without being in the main paragraphs.
What are text features (headings, captions, tables, etc.)
Before choosing an answer, reread this carefully so you know exactly what the test is asking.
What is the question?
This part of READ proves that your answer is based on the text, not just your opinion.
What is cite evidence?
Before writing the essay, students should organize their thoughts on paper to create this.
A map of how the essay should be structured and where to put their thoughts.
These short labels can help students organize body paragraphs and place arguments in the correct section.
What are subtitles?
On a test where you cannot go back, write these while reading so you do not lose important details.
What are quick notes?
Use the words and sentences around an unfamiliar word to help figure out its meaning.
What are context clues?
This part of READ explains how the evidence supports the answer.
What is analyze the evidence?
One technology-enabled way of getting over "blank page paralysis" or, "writer's block".
What is dictating your thoughts.
In a body paragraph, this sentence usually tells the reader what the paragraph will be about.
What is a topic sentence?
When reading a long passage, pause after each paragraph or section and quickly name this.
What is the main idea?
For analogy questions, identify this before choosing the answer.
What is the relationship between the words?
A student writes: “This shows the character is brave.” They have started analyzing, but to make the answer stronger, they should explain this.
What is why or how the evidence shows bravery?
A conclusion should restate this.
The thesis statement.
This is the problem when a paragraph includes too many unrelated ideas instead of staying focused on one main point.
What is lack of focus / going off topic?
This mistake happens when students add their own explanation instead of choosing the answer the passage actually supports.
What is overthinking?