Getting Ready for the Test
What days are the ELA AIR Test?
Monday - Thursday
Will there be essay questions on the AIR test? If so, how many?
Yes, 1 on each day. 2 in total.
Message, moral, lesson
Theme!
How much of the essay response should be in your own words and how much can you pull from the passage?
70% in your own words and 30% from the passage: 4 short quotes or paraphrased evidence
T or F: The teacher present in the testing room is not allowed to help you in any way on the AIR test.
True. We are not allowed and will not help you in any way on this test.
How many hours of sleep should you get the night before the test?
8 hours
Are you taking the AIR test on a computer or is it on paper? Will there still be scratch paper for your essay response?
Computer. Yes.
Words in a sentence that surround a word and help you figure out the unknown meaning
Context Clues
How long will you have for the AIR test? Is there any added benefit of being the first one finished with the test?
2 hours. No.
What should you do if you come across a question and have no idea what the answer is?
Skip it and come back at the end. OR Eliminate an answer, try your best, and mark it for review.
On the morning of the test, what should you do to make sure that you're ready to take the test?
Eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast
What technique should you use for all multiple-choice questions?
Process of elimination
What the text is mostly about / one sentence that sums up the entire text.
Main or central idea
What if you skip an answer because you have no clue and after you return back to it, you still can’t figure it out?
Make an educated guess and try to pick the answer that makes the most sense. If you leave a question unanswered you have a 0% chance of getting it right!
How many paragraphs is a multi-paragraph essay?
Approximately 4 paragraphs: introduction, races 1, races 2, conclusion
What is appropriate testing taking attire?
Something comfortable that you won't mind sitting in for a long period of time.
T or F – The first answer you pick/comes to mind is typically correct.
True! Trust your Gut!
What are three ways a text can be organized?
Chronological, problem & solution, cause & effect, sequence, compare and contrast
Are you allowed to use the restroom during the AIR test?
Yes, but the clock doesn’t stop. If you choose to use the restroom you will be losing out on valuable test time.
What should you do while you’re reading a passage?
Pull out key details, highlight, annotate.
What are somethings that you can do to calm down before taking the test?
Take a few deep breaths, think positively, chew gum/peppermint, try not to think about it.
T or F. It is OK to not read through all of the multiple-choice options and pick the first one you think fits.
F. Always read all answer options! No exceptions.
Give us three examples of figurative language.
Hyperbole, personification, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, alliteration, allusion.
What are you going to do if you have 10 minutes left on the test and still have 15 questions left to answer? In this case, you would’ve already answered the essay question.
Stay calm, skim the passage as quickly as possible (if you haven’t read it already), use the process of elimination, and make the best-educated guess possible.
What is the most important thing to remember about taking the AIR test?
Stay calm, do the best you can. Take your time. You can do this!