Test-Taking Strategies
You have 28 questions on a test and 120 minutes to finish. How many minutes should you spend on each question?
4 minutes
Which of the following is an example of a philosophy?
A) How to bake cookies / B)Belief in personal freedom
C) A movie plot twist / D) A fashion trend
B) A belief in individual freedom
Name one possible tone from a story.
Uplifting, sad, sarcastic, humorous, serious
What does CERER stand for?
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning, Evidence, Reasoning
True/False: My evidence should be random quotes I like.
False
Why might it help to skip a hard question and come back to it later?
So you don’t waste time and can answer questions you know first.
What does “grumbling” most likely mean in the sentence “His father was grumbling that he hadn’t heard from him”?
Complaining
Name one possible mood.
Ominous, joyful, tense, lonely, humorous
How many pieces of evidence should a complete response include?
At least two
True/False: I need to explain the quote in my own words.
True
What strategy should you use when you are given a word-in-context question?
Try replacing each answer choice into the sentence and see which makes the most sense in context.
What does “radically” most likely mean in the sentence: He changed his approach radically after failing the first test?
Extremely
Central idea is also known as what?
Main idea
What must come before a quote in your paragraph?
Your claim and an introduction/context for the quote
Should your reasoning be shorter than your quote?
No, your reasoning should be longer than your quote
If the question refers to “paragraph 4,” what should you do first?
Go back and read all of paragraph 4 carefully.
Which word means “study of belief systems” such as life, knowledge, or existence?
Philosophy
What’s the difference between tone and mood?
Tone is the author’s attitude; mood is the feeling created in the reader.
What is the most important part of the reasoning portion of a CER?
Explaining how the quote proves your claim, in your own words
What do you need to include in a citation?
Quotation marks and the paragraph number (e.g., par. 4)
Why is it a good idea to eliminate at least 2 answer choices?
It increases your chances of guessing correctly and helps you focus on the best answer.
What does “rhetoric” mean?
Effective speaking/writing
What is the definition of “theme” and provide an example of one.
Theme is the central message or lesson of a story.
Examples: Love, revenge, survival, redemption, good vs. evil
What makes a claim strong?
It’s arguable, specific, and clearly answers the question
What’s the maximum rubric score you can earn?
4