Show:
Reading Strategies
Multiple Choice
Open Response
Testing Tips
Popular Bad Ideas
100
What does an Expert Tester read BEFORE beginning an MCAS passage? TWO POSSIBLE ANSWERS
The italics OR the questions
100
What is the first strategy for reducing the number of answer choices in a multiple choice question?
Eliminate the ridiculous answer.
100
What is the basic formula for a successful open response?
Answer the question, give evidence, explain the evidence, repeat!
100
What are some ways that you can ensure that your body and mind are ready for the challenge of the MCAS on Wednesday and Thursday? (multiple answers)
answers will vary
100
What’s wrong with this Popular Bad Idea? “I made sure to bring snacks to keep me energized! I’ve got Cheetos, Sprite, chips, and a Snickers bar!”
Junk food can give you some quick energy, but the resulting fatigue comes back even stronger than before.
200
What is a strategy for making sure you are comprehending the passage, not just decoding it?
Chunking and summarizing
200
Give the definition of the "distractor" answer.
The answer that looks good at first, but is not the BEST answer!
200
True or False: If you want to, you can complete the open response question for a passage BEFORE answering the multiple choice.
TRUE! There is no rule against this. If you know that you need full energy for the open response, you can do it before answering the multiple choice.
200
The test begins. Everyone is working. Suddenly, you panic, worrying you will forget everything you know. What are some ways to regain control over your fear? (multiple answers)
answers vary
200
What’s wrong with this Popular Bad Idea? “I don’t have to read the whole passage…I already found the answers in the text!”
MCAS Man designs the distractor so that it looks like the right answer…to someone who didn’t carefully read the whole passage!
300
Billy reads an MCAS passage and highlights important parts of the text before going to the questions. What else should he be doing in addition to highlighting?
Writing reasons WHY he is highlighting the text!
300
Before uncovering the multiple choice answers to a question, you must…
Go back to the text to find the correct answer yourself!
300
How many pieces of textual evidence should you provide to ensure a perfect “4” score? Why?
3 pieces of textual evidence, because that proves that you’ve FULLY answered the question.
300
Research shows that stretching during breaks in a test increases your energy and confidence. Why might this be true?
Sitting down for hours without moving your body is not good for you. Stretching reinvigorates your body and mind!
300
What’s wrong with this Popular Bad Idea? “I know how important it is to mark up the text…that’s why I’m highlighting every other word!”
Highlighting without knowing WHY you are highlighting is a waste of time.
400
When you find an answer to a question in the passage, what should you immediately do? MULTIPLE POSSIBLE ANSWERS.
Write the question number in the part of the text where you find the answer. Highlight that part of the passage. See which multiple choice option best matches your answer.
400
When you read a multiple choice question, what is the best way to make sure you know the correct answer BEFORE choosing the correct letter?
Cover the answers and come up with your OWN answer by going back to the text!
400
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER BONUS ROUND!!!!!!!
Is from "Number the Stars" a hero? Use textual evidence to support your answer.
400
TRUE OR FALSE: Closing your eyes and imagining your success is corny and childish.
COMPLETELY FALSE. Here’s Jack Nicklaus, considered the greatest golfer of all time: “I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head. First I see the ball where I want it to finish, nice and white and sitting up high on the bright green grass. Then the scene quickly changes, and I see the ball going there; its path, trajectory, and shape, even its behavior on landing. Then there is a sort of fade-out, and the next scene shows me making the kind of swing that will turn the previous images into reality.”
400
What’s wrong with this Popular Bad Idea? “On the open response, I did everything right! I answered the question and listed 3 pieces of textual evidence.”
A list of textual evidence is not enough for an open response! The whole point is for you to explain HOW your evidence proves your answer.
500
TRUE OR FALSE: On the MCAS, you can read the questions first and then just look for the answers in the text.
FALSE: If you don’t read the WHOLE passage from beginning to end, you WILL fall for the distractor answers.
500
Why is it important to create your own answer to multiple choice questions BEFORE looking at the answers?
Because creating your own answer forces your brain to work, which prevents you from falling for the distractor.
500
Which open response would score higher: one with 3 pieces of evidence and no explanation, or 2 pieces of evidence with great explanations?
The second one, because the reader must clearly see the connection between your evidence and your thesis statement.
500
What should you do if you think you are running out of time during the MCAS?
TRICK QUESTION!!! You can’t run out of time on the MCAS. ?It is untimed! You have as much time as you need. Isn’t that nice of MCAS Man?
500
What’s wrong with this Popular Bad Idea? “Man, this passage is really boring…I’m going to hurry up and get through it so I can read something more interesting!”
The MCAS is NOT meant to be entertaining. It is a test of your reading and writing ability. Only a CHUMP would care about how “interesting” the passages are.