Show:
Multiple Choice
Scoring Points
Study Tips and Important information
Open Response
Long Composition
100
How many multiple choice questions are on the test, and how much is each one worth?
What is 36 Questions, 1 point each.
100
True or false: Leaving a question blank is better than putting a wrong answer.
What is FALSE. The only way to guarantee that you'll get a question wrong is to leave it blank. Please answer EVERY QUESTION to the best of your ability!
100
Name two things you can do during the last 24 hours before MCAS to better prepare yourself.
1. Look at your literary terms flashcards. 2. Review your notes on the test sections and techniques. 3. Get a good night's sleep! 4. Eat breakfast. 5. Don't let yourself get overly stressed out about it!
100
How many open response questions are scored?
What is 4 Questions are scored. (Yes, you have to write six responses. Sorry.)
100
How many quotations do you need to use?
None! (You won't have a book in front of you.) It's great if you can remember a few and be as specific as possible about the details you use to support your thesis.
200
When should you first read through the multiple choice questions?
What is first thing -- before you even read the excerpt.
200
How many points (raw score) is the long composition worth?
What is What is 20 points (6 for topic development + 4 for English usage x 2 scorers)
200
Where can you find examples of questions and answers from all past mcas tests?
On the Massachusetts Department of Educaction website (www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/) * You can use these to get a feel for the test and answer practice questions here.
200
How should you indicate the title of a poem, short story or article in an open response?
By using Quotation Marks.
200
Name three things you should check for when editing your rough draft.
1. Spelling (including common mistakes like "their, they're, and there) 2. Grammar/Syntax - do your sentences make sense and read correctly? 3. Punctuation 4. Personal pronouns -- Make sure you're not writing "I" and "you." 5. Tense - are you writing in present and sticking to it?
300
If the question prints the sentence it is referring to, is that the only place you have to look?
NO. You should still go back into the excerpt and look at the paragraph it refers to in case you can find any additional information to help you answer the question.
300
How many points is the open response section worth?
What is 16 (four for each scored response.)
300
What can you bring to entertain yourself if you finish the MCAS early?
Day 1: A magazine, newspaper, crossword, sudoku, sketchbook, or somthing like that. No books on long comp. day. Days 2 and 3: Any of the above, plus books are fine. If you get caught with a cell phone or electronic device, your MCAS score could be invalidated, and you could have to take the entire test again.
300
What is the minimum number of reasons needed to fully develop an open response answer.
What is THREE.
300
How long to you have to write your long composition?
What is the ENTIRE first day -- 8:30 - 1 to do a rough draft and final draft.
400
What if two answers could both work? Which one should you choose?
Try to find the answer that answer the question best, or more completely. Cross out any answers that don't make sense and try to narrow it down.
400
How many points is the multiple choice section worth?
What is 36 points, one point for each question.
400
What if I don't finish the test in time?
You will be allowed to take extra time to finish if needed. You can have until the end of the school day.
400
How many quotations should you use to support your open response answer?
What is minimum of three.
400
What important components does every good introduction need to have?
1. Hook (Grab your reader's attention with an interesting fact, open-ended philosophical question, strong statement, snippet of plot, or definition of the topic being discussed.) 2. Citation of title and author's full name. (Underline book titles!) 3. Background information/plot details that are relevant to the topic you discuss. 4. A strong thesis statement 5. A connection between your argument and a THEME in the book.
500
What should each excerpt look like when you're done with it?
The excerpts should have writing all over them from you talking to the page!
500
The total number of points in the MCAS raw score. (And how many are needed to pass?)
What is 72. (36 points is the cutoff score for needs improvement.)
500
What and when will you eat during MCAS?
The school will provide breakfast in the morning, and snacks during the test. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you will have an hour for lunch after the test. on Thursday, you will go to your regular classes at 10:30.
500
If you have no idea how to answer the question, what should you do?
What is flip the prompt, mention title and author, and use the excerpt to help you come up with your best guess at what the answer might be.
500
Where should you connect to a theme in your essay?
1. In thesis. (Last sentence of introduction.) 2. In each body paragraph 3. In the conclusion.