Rules, Rules, Rules
What is prohibited in the testing room?
Electronics (smartwatches, airpods/headphones, phones), Bags, Jackets, etc.
Describe the components of the NJSLA-ELA NWT?
Literary Passage #1
Multiple Choice Questions
Narrative
Informational Passage #1
Multiple Choice Questions
Describe the components of the NJSLA-ELA RST?
Nonfiction Passage #1
Multiple Choice Questions
Nonfiction Passage #2
Multiple Choice Questions
Nonfiction Passage, video, or audio #3
Multiple Choice Questions
Essay
How much time should I spend on my introduction, and what must it include?
5 minutes
It must include a thesis.
What tool can I use to help me eliminate answers?
I can use the answer elimination tool (the red X)
When can I speak in the testing room?
Never/Only if your proctor is whispering to me individually after I raise my hand.
Name at least 3 categories of multiple choice questions you may see on the NWT.
Vocabulary in context, theme/central idea, author’s purpose, literary devices, selecting the best evidence, etc.
Name at least 3 categories of multiple choice questions you may see on the RST.
Vocabulary in context, central idea, author’s purpose, cause/effect, sequencing events, selecting the best evidence, etc.
How much time should I spend on a body paragraph?
10-15 minutes, depending on if I am writing 2 or 3
What should I do if I am unsure of the answer to a question?
I should use the answer elimination tool to cross off answers I know are definitely incorrect, answer the question to the best of my ability, and bookmark the question to go back to it if I have additional time.
What can I wear to the NJSLA?
I can wear my AECP polo, t-shirt, cardigan, or sweatshirt/jacket WITHOUT a hood.
**It's best to avoid having pockets, too!
How much total time should I spend reading, annotating, and answering multiple choice questions for each passage?
15 minutes EACH (max).
How much total time should I spend reading, annotating, and answering multiple choice questions for each passage?
15 minutes EACH (max).
How much time should I spend on my conclusion?
5 minutes
Besides selecting an answer by clicking on the one correct, how else might I have to select my answer?
I may have to drag and drop, select all that apply, select 2+ answers, connect answers with arrows, or drag text from the passage into an answer box.
What happens if I am found to have a prohibited item, like a cell phone, in my testing room?
It is reported to the state, and everyone’s test in the room could be invalidated. (Plus, there's a $500 fine PER incident!)
Describe what quality annotations look like for a Literary Passage
Quality annotations summarize the events while completing a DDAT chart for the characters mentioned in the prompt.
Describe what quality annotations look like for a Nonfiction Passage.
Quality annotations summarize the main points of the texts while also annotating specifically for the prompt.
How much time should I leave at the end of my test to proofread my essay?
5 minutes
About how much are multiple choice questions worth on the NJSLA?
Multiple choice questions are worth about half of your score of the NJSLA.
Explain the rules for the Testing Ticket and Scratch Paper.
I cannot write or damage my testing ticket in any way. I cannot damage my scratch paper. I must turn back in my testing ticket and scratch paper. Even if a small corner of the paper is missing, it must be reported to the state and could invalidate my test!
Explain how to structure a Narrative.
Write a narrative from the perspective the prompt requires.
Answer the prompt. Usually prompts ask you to continue the story or to rewrite the story from another character’s perspective (or both!).
Ensure your story has a beginning, middle, and end.
PROOFREAD!
Explain how to structure a Research Simulation Task Essay.
Write an introduction. This must include the thesis statement that answers the prompt.
Write 2-3 body paragraphs. Include a strong topic sentence, contextualized and cited flow quotations as evidence, and analysis.
Write a conclusion that summarizes what you have proved.
PROOFREAD!
Which student is more likely to pass the NJSLA? Explain.
Student 1: Writes a magnificent introduction and a strong body paragraph but does not write a second body paragraph or conclusion.
Student 2: Writes an accurate, complete essay (introduction with a thesis, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion). The essay full answers the prompt.
Student 2 is more likely to pass the NJSLA because they wrote a complete essay that fully answered the given prompt and accurately analyzed the texts.
Name a strategy you can use if you are unsure how to answer a multiple choice vocabulary question.
I can go back to the paragraph the vocab word is in and re-read the sentence before, the sentence the vocab word is in, and the sentence after to determine meaning. I can determine the connotation of the word. I can see what synonyms could be put in that word’s place. I can eliminate words I know are incorrect.