Testing Strategies
True or False: You should read all answer choices before picking one even if you know the first option is correct
True
What is the only food that can never go bad?
A. Maple syrup
B. White rice
C. Honey
D. Salted butter
C. Honey
What does it mean to make a "claim" in a passage?
A) To provide supporting evidence for an argument
B) To state an argument or position that needs to be proven
C) To summarize the main points of the passage
D) To question the validity of the information presented
B) To state an argument or position that needs to be proven
If you are not sure about a question, what is a good FIRST step in figuring out the answer?
A. Choose the answer that sounds the most complicated
B. Eliminate answers you know are wrong
C. Skip the question and never come back to it
D. Pick the same letter you chose for the last question
B. Eliminate answers you know are wrong
When writing an essay, what is a good first step after reading the prompt?
Annotate the prompt and plan your writing with an outline
If you are stuck on a question and can't figure out the answer, what should you do?
Mark it and come back after finishing the others
What is the largest country in the world?
Russia
When you give a "summary" of a text, what are you doing?
Giving a brief overview of the main points
True or False: The longest answer choice is always the right one
False
What does it mean to "justify" your opinion?
A) To argue that your opinion is right without evidence
B) To explain why your opinion is reasonable with supporting evidence
C) To change your opinion to match others
D) To avoid stating an opinion at all
B) To explain why your opinion is reasonable with supporting evidence
Why is guessing better than leaving a question blank (when there's no penalty)?
Because you still have a chance of getting it right
M&M’S Fruit Chews would eventually become what popular candy?
Starbursts
What does it mean to "compare" two things?
To examine how they are similar and different
If a question says “Select ALL that apply,” what should you do?
Read each choice and choose all that are correct
What does it mean to "cite evidence" in your response?
To use information or quotes from the text to support your answer
You have 60 minutes to answer 30 questions. About how many minutes should you spend on each question?
~ 2 minutes/question
What is the official animal of Scotland?
A) Unicorn
B) Lion
C) Bear
D) Eagle
A) Unicorn
What does it mean to “infer” something in a reading passage? Ex: "Sarah woke up at 5 am, worked out, ate breakfast and cleaned her house before work, what can we infer about her?"
A. To memorize every detail in the passage
B. To make a guess without any evidence
C. To restate the passage in your own words
D. To make an educated guess based on clues and information in the text.
To make an educated guess based on clues and information in the text.
When two answers seem almost the same, what’s a good trick to decide between them?
A. Pick the one that comes first
B. Reread the question and look for clues
C. Go with your favorite letter
D. Choose the longer answer
B: Reread the question and look for clues
What is the difference between a persuasive and informative essay?
A persuasive essay aims to convince the audience of a certain opinion/viewpoint. An informative essay aims to educate or provide facts about a topic.
If you come across a word you don’t know, what can you use to figure it out?
Use context clues or word parts like prefixes and roots
What was the first animal to ever be cloned?
Sheep
What does it mean to "analyze" something?
A. To look at something closely and break it down into parts to understand it better
B. To read something quickly without paying attention
C. To agree with the author’s opinion
D. To summarize the main idea in one sentence
A. To look at something closely and break it down into parts to understand it better
What’s one sign that an answer might be a “trick” option?
A. It uses words like “always” or “never”
B. It’s written in complete sentences
C. It has a word you’ve never seen before
D. It’s the shortest option
A. It uses words like “always” or “never”
What should you do after finishing your written response?
Reread it to check for clarity, grammar, and if you answered the question fully?