This tiny word in a question can completely change the answer and is often missed by students rushing through a test.
Not
What should you do if you feel like your mind has went blank or you just need to refocus?
(Answers may vary) There are many different ways from turning your test over and closing your eyes just to pause momentarily or take a deep breath, you could roll your head in a circle slowly or even have a mental talk with yourself to regroup, etc.
This strategy helps your brain calm down by slowing your body first.
Take deep breaths
Stand up and stretch
Look away from the screen and clear your mind
f a number is divisible by 10, it is also divisible by 2.
True
Before answering any test question, smart test takers do this quick step to avoid careless mistakes.
Read directions TWICE
What does “predict” most nearly mean?
A. To guess randomly
B. To say what will happen based on clues
C. To make a wild guess
D. To know something for sure
Answer: B
Trap: A and C both mean “guess randomly” → both wrong.
Which statement is always true?
A. Even numbers are divisible by 4
B. Odd numbers are not divisible by 3
C. Multiples of 10 are divisible by 2
D. Numbers ending in 5 are even
Answer: C
Watch for “always”—only one statement has no exceptions.
How many hours of sleep should you get before a test the next day?
8 hours.
All fish live in water and all birds can fly.
False
A student notices a question says “Which is NOT true?” This means they should look for an answer that is…
FALSE
What is the first thing you should do when coming across a lengthy question?
Look for keywords throughout the question, underline anything important (if you're allowed to write on the test), analyze and see what relates to any of your answers.
This gives your brain energy and helps you think more clearly during a test.
SLEEP
Which is true?
A. 1/2 is equal to 2/4
B. 1/2 is equivalent to 2/4
C. 1/2 is greater than 2/4
D. 1/2 is less than 2/4
Answer: A
Trap: A and B mean the same → eliminate one.
A shape can be a rectangle and a square at the same time.
True
A square is a special type of rectangle, so it can be both!
When your brain suddenly goes blank, this strategy often helps memory come back.
Flag the question, move on and come back to it later.
Which best describes a main idea?
A. A small detail in a paragraph
B. The most important point
C. The central message
D. A sentence with numbers
Answer: B
Trap: B and C mean the same thing → eliminate both → but here’s the twist: students must pick the BEST academic definition (B is more standard in tests).
This happens when you overthink a simple question and change a correct answer to a wrong one.
Second Guessing
What are some of the worst things you can do during the test?
Rush
Not rereading the question
Overthinking
Panicking
Not Try
Not Care
Stay up all night the night before gaming ( NOT A W)
Not eat breakfast or eat all sugar breakfast
All angles in a triangle are less than 180 degrees.
True
The three angles of a triangle must add up to 180
This is what strong test-takers do when time is almost up and some answers are blank.
Make an educated guess
These two words often make a statement false because they allow no exceptions.
Always and NEVER
This mindset focuses on effort and improvement instead of worrying about being perfect.
Growth Mindset
If two numbers add up to 20, one of them must be 10.
False