The
following test taking strategies and tips are provided by the GA Department of
Education.
Tips
for Students
Before
the Test:
· Prepare
yourself emotionally for taking the test. If you are overly anxious, much of
your energy and potential will be sapped by the anxiety and you will likely not
be able to demonstrate your true ability on the test. It frequently helps to
reduce anxiety if you know more about the test in advance, such as what type of
test you are taking, what subjects are tested, and the purpose of the test.
·
Follow normal routines. Interruption of normal
routines may affect your performance. The night before the test you should not
stay up later than usual since fatigue may lead to poor test performance. The
day of the test you should eat a normal breakfast and lunch. Skipping meals or
overeating before taking a test may adversely affect your performance.
At
Test Time:
· Concentrate.
Do not allow yourself to be distracted by noises or movements around you.
· Read
instructions or directions carefully before marking any answer. If you do not
understand the directions, raise your hand, and ask for help.
· Follow
instructions. Pay close attention to the samples. They are on the test to help
you understand what the items on the test will be like and how to mark your
answer document properly.
· Read
the entire question and all answer choices. You need to read each item and all
answer choices before marking your answers.
· Make
an educated guess. Making an educated guess means that you are able to
eliminate one or more choices. For example, if there are four choices and you
do not know which choice is correct, but do know that two choices are
incorrect; you have a 50-50 chance of choosing the correct answer. You should
also remember that there is no pattern of correct answers. For example, if the
last three correct answer choices were "D," the next correct answer
may be A, B, C, or D.
·
Keep track of the time. Since most statewide
tests have a time limit, be aware of the amount of time allocated to each
section. Pace yourself so that you will be able to complete the section within
the time limit. Use all of the time allocated. Persistence pays off.
·
If you are testing online, be sure to use the
scroll bars to view all of a reading passage or test question. The whole
reading passage or test question might not fit on the display of your
workstation.
·
When testing online and where necessary, make
sure you transfer your answer from the draft area to the final response section
of your online test.
·
If you are testing with paper testing
materials, place your answer correctly on the answer document. While taking
tests, you should match the number on the answer document to the item number in
the test booklet. This is especially important if you skip questions and go
back to them later. You should mark only one answer for each item. If two
answers are marked for the same item, the item will be counted as incorrect. If
you erase an item, you should be certain that it is erased completely and
carefully so that holes are not made in the answer document.
·
If you are testing with paper testing
materials, keep your test booklet and answer document together. This saves time
and lessens the chance of marking answers in the wrong place.
