Test-Taking Strategies for Standardized Assessments
As your students are preparing for MS-CPAS assessments in either the fall or the spring, do you ever wonder: What do other high school students do to get ready? Here are a few tips that may provide them the perfect recipe for success.
1. Listen and read the instructions carefully. If you pass over the instructions, it may lead to errors or time lost.
2. Read each question carefully. After reading the item, highlight the key words to help understand the question.
- Ignore unnecessary parts of the question to help understand what the question is asking. Is the question asking for a calculation? Often math word problems provide additional information that you do not need to answer the question.
3. Read each answer choice carefully before you make a selection.
- Eliminate all answers that are not correct.
- Do not look for patterns in the answers. Each test has a randomized order of the items. There can really be three "C" answers in a row.
4.
Use your time wisely. Each timed assessment is either 55 or 110 minutes. The amount of time is detailed in your instructions.
- Focus your attention on the task. It is easy to get distracted by other students or noises in the room.
- Usually students have time left over at the end of the test. Use that time to make sure you have answered all of the items the way you wanted and have not clicked incorrectly.
5. Come prepared for test day!
- Make sure you have reviewed the information your teacher provided you as a study guide.
- Plan to get a good night's sleep the night before testing day.
- Hydrate and eat a good breakfast so your mind is ready to take the test.
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