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Chapter 7: Test-Taking Strategies

Breaking Through: College Reading, 8/e

by Brenda Smith

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Achieve Your Highest Potential

Be prepared. Stay alert. Seek feedback on tests.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Taking Standardized Tests

Read to comprehend. Interact with the passage. Anticipate content by activating

schema. Relax—don’t feel rushed. Read to learn. Recall the main points.

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Understand Major Question Types

Main Idea Questions: The best statement of the main idea is… The best title for this passage is… The author is primarily concerned with... The central theme of the passage is...

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Understand Major Question Types

Detail Questions: The author states that… According to the author… According to the passage… All of the following are true except… A person, term, or place is...

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Understand Major Question Types

Implied Meaning Questions: The author believes, feels, implies… It can be inferred from the passage… The passage/author suggests… It can be concluded from the passage

that…

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Understand Major Question Types

Purpose Questions: What was the author’s purpose

in writing this material? What did the author do for me,

the reader?

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Understand Major Question Types

Vocabulary Questions: Figure out the meaning with

context clues. Be careful of words that have

multiple meanings.

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Types of Test Passages

Factual passages Opinion passages Fiction passages

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Hints for Taking Multiple Choice and True-False Tests

Read all options. Predict the correct answer. Avoid answers with

“100%” words. Consider answers with qualifying words.

[sometimes, all, none, few, etc.] Do not overanalyze. True statements must be true without

exception.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Hints for Taking Multiple Choice and True-False Tests

If two options are synonymous, eliminate both.

Figure out the difference between similar options.

Use logical reasoning if two answers are correct.

Look suspiciously at directly quoted pompous phrases.

Simplify double negatives by canceling out both.

Some questions do not have clues.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Hints for Taking Multiple Choice and True-False Tests

Validate true responses. Recognize flaws in test-making.

Eliminate responses that do not have subject-verb agreement.

Use clues from other parts of the test. Longer answers are more frequently correct. Avoid absurd ideas and emotional words in

the options.

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Hints for Taking Essay Exams Reword the statement or

question. Answer the question. Organize your answer. Brainstorm ideas. Use a formal writing style. Be aware of appearance. Predict and practice. Notice key words.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Hints for Essay Exams

Write to earn points.What main ideas need to be

covered?Stick to the question and answer

directly.How will the essay be scored?

Read an “A” paper for feedback.

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Key Words on Essay Exams

Compare Contrast Criticize Define Describe Discuss Evaluate Explain

Illustrate Interpret Justify List Outline Prove Relate

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Using Mnemonics

Read out loud. Write it down. Create acronyms. [HOMES] Create acrostics. Use rhythms, rhymes, and jingles. Make associations. Create mental and key word images.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Summary Points

How can you prepare to be mentally alert on a test?

What should you know about the organization of an exam prior to taking it?

How should you read standardized reading test passages?

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Summary Points

What are the major question types of standardized reading tests?

How should you organize essay exam responses?

Why should you seek feedback after an exam?

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