PLANStrategies and Tricks

Benchmarks and Information

Section Benchmark Questions TimeEnglish 15 50 30Math 17 40 40

Reading 19 25 20Science 21 30 25

Good to know……

Why do we take the PLAN anyway?

• PLAN is a curriculum-based test that is similar to the ACT® test, and it is a good predictor of a future ACT score. Students in the 10th grade take the PLAN to attain career information that you may want to investigate. Also, students who do well on PLAN know that

college is within reach.

The “Nitty Gritty” Strategies For All Contents

• The 5 Minute Rule*T

When 5 minutes are called, you should immediately bubble in all

missing answers.

Then, CONTINUE working on the test until the final time is called.

More “Nitty Gritty”

NEVER leave an answer blank!!!!!!!

If you don’t know the answer and you will never know the answer, then guess. If you think you

may be able to work it out, guess, then mark the question in the test booklet with then move on to another question. If there is time go back

and work on that question again.

The “Good Stuff” Strategies for English

• You will have 30 minutes to answer 50 questions.• NEVER choose a replacement with more words than the original underlined

portion. That answer is ALWAYS wrong.

Example: We watch the expressions on the faces ofthe characters; we look at the hands as the manpresented the engagement ring to the woman.

F. NO CHANGEG. presentsH. having presentedJ. has presented

More English Strategies

If “omit” is offered as a choice and you can not decide on a correct answer……

guess “omit”.

• KNOW your “comma” and “semi colon” rules!

• Remember, NO BLANKS!!!

English Format

Topic QuestionsPunctuation 7

Grammar & Usage 9Sentence Structure 14

Strategy 6Organization 7

Style 7

More “Good Stuff” Strategies for Math

• “Two-Look” rule: When taking the math test, you should first go through and do all the problems you know you can do. Then you take a second look and complete all the other problems.

• You will have 40 minutes toanswer 40 questions.

• NO BLANKS!!!!

Math Rocks!!!

Math Test Format

Sub-Domain QuestionsPre-Algebra 14

Algebra 8Coordinate Geometry 7

Reading Strategies

Don’t forget…..NO BLANKS!!!!! *25 questions – 20 minutes*

Use “Active Reading”…..this means to underline, circle and star the character, place and date in the passage.You will have 3 types of passages: Prose, Social Science and Humanities. Choose the type of passage that you read the best and complete those FIRST. You should underline, circle and jot down notes as you skim a passage.

Reading has many strategy options – read the questions first, the passage first, go back and forth, ect.You use the strategy that works best for YOU!

Reading Format

Sub-Domain QuestionsProse Fiction 8Humanities 9

Social Science 8

Science Strategies *30 questions – 25 minutes* This is not a reading test….so you should go straight to the questions and not try to read the passage first.

Types of passages: Data Representation, Research Summary, Conflicting Viewpoints.

You should complete the type of passage you do best on FIRST. Then go back complete the rest of the test.

No, No, No, No BLANKS!!!!!

Science Test Format

Sub-Domains QuestionsData Representation 10Research Summary 14

Conflicting Viewpoints 6

Let’s Wrap It Up

Remember……NO Blanks!!!!!

Use the strategies that we have discussed and do your VERY best.

This test affects YOU and YOUR future.

YOU can do it!!!!