Test Taking Strategies

(practice exercises taken from PSAT Student Guide 2010)

Created by Briana Songer

Strategy #1

 Timing: Always read the directions clearly and

know how much time you have.

 25 minutes for 24 questions- gives you

about 1 min. per question

 Don’t stress too much about the time,

but be aware of it so you may finish or
skip more challenging questions
Strategy #2

 Read the QUESTION first (wait to read the

options)!
 What is the question really asking you to
do?
 If you only need to find the meaning of a
word and you read the whole passage
first, you are wasting valuable time.

 Look at question 10 on pg. 6

Strategy #3
 Only make educated guesses, which means you have

narrowed it down to 2 options based on logical

reasoning

You will be penalized a ¼ point for incorrect answers,

so if you cannot narrow it down, leave it blank = no
points gained, no points lost

How do I narrow it down? Follow the strategies in

the next slides.
 Strategy #4
 Skimming/Scanning

 Use when you have limited time and a lot to read.

 Good for:
 Specific information, but not for read. comprehensionn
 Names, Places, Dates, specific words or ideas
 Try to only read titles, subtitles, topic and concluding
sentences of each paragraph, thesis
 Look at question 16, pg 8
Strategy #5

SPEED READING!-for reading comprehension

 One of the primary tricks in speed-reading is to
look at phrases and groups of words instead of
individual words and circle or underline them.

 Instead of reading word-by-word, you read in

chunks of information. You don't have to say the
word to understand what it means.

 Look at question 12 on pg. 6

Stategy #6- Author’s Purpose

Refer to question 11, pg. 6

To find author’s purpose, attitude, tone, etc:
1. Find the main idea or theme author is trying
to prove
2. His/her opinion/commentary-usually in form
of adjectives. Underline key opinions as you
skim.
3. The answer is usually the longer, general, or
more positive statement
Strategy #7 and # 8

 A positive choice is more likely to be true

than a negative one.

 Question 13, pg 7

 Echo options:
If two options are opposite each other,
chances are one of them is correct
 Question 23, pg. 9
Strategy #9-#11
 Process of Elimination- Physically cross off answers in
the book you know are not correct.

 True/False Test- Treat each option as a true-false

question, and choose the "most true"

 First Instinct-usually it’s right-don’t keep changing your

answer

 Come up with a general answer in your head first, that

way you won’t be as confused or tricked by the options.
Strategy # 12-N/A on PSATS, but good
for other m/c tests.
ALL OF THE ABOVE VS. NONE OF THE ABOVE

 If you are certain one of the  If you are certain one of the
statements is “false”, don’t statements is “true”, don’t
choose ALL OF THE ABOVE choose NONE OF THE ABOVE

 If there are at least two

correct statements, then
it’s probably ALL OF THE
ABOVE
Strategy # 13

 Practice &Preparation
 Simulate the real conditions of the test-
quiet, timed, know location etc.
 Take lots of practice tests to get
comfortable with the strategies
 Arrive early and come prepared with
materials so there’s no added stress
 Get a good night’s sleep and eat
breakfast beforehand
CREATE “GOOD LUCK”!!

 Those who succeed do not simply rely on

“luck”; rather their preparation and positivity
results in “luck”.

 So, GOOD LUCK!