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56 Taking Tests

Page
419
from
Writers Express

Taking Tests Chapter Opening Page

Start-Up Activity

Ask your students to write one multiple-choice, one fill-in-the-blank, and one true-false question about a subject you are studying. Then have each student trade questions with a partner, who will try to answer them.

Afterward, ask your students the following:

  • Which type of question was hardest to answer?
  • Which type was easiest?
  • What strategies did you use to answer the different types of questions?

Let students know that this chapter has many strategies that they can use to succeed on tests.

Think About It

“Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you’re doing now and do it.”

— William Durant

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.10

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.4.W.2.4

LAFS.4.W.4.10

LAFS.5.W.2.4

LAFS.5.W.4.10

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.6.b.11.A

110.7.b.11.A

110.7.b.12

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 420 from Writers Express

Preparing for the Test and Taking the Test

Review the tips for preparing for tests. Ask students to write down at least one strategy they could use to improve their test preparation.

Afterward, review the tips for taking tests. Ask students to write down at least one strategy they could use to improve their test taking.

Have volunteers indicate the strategies they chose and why they chose them. Encourage all of your students to apply the tips on this page the next time they prepare for and take tests.

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
21st Century Skills:
Taking Tests

Page 421 from Writers Express

Responding to Writing Prompts

Help students prepare for timed-writing prompts by examining the common key words used on test questions. Explain that each key word identifies what the test taker should do when answering the prompt. Recommend that students review this list in preparation for tests that involve writing.

Your students can also use the PAST strategy to analyze writing prompts, as demonstrated in the minilesson.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.A
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
Form:
Response to Prompt
21st Century Skills:
Taking Tests

Page 422 from Writers Express

Responding to Writing Prompts (Continued)

Review the final tips for responding to writing prompts. To help students understand how to divide their time, recommend the following:

  • About 5 minutes at the beginning, analyzing the prompt and planning a response
  • Most of the time drafting the response
  • About 5–10 minutes at the end to revise and edit the response

For additional help, point students to the following chapters, which show how to succeed with different types of writing prompts:

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.A
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
Form:
Response to Prompt
21st Century Skills:
Taking Tests

Page 423 from Writers Express

The Objective Test

Ask your students which type of objective questions they like best and why:

  • Multiple choice
  • True/false
  • Matching
  • Fill in the blank

After your discussion, review the strategies for different types of test questions. When preparing for an objective test, your students should refer to this page and the one that follows.

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
21st Century Skills:
Taking Tests

Page 424 from Writers Express

The Objective Test (Continued)

Lead students through the strategies for taking true/false, matching, and fill-in-the-blank tests.

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
21st Century Skills:
Taking Tests

Page 425 from Writers Express

Remembering for Tests

Ask students how they remember the information that they study. Explain that the next two pages feature some creative strategies that can help them remember information.

Review these strategies and provide time for students to practice them. To help students practice using graphic organizers, assign one or more of the minilessons.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.4.10
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.1.g

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing BasicsWriting for Assessment
21st Century Skills:
Taking Tests

Page 426 from Writers Express

Remembering for Tests (Continued)

Remind your students that "seeing is believing," so anytime they can picture a concept, they will remember it more easily. Demonstrate the idea by discussing the visualization of prepositions on this page. Then give students practice with visualization by having them complete the first minilesson.

Also help your students realize that writing something in their own words is a great way to remember it. Use the second minilesson to practice this strategy.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.4.10
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.1.g

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing for Assessment
21st Century Skills:
Taking Tests