Test Taking: Improving Your Math Test Scores

Practice! Practice! Practice!

The best method to begin using to improve any score in life is to practice. Children who learn early in life to enjoy practicing often achieve their goals. Besides practicing, here are some other helpful hints to improve math test scores:

Before Taking the Test

• Practice problems for each topic that will be tested. Be able to solve a math problem for each topic listed in the math section or chapter.
• Show all your work when solving a problem.
• Use the book or your notes first when you are having a difficult time solving a practice problem.
• Ask for help! Stay after class or school and ask the teacher or another student for help.
• Don’t say that you “understand” when you don’t understand. Ask for another example.
• Memorize the formulas or math rules that apply.
  
• Complete the math section or chapter review example test question. Some text book companies have extra chapter review test online.

While taking the Test

1. Read each question carefully.
2. Answer all parts of the question asked.
3. Show all your work!
4. Before beginning the test, write all the math formulas that apply on the corner of the test.
5. If you are not sure that you are solving a problem correctly, leave the work that you completed on your test. You may scores some points for trying to solve the problem.

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Test Taking: Answering True or False Questions

True & False Test Questions

Test-Taking is an important and necessary academic skill. Once a child understands the basics in test taking, test become less threatening. The following are test-taking tips to help your child score higher on true and false test questions.

• Always read each test question carefully. Look for familiar key words or facts that you learned about the question. Normally true and false question that include words such as “usually,” “generally” or “sometimes” lead to TRUE answers.

• True or false questions that include words like “never” or “always” are usually FALSE.

• If any part of the question is false, then the entire question is FALSE.

• Usually there are more TRUE answers on a true/false test.

• If there is no penalty for guessing, then guess! You have a 50/50 chance of getting the right answer.

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Preparing To Take A Multiple Choice test

Multiple Choice Test

The following are test taking tips that can be applied to improve multiple choice test questions:

• Read the question twice before you look at the answers

• After reading the question and before looking for the answer provided on the test, try to come up with the correct answer on your own.

• Read all the possible choices before selecting one.

• Use a process of elimination to discover the correct answer.

• If “All the above” is a possible answer and you see two correct answers, then “All the above” would be a correct choice.

• In most cases, a positive choice is more likely to be the correct answer (or true) than a negative choice.

• The correct answer often has the most information included in the answer.

• Usually your first choice will be your best choice.

• When there is no penalty for guessing then make an educated guess when selecting an answer.

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The Secrets of Taking Any Test

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Test Taking Math

Improving Your Math Test Scores

Practice! Practice! Practice! Nothing beats practice!

The best method to begin using to improve any score in life is to practice. Children who learn early in life to enjoy practicing often achieve their goals. Besides practicing, here are some other helpful hints to improve math test scores:

Before Taking the Math Test

• Practice problems for each topic that will be tested. Be able to solve a math problem for each topic listed in the math section or chapter.

• Show all your work when solving a problem.

• Use the book or your notes first when you are having a difficult time solving a practice problem.

• Ask for help! Stay after class or school and ask the teacher or another student for help.

• Don’t say that you “understand” when you don’t understand. Ask for another example.

• Memorize the formulas or math rules that apply.

• Complete the math section or chapter review example test question. Some text book companies have extra chapter review test online.

While Taking the Math Test

• Read each question carefully.

• Answer all parts of the question asked.

• Show all your work!

• Before beginning the test, write all the math formulas that apply on the corner of the test.

• If you are not sure that you are solving a problem correctly, leave the work that you completed on your test. You may scores some points for trying to solve the problem.

Great Book!

Strategies for Test-Taking Success: Math

Test Taking Tips For Eassay Test

For more test taking tips and strategies, go to: Ask a Counselor

How To Do Well On Essay Questions & Test

When studying for essay tests that provide you with questions in advance:

Research and find all the information or facts to thoroughly answer the question.
Write the essay in advance. Practice answering the essay by actually writing it before you take the test.
Study and memorize. Outline key points in your mind.


While taking an essay test it is important to do the following:

• Read the directions! Read the directions! Read the directions!

• Only give your opinion if the question(s) asks for your opinion.

• Be neat and organized with your thoughts and writing. Neater papers often score higher.

• If the question is asking for facts, then stick to the fact. Do not provide your opinion unless you are asked for it.

• Write down and provide information that thoroughly answers the essay question. More quality information is better than little or poor information.

• Watch your time! Don’t spend too much time on one essay question.

• Write out an outline of possible points, facts or information that you want included in the essay before you begin writing.

• Use appropriate grammar, sentence structure and paragraph formation while writing your essay.

STRATEGIES FOR TEST TAKING SUCCESS-WRITING

Test Taking Tips: Helping Your Child Score Well On Test

General Tips That Work for All Test

Have your child get plenty of sleep the night before a test. Your child will be more alert and have a better chance of focusing on the test questions.

• Eat breakfast! Eat Lunch! Don’t take a test when your body is low on fuel. Don’t over eat either. Fresh fruits and vegetables along with foods high in protein are excellent sources of fuel. Avoid high fatty or greasy foods such as French fries.

• Take advantage of practice test. Most text books have questions at the end of each chapter that your child can practice before the test. Many text book companies have online practice test for your child to take in preparation for the real test.

• Studying for a test over a long period of time is better than “cramming” for a test the night before. Have your child study for a short period of time each day on a regular basis and avoid the one time “cram session.”

• Do or complete all the assignments that lead up to a test. This is especially true for a math test.

• Help your child with organization. Studies indicate that organized children are often better test takers.

• Encourage your child to join before or after school study groups. Some teachers encourage their students to come early or stay after to get extra help.

• Help your child to form questions prior to a test that ask the teacher questions about the test. Examples of good questions to ask may include:

“What is going to be on the test?”
“What’s the best way to prepare for the test?”
“Is the practice test similar to the real test?
“Where should I spend most of my time preparing for the test?”

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A Quick Reference to Study and Test Taking Skills
Test-taking Power Strategies

Test Anxiety: How To Help Your Child

How To Reduce Test Anxiety In Children

Test anxiety occurs when a student worries about doing well on a test to a point where he or she becomes overwhelmed. This type of anxiety often interferes with sleep and eating patterns, social relationships with friends and family and may even cause one to become physically ill. This disorder can become a major hindrance on test performance and cause extreme nervousness, memory lapses and other stress-related symptoms. Parenting children going through test anxiety is not an easy task .



The following are tips to reduce test anxiety:

• Being well prepared for the test is the best way to reduce test taking anxiety.

• Space out your studying over a few days or weeks, and continually review class material, don't wait until the night before and try to learn everything the night before.

• Try to maintain a positive attitude while preparing for the test and during the test.

• Exercising for a few days before the test will help reduce stress.

• Get a good night's sleep before the test.

• Show up to class early so you won't have to worry about being late.

• Stay relaxed, if you begin to get nervous take a few deep breaths slowly to relax yourself and then get back to work.

• Read the directions slowly and carefully.

• If you don't understand the directions on the test, ask the teacher to explain it to you.

• Skim through the test so that you have a good idea how to pace yourself.

• Write down important formulas, facts, definitions and/or keywords in the margin first so you won't worry about forgetting them.

• Do the simple questions first to help build up your confidence for the harder questions.

• Don't worry about how fast other people finish their test; just concentrate on your own test.

• If you don't know a question skip it for the time being (come back to it later if you have time), and remember that you don't have to always get every question right to do well on the test.

• Focus on the question at hand; don't let your mind wander on other things.

• If you're still experiencing extreme test anxiety after following these tips, seek help from your school counselor.

For more ideas: Ask a Counselor