Playing and Winning
the Testing “Game”
Foundations
Ms. Johnson
“Psyching Out” the Test Tips
• Understanding the unwritten
rules of a test mean reading
between the lines to determine
what the teacher thinks is
important and how the teacher
wants you to answer specific
types of questions
• Its vital to know all the
class rules, even if some
aren’t directly stated
• School is very much like a
video game, the only difference
is that there is no restart
button, so you have to make
sure to play wisely and well
from the beginning
• There are often ways to tell
what is going to be asked on a
test before you head into a test
• Teachers will often give you
cues that alert you to what
they are going to ask, and
tuning into their signals is part
of successful test-taking
– So stop zoning out and pay
attention to the cues
“Psyching Out” the Test Tips
1. Pay attention to what the teacher spends
more time on
2. Ask your teacher for what you need for
testing
3. Learn how to speak your teacher’s
language
4. Clarify directions and concepts with your
teacher
Pay attention to what the teacher spends more time on
• Odds are when a teacher spends a lot of
time on one particular topic, it will more
than likely be on the test
• By paying attention to what interests your
teacher before a unit test, you will develop
a natural method of psyching out the test
Ask your teacher for what you need for testing
• If you are in good graces with your teacher,
your tests will most likely go better
– For example, you may need to take a break during
a test, and if the teacher knows you are a hard
worker he/she may allow that
• Some other accommodations you may want
to ask ahead for:
–
–
–
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Break up tests and get time extension
Having the teacher read you the questions aloud
Walking around during a test
Taking tests in a separate, less distracting room
Learn how to speak your teacher’s language
• The key to asking for what you need from
teachers is learning to speak their
language
• When you need help with something, ask
clearly for what you need, but also show
the teacher you have been working hard
– Have questions already prepared instead of
the usual “I don’t get this!”
– This shows the teacher you want to do well
Clarify directions with your teacher
• THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
– Many students go astray when they don’t
ask what the teacher is looking for (papers,
assignments, tests, etc.)
• If you are dealing with a major
assignment, make sure you are on the
right track
• Make notes on major assignments so you
know all the crucial pieces you need to
include
• BE SURE TO READ DIRECTIONS
ON TESTS CAREFULLY
– Read the directions and questions
completely
– Pay attention to key words in the questions
– While a teacher cannot give you answers on
a test, he/she can clarify what the test asks
for and if you are on the right track
Maintaining Focus and Concentration
While Studying
Maintaining Focus and Concentration While Studying
Tips
1. Unplug (yes, again)
2. Engage in frequent, short periods of
misery (aka studying)
3. Reward yourself
4. Try to find a creative way to approach
problems
5. Use your favorite learning strategy
6. Study after exercising
Unplug
• To compensate and save your academic life,
you must at times unplug. (your generation is
overtly addicted to technology, so this can be
hard for most).
• If you know that you cannot study without
constantly checking Twitter and Instagram,
give yourself a peaceful hour or studying by
putting your phone in another room
• Some students find it easy to concentrate
while listening to music, but make sure its
music that is not going to distract you further
Engage in frequent, short periods of misery
• If you just absolutely dread studying,
break it up into short, frequent sessions
• Don’t cram everything in at once, you will
only stress yourself out more and you
won’t be able to retain the information
• Everything goes more smoothly when you
take time to process the information
• Find little pockets of time to study
• Avoid studying with the TV on
Reward yourself
• Canine principles apply to people too
• After each study session (one you actually
worked hard during), do something
afterwards that is a reward for you
– Ex. It’s 7pm and you know your favorite show
comes on at 8:30, study hard until then, and
consider the show your reward
• A light at the end of the tunnel essentially
– This also motivates you to finish your studying
in a timely manner
Try to find a creative way to approach problems
• For example, if you have to study
vocabulary, make some matching
flashcards and create a memory game
• Finding a way to make your studying
creative and fun helps you retain the
information both quicker and better
Use your favorite learning strategy
• Use your favorite study strategy from
when you learned your specific learning
style
• Studying in a way that is curbed to your
specific learning style helps you maintain
your focus
Study after exercising
• Exercise makes the brain more receptive to
new information
– Doing some sort of exercise relaxes the body and
curbs restlessness
• Exercising also releases those “feel good”
chemicals in the brain, and can therefore
make studying seem like less of a chore
• Don’t confuse it with doing an hour long gym
sesh though, just a quick jog or some jumping
jacks
How to Calm Down and Not Rush
How to Calm Down and Not Rush Tips
1. Build breathing into your technique
2. Find ways to slow down during the test
3. Use a pencil to highlight and cross out
Build breathing into your technique
• Before you even get the test, practice
breathing deeply (this can significantly
lower your stress, much like yoga)
• Remember, don’t spend the time before a
test trying to cram in the information…it
doesn’t work
Find ways to slow down during the test
• If you feel like you are rushing through a
test, put your pencil down, take a moment
and reread the questions before you
answer them
Use a pencil to highlight and cross out
• Classic scenario: you are working through a test
and you feel like you’re acing it, you get your score
and you failed because you failed to read the
directions/problems wrong
• To avoid this: UNDERLINE THE QUESTION
– While this seems simple, it forces you to slow down
and to read the questions carefully
• Slow down enough to understand what the
question is asking you for
• Pay attention to key words like EXCEPT and NOT
• Cross out incorrect answer choices
Bubbling
• Some students have experienced the worst nightmare
on standardized tests that require bubbling
– They knew a lot of the answers, but did poorly because
their bubbling was off
– Filling in the wrong answer or getting off track is a
common problem
• Be sure to mentally tell yourself which question you
are on each time you answer
– “this is question one, I am bubbling in number 1 on the
answer sheet”
• Very simple technique that makes sure you get the
score you deserve after all your hard work of studying
Is There Any Way to Enjoy Studying?
Is There Any Way to Enjoy Studying?
1. Make studying/test-taking into a game
– Celebrate your victories and learn from your
losses
2. Remember that you have an excuse to
reward yourself
3. Take advantage of fun projects
4. Try to find a connection between the
schoolwork and yourself