Test-Taking Strategy
Stage 2: Describe
What is a strategy?
A plan or method for solving a
problem or completing a task.
Test-Taking Strategy
A method to use when you are taking a test
in class. This strategy will help you answer
questions carefully, avoid careless mistakes,
and make the best possible guess if you
don’t know an answer. You will be “testwise”.
Study + Test-Taking Equation
This strategy does NOT mean you don’t have
to study. This strategy helps you WHILE
you are taking the test. This strategy WITH
good study habits will help improve your
grades.
Study + Test-Taking Equation
Study Strategies + Test-Taking Strategy = Good Grades
(knowledge)
(“test-wisness”)
When you use this strategy with good study habits you
will get good grades!
Our Expectations
As we study this Test-Taking strategy,
you will need to LISTEN, ANSWER
QUESTIONS, and TAKE NOTES.
When you hear more about this
strategy, you will see how it can help
you.
Rationales for this Strategy–Why?
If you can study for a test, avoid all the
normal careless mistakes, and make a good
guess when you don’t know an answer –
what kind of grade could you make?
How could this help you in core classes?
Why do you need good grades?
• You are in control of your grades
•Show what you’ve learned and know
•Get into a good college or other program
•Get a good job
When/Where can I use this
strategy?
• Any time you take a test!
• Math, English, History, Science, Electives
•Driver’s license, employment test (to be
hired), enrollment test (college, military).
•Job training test
What results can we expect?
Here are some other students’ results:
Percentage Correct on Classroom Tests
Before
Mastery
After
Mastery
65%
75%
What does this show us?
Look at this class. . .
Percentage Correct on Classroom Tests:
Before
Mastery
30%
After
Mastery
40%
What letter grades did they earn?
Results:
The students here still earned an “F”. This
strategy can help you get a better percentage,
but if you don’t study, you won’t necessarily
get a better grade. You will become a better
test-taker! If you combine this test-taking
strategy with other strategies from your class,
your grades will get better!
Test Taking Strategy Steps
Prepare to succeed
•What does “prepare” mean?
•What should you do first when you get
your test? (Name and PIRATES)
•Why? You won’t get credit, PIRATES helps
you remember this strategy, you earn points
in this class.
Allotting time and order
sections
Has anyone ran out of time on a test before?
How could we stop that from happening?
PAY ATTENTION TO THE TIME AND
LENGTH OF THE TEST WHILE TAKING
THE TEST!
Allotting Time
How can you decide how much time to spend
on each section?
Use this formula:
# of Minutes (divided by) # of sections=
This will tell you how long to spend on each
section!
Let’s Practice . . .
• You have 45 minutes to take a test with 5
sections. How long will you spend on each
part?
•You have 50 minutes to take a test with 5
sections. How long will you spend on each
part?
One Section Tests
# of minutes (divided by) # of questions=
OR
Split the test up into even parts and divide
Unbalanced Tests
What if one section is longer or worth more
points?
You will number the order you will complete
the sections --- #1 will be the longest or the
section worth the most points, etc.
Allotting Order
• Start with the easiest section – the hardest.
This way, you earn the most points.
•What happens when you start with a hard
question?
What if you get behind on time?
You will have to speed up your work to
make sure that you catch up your minutes
and have time to complete all the sections of
the test!
How do you earn points in this
class?
•Name and PIRATES on top of test.
•Number your sections.
•Allot time for the sections.
Affirmation
What is an affirmation?
A positive statement!
What could you write for an affirmation?
Why would you use an affirmation?
How do you earn affirmation points?
Start Time
For the last part of the “P” in PIRATES,
you’ll need to start within 2 minutes of
getting your test.
Why would this be important?
PASS
P – Put your name and
PIRATES on the test
A – Allot time and order
S – Say affirmations
S – Start within 2 minutes
“I” in PIRATES
RUN
“Inspect the Instructions”
Every test is different. There are lots of ways
to show answers.
Why must you “R”ead the instructions?
“U”nderline what and where
“Circle the letter next to the most appropriate
choice.”
“Write ‘T’ in front of true statements and ‘F’
in front of false statements.”
“N”ote special requirements
Note special requirements like + and –
symbols for true and false OR making the
statement true.
Different teachers have different requirements.
“I” step has 3 parts – “RUN”
R – Read instructions carefully
U – Underline what and where
N – Note special requirements
“R” in PIRATES
R – Read
R – Remember
RRR
R – Reduce
“R”ead
Read the whole question
What could happen if you don’t read the whole
question? Multiple choice? Matching?
R – Remember what you’ve studied
What did I study to help me answer this
question?
What can you do to help you remember
information?
Essay questions?
R – Reduce your answers
Reduce (eliminate) the wrong answers.
This helps you concentrate on right answers.
Sometimes, you might accidently select a
wrong answer.
Multiple choice – X them out
“R” in PIRATES - Review
“R”eview your test to make sure that you
have completed the first 3 steps of the
PIRATES strategy!
“A” in PIRATES
“Answer or Abandon”
Answer – After you reduce the choices, if you
are certain that you know the answer – then
go ahead and answer the question (marking
your answer according to the instructions).
“A” in PIRATES
“Answer or Abandon”
What does abandon mean?
How will we mark when we abandon a
question?
How big should the mark be? Where should
we put it?
What if you can’t write on the test?
How do you recycle steps?
If you abandon a question, then you’ll come
back and repeat step 3 and 4 on that question
later!
“T” in PIRATES
Turn back
Turn back means that you go back over the
test and complete all of the “abandoned”
questions.
Sometimes, you would have figured out an
answer by now!
Even if you still don’t know the answer to
these abandoned questions, you can estimate!
“E” in PIRATES
Estimate
What does estimate mean?
When should you be estimating?
Why should we guess sometimes?
We use the “ACE” technique for guessing!
“ACE” Guessing Technique
A – Avoid Absolutes
C – Choose the most detailed answer
E – Eliminate similar choices
“A” Avoid Absolutes
What is an absolute word?
True and False questions with absolutes –
always pick false!
Multiple Choice questions – avoid answers
with absolute words
Examples: Section IV Question 4
Section I Question 1
“C” Choose the most detailed
Choose the longest answer that is the most
detailed.
Examples: Section I Question 4
The “more detailed” answer should be
noticeably longer (3 or 4 words) than the other
choices.
“E” Eliminate similar choices
In multiple choice – if 2 answers are similar,
then eliminate those answers!
Examples: Section 1 Question 3
ACE Guessing Results
Will you always guess the right answer?
What’s the best way to make sure you get a
good grade on a test?
“S” in PIRATES
Survey
What does “survey” mean?
What should you look for?
Should you change any of your answers now?
PIRATES
P – Prepare to succeed
I – Investigate Instructions
R – Read, Remember, Reduce
A – Answer or Abandon
T – Turn back
E – Eliminate similar choices
S - Survey
“P”
P – Put name and PIRATES on test
A – Allot time and order
S – Say affirmations
S – Start within 2 minutes
“I”
R – Read instructions carefully
U – Underline what and where words
N – Notice special requirements
“E”
A – Avoid absolutes
C – Choose the longest/most detailed choice
E – Eliminate similar choices
New Habits versus Old Habits
How does this strategy differ from your old
test-taking habits?
Speed – Using this strategy will take time in
the beginning. It takes practice to be able to
use it quickly and correctly.
Goals
Let’s set some personal goals for learning
AND using this strategy!