Test Taking Skills - Categorize & Classify
STEP
1
DESCRIPTION
Categorize the characteristics of each group you want to establish. What are the
characteristics of each group?
Arrange the groups according to categories. What categories do the groups fit into?
2
3
4
Identify the items that belong in each group based on its characteristics. How do I
classify these items according to the different groups?
Check to see if each item is classified correctly. Does this item have the characteristics
of the group? Reclassify any item as needed.
Review your classification of items. Which items fall into each category?
5
If you are answering a question, use the QAR technique.
6
Read the question carefully. What is the question asking?
7
8
Determine which classification(s) is needed to answer the question and predict an
answer based on that classification.
Read all the answer choices carefully and eliminate the wrong choices.
9
Choose the most correct answer.
10
Adapted From Raphael, T.E. Teaching Question-Answer Relationships (1986)
Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.
Test Taking Skills - Categorize & Classify
Page 1
Test Taking Skills - Categorize & Classify
Speaker A:
“When demand ran high, and markets were scarce, he showed little
mercy, broke his contracts for delivery and raised prices.”
SpeakerB:
“The man of wealth must hold his fortune ‘in trust’ for the
community and use it for philanthropic and charitable purposes.”
Speaker C:
“It is cruel to slander the rich because they have been successful.
They have gone into great enterprises that have enriched the nation
and the nation has enriched them.”
Speaker D:
“The fruits of the toil of millions are boldly stolen to build up
colossal fortunes for the few, unprecedented in the history of
mankind.”
How Many Speakers?
Which two speakers would most likely label late 19th-century industrialists as
robber barons?
A) A and B
HINT: Label=Classify
B) B and C
C) A and D
What are we classifying them as?
D) C and D
When and who are we classifying?
Choice
Question
A
Do Speakers A and B use words
to describe robber barons?
B
Do Speakers B and C use
words to describe robber
barons?
B is a positive statement and C is a positive statement, but “robber
baron” is a negative way to describe an industrialist.
C
Do Speakers A and D use
words to describe robber
barons?
Yes since both descriptions show the industrialists in a negative
manner. (Hint - the word “robber” is typically used negatively)
D
Do Speakers C and D use
words to describe robber
barons?
C is a positive statement and D is a negative statement.
Adapted From Raphael, T.E. Teaching Question-Answer Relationships (1986)
Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.
Rationale
A is a negative statement and B is a positive statement.
Test Taking Skills - Categorize & Classify
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