4th Grade ELA Test-Taking Strategies and Tips

4th Grade ELA

Test-Taking Strategies and Tips

It's much easier to take a test when you've worked out a plan beforehand. Here are some test-taking strategies and tips! Using these tips will be your plan!

Strategy 1: Process of Elimination

This strategy shows you how to get rid of wrong answers and narrow down your choices. It's easier to pick the right answer when you have fewer options to choose from.

Multiple Choice

In the world of sports, what does MBA stand for?

• Major Back Ache

• Major League Baseball

• Minor Basketball Athletes

• Mike's Bowling Association

Multiple Choice

Let's try another one:

What day of the week is called "Hump Day" because it is in the middle of the week?

• Friday

• Saturday

• Wednesday

• Monday

Strategy 2: Using Context Clues

This strategy teaches you how to spot clues in the test item that will help you figure out the answer. Clues can be hiding in the directions, the passage, or the answer choices.

Multiple Choice

Unlike my sisters, who love liver and onions, I detest it. What does the word detest mean?

• love

• cook

• sorta-kinda like

• hate

Multiple Choice

Studying before a test is beneficial, because it reminds you of what you have learned and it gives you confidence on the day of the test. What is the meaning of the word beneficial?

• helpful

• harmful

• silly

• foolish

Strategy 3: Read the Questions and Answers First

This strategy helps you practice reading the questions and possible answers before reading a passage. Previewing the questions and answers helps you know what information to look for as you read.

Multiple Choice

Remember to read the question first.

I'm tired of my sister

chasing me around.

Following me everywhere,

Up the stairs and down.

She'll have to look much harder,

to track me down today.

'Cause I just solved my problem--

A secret hideaway.

What is the problem in the poem?

• The narrator lost his sister.

• The narrator took his sister to the park.

• The narrator's sister follows him everywhere

• The narrator's sister hid from him.

Multiple Choice

Remember to read the question first.

I'm tired of my sister

chasing me around.

Following me everywhere,

Up the stairs and down.

She'll have to look much harder,

to track me down today.

'Cause I just solved my problem--

A secret hideaway.

How did the narrator solve his problem?

• He found a secret hideaway.

• He told Mom to keep her away.

• He decided it was okay if his sister followed him.

• He locked himself in his room.

Strategy 4: Underlining Key Words

This strategy teaches you how to locate important information in the test item. Underlining these key words and phrases makes them easy to see and helps you focus on the best answer.

Multiple Choice

What is a key word you should underline in this passage from The Moffats?

"Jane watched him and watched him."

• JANE, because character's names are important.

• WATCHED, because that is a verb.

• HIM, because that is a pronoun and pronouns are important.

Multiple Choice

What is a key word you should underline in this passage from "Pets and School Go Together"?

"Another advantage is learning responsibility. Children share jobs with their classmates. For instance, they can feed the animal and clean its habitat."

• jobs

• with

• feed

• responsibility

Strategy 5: Plug-In

This strategy shows you how to "test out" each answer choice by plugging it into a sentence or phrase. You can then cross out answers that don't make sense and find the answer that is the best fit.

HINT: If the sentence is missing a noun, who or what the sentence is about, look for a noun in your answer choices. If the sentence is missing a verb, or action word, find a verb in your answer choices. If the sentence is missing an adjective, or describing word, look for an adjective in your answer choices.

Multiple Choice

Fill in the blank. The same word will be used in both blanks.

Bird ________ come in all shapes and sizes. There are many factors that influence the building of bird ________. Birds gather building materials from the area where they live.

• cats

• elegant

• fly

• nests

Multiple Choice

Fill in the blank.

Robins make simple nests from ________ materials. They often line an old cup with paper, grass, or straw.

• hopping

• soft

• light pole

• Kathy

Strategy 6: Reread

This strategy reminds you to reread the directions, a passage, or the answer choices when you need to. Rereading can help you clarify a question or find information that you need in order to find the best answer.

Multiple Choice

The strategy of "rereading" can help you

• better understand the directions

• find information that you need

• Both of these

• None of these

Poll

Which strategy do you think you will use when you take a test? Check as many as apply.

• Process of Elimination

• Using Context Clues

• Reading the Questions and Answers First

• Rereading the directions, passage, and answer choices

• Plug-In