TEST TAKING TYPES

TEST TAKING TYPES

By DELLA WALLEY

​AVID NORMS

AVID's mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

Objectives

​Learning Targets

At the end of this lesson you will be able to...

• Tell the difference between the different types of test questions

• Know how to answer the different types in a timely and correct manner

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Learning Targets

Poll

Are you ready for the Benchmarks, EOG's and class tests

• yes

• no

• maybe

• what????

Directions for note taking

PAY ATTENTION to the words in BOLD and UNDERLINED ,.

These words are what you use to fill in your blanks

Test Types

Test Types ​

Essay ​

Fill-in-the-blank​

Vocabulary ​

​

​

​6 Types

​True/False

Matching

Multiple Choice

​6 Types

Multiple Choice

Which one is not a test taking type

• Short answer

• Essay

• Vocabulary

• Matching

Multiple Choice

How many test taking types are there?

• 6

• 4

• 3

• 8

True/False

Easiest to complete

However this test can be tricky, since a single word can make a true sentence false. Read the statement carefully

​Some true/false questions make general statements that seem true, but are not always true.
Certain words—such as often, usually, rarely, and sometimes—may indicate a true answer:

​

​

True/False ​

True/False (continued)

​Watch out for certain words—such as all, only, always, never, and none. These words may make the statement false:
• False: Fifth-grade students are always loud.

Search for the word or detail that can make the statement false.

​

True/False ​

Matching

​Some tests or parts of a test will ask you to match items in one list to items in another list. Even though you don’t know every item, you may be able to figure them out

Count to see which list has fewer items, since every item in the shorter list will have a matching item in the longer list, with a few left over.

​

​

Matching ​

​Walley/AVID

Matching (continued)

​Answer the questions that you know with certainty first. Mark off each item as you use it, so you won’t use it again—unless the directions say that items can be used more than once.

Make educated guesses for items that you aren’t sure of, using clue words to aid you
Finding clues can help you match items that you don’t know.

Matching ​

Multiple Choice

TRUE OR FALSE :Words like: often, usually, rarely, and sometimes indicate a true answer.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

When answering a matching question it is okay to make an educated guess

• Yes

• No

​Fill in the Blank

​Fill-in-the-blank questions usually require an exact answer. Read the sentences carefully, using the information in them to figure out the missing words or phrases.

Watch out for tricky words like those used in true/false tests—often, usually, rarely, sometimes, all, only, always, never, and none.

​ Be sure that your answer fits grammatically into the sentence.

• “_______________ is the capital of Colorado” would be filled in with a proper noun, so selecting an adjective—like smiling—shows that you did not read the statement clearly.

​

Walley/AVID

Fill in the Blank

​Fill in the Blank (continued)

​Pay attention to the number and length of the blank spaces in the sentences. Although the length of the space can be at times misleading, most of the time, the space provided gives you a clue about the answer.

If you are unsure of the answer, fill in the most likely answer, as you may get partial credit.

​

Walley/AVID

Fill in the Blank

Multiple Choice ​

It is important that you read the answers first when answering multiple-choice questions.

• Answer all of the questions that you know first. Read all of the choices for each question and choose the one that answers the question or seems right, since only one answer is correct.

• Go back and look over the questions with answers that you did not know or of which you were unsure. Make an educated guess. Do not leave any items unanswered.

• Read the questions carefully, looking for trick words.

Walley/AVID

Multiple Choice ​

​Multiple Choice Continued

Read the questions carefully, looking for trick words.

Sometimes, one of the answer choices may be “all of the above" or “none of the above.” Use your common sense in these instances:
If you know that at least one choice is incorrect, then “all of the above” can’t be right.

If you know that at least one choice is correct, “none of the above” can’t be right.
If this test has a “bubble” answer sheet, be sure to fill in the bubble in the correct space.

Walley/AVID

Multiple Choice ​

Multiple Choice

When answering multiple choice questions you should....

• Read carefully

• Skip what you don't know

• Focus on what you know

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Requires a correct answer

• True/False

• Multiple Choice

• Matching

• Fill in the blank

​Vocabulary

Vocabulary tests ask you about the meaning of words, often directing you to pick out the word whose meaning is the same as the meaning of a given word.

• First, try to come up with a simple definition for the given word before you look at the choices.

• Eliminate choices that you know are wrong.

If tasked with finding a word whose meaning is the same as a given word, think of a sen- tence using the given word. Then, replace that word in the sentence with your choice. If the sentence does not make sense, the word that you chose is not correct.

Walley/AVID

Vocabulary ​

​Vocabulary (continued)

If tasked with finding a word whose meaning is the opposite of a given word, think of a sentence using the given word. This time, look for the word that gives your sentence the opposite meaning.

Sometimes, you can look at the parts of a word to help you figure out its meaning.

Walley/AVID

Vocabulary ​

Multiple Choice

When answering a vocabulary test question you should....

• Look at the parts of the word to help you figure out its meaning

• Look for words that give the opposite meaning

• Eliminate choices that are wrong

• All of the above

​Essay

• Essay tests ask for you to respond to a prompt with written paragraphs.

• 
  Read each essay question carefully, looking at all of the words in each question: Does the test ask you to compare/contrast, to describe, to discuss, or to solve a problem? Be sure to respond to what the question asks.

• Keep track of your time so that you can finish all parts of your test.

• If some essay questions are worth more points than others, spend more time answering those more valuable questions.

• As you read the essay questions, look for keywords that give you clues as to what you must write about.

Walley/AVID

ESSAY​

​Essay (Final Tips)

​Some key words tell you how to approach the subject, such as: comment, compare, define, describe, discuss, explain, prove, and respond.

• Some of the words ask you to give your opinion.

• Some of the words ask you to present information.

• Some of the words ask you to focus on one idea.

• Some of the words ask you to give several ideas or details.

Be sure to answer all parts of the question.

Walley/AVID

Essay ​

Multiple Choice

True/False: For an essay question you don't have to read the question before you answer

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

When answering an essay question you should keep track of your....

• Words

• Time

• Definitions

• Answers