STAAR Strategies

When you see the word "revisions" in the directions, what does this mean?

• I should read the passage because I need to know specific details from it.

• I do not need to read the passage because it's only asking for basic mistakes.

Who you see the word "corrections" in the directions, what does this mean?

• I need to read the entire passage. These are the most important readings.

• I do not need to read the whole passage. Instead, I should just highlight the sentences that are in the questions.

What should you do when you first get your test materials?

• Take a nap

• Complete the Reading Section

• Write down everything you remember from class on a piece of scrap paper

What is a good strategy for the essay?

• Analyze the prompt and then write your final draft. Then move on to the rest of the test.

• When you first open your test book, analyze the prompt, brainstorm, and write a first draft. Then take the rest of your test before coming back to revise and edit your draft. Then write a final draft as carefully as possible.

• Take the whole test and then write the essay with whatever time remains. The essay isn't that important.

When the question asks you to find the best "summary" what should the answer have?

• The answer should have accurate information.

• The answer should follow the passage in chronological order.

• The answer should describe the beginning, middle, and end.

• All of the above.

If you see the word "primary" or "primarily" in the question, what does this mean?

• Two answers may seem correct, but one will be better.

• It means you should be looking for the main reason

• It means you have to choose between two answers that both appear right.

• All of the above.

Sometimes the STAAR asks you to answer questions comparing two different reading passages.

How can you use this to your advantage?

• You can't. This is the hardest part of the test and you're better off just guessing.

• These questions will also be related to the essay, so you can use information from the questions in your essay.

• These questions help you see the themes of both passages. Therefore, you can answer these questions and then go back to the questions that deal with each of the passages. Sometimes, the comparative questions also give you answers to earlier questions.

• None of the above.

What should you do if you do not know the definition to a key word?

• Use a dictionary to see if the definition makes sense for the task.

• Guess what it could mean.

What should you do if you can't find a word in the dictionary?

For example, you look up the word "persisting" and you do not see it.

• Remove the ending (-ing) and see if the word "persist" is listed.

• Get frustrated and give up.

• Remove the beginning of the word (per) and see if the word "sisting" is listed.

If you can't figure out an answer to a question, what should you do?

• Guess and move on.

• Spend as much as much time as you need to figure it out, even if it takes 15 minutes.

• Circle that question and come back to it later. You shouldn't waste so much energy on just one question!