STAAR Testing Strategies

Choose which of these are good strategies or tools for the STAAR test

• use a dictionary if you aren't sure what a word means

• go back in the story to find proof of your answer

• use context from the story to help with word meaning

• take your time

Before choosing your "final answer" on any multiple choice test, how many answer choices should you look at?

• I can stop when I find one that could be right

• It depends on the question

• Only the longest answer - it's always right

• Always read all answer choices

On testing day, you should:

• Be nervous and assume you will fail

• Be confident - it's a brand new test with no mistakes yet

• Not care whether or not you pass

• Be so confident that you do not take your time or use your testing tools/strategies

If you come across a really hard question, what should you do?

• Spend up to 30 minutes on that question right then - it doesn't matter if you end up not finishing the test

• Use process of elimination to narrow down answers

• Skip it and come back later (making sure to skip that number on your answer document)

• Use dictionaries, context, and other strategies and tools

If you have answered a question using testing strategies and the tools you've been taught, it is better *not* to second-guess yourself and change your answer.

• True

• False

Sometimes on the STAAR, there are multiple answers that are technically not wrong. In that case, which is true?

• They will both be counted correct, so pick either one

• All answer choices are wrong

• Two are equally correct

• There is always an answer that is better

Sometimes the STAAR test asks for a summary of the whole selection and sometimes the test asks for a summary of just some selected paragraphs, so you need to pay close attention to the question.

• True

• False

What is *NOT* a reason why you should take your time on the STAAR test?

• Taking time to find proof for answers will increase your chances of getting the correct answer

• Using a dictionary can help you get answers correct

• The test is so fun that you want it to last forever.

• You don't get to leave, talk, or use your phone anyway - so you might as well take that time to do your best on the test.

Why should you try to get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before the STAAR test?

• The test is long and tiring - you need to be alert and have energy to do your best

• So that you can speed through the test without reading all of it

• So that you will know what all of the words mean and not have to use a dictionary

• The test is so easy that you don't need to prepare at all

If you get stuck on a multiple choice question, you should...

• Cry

• Give up

• Drop out of school

• Eliminate wrong answer choices