Step 1: Read the ENTIRE question first. Avoid looking at the answer choices right away.
Step 2: Highlight what the question is asking you to do. (Compare/Contrast, Cause/Effect, Infer, Main Idea, Conclude, exc.)
Step 3: Highlight key people, place, dates, events, and terms listed in the question.
Step 4: Write down anything you already know about the question in bullet points to the side.
Step 5: If an excerpt or picture is given, USE YOUR STRATEGIES (OPTIC, TTT, SHIPPS) to break it down.
Step 6: Look at the answer choices and reread the question. Eliminate the outliers by crossing off any extreme and completely out-of-place answers.
Step 7: Look at the answer choices left over. Which fit best with what you already wrote down? Select the answer that aligns closest to your background knowledge, notes, AND answers the question.
Step 8: If you're still not sure, put a question mark next to the answer choices you think might be correct and come back to it later. Some answers can be found in other questions or may trigger a memory in your head.
Extra Strategies
Step 2: Highlight what the question is asking you to do. (Compare/Contrast, Cause/Effect, Infer, Main Idea, Conclude, exc.)
Step 3: Highlight key people, place, dates, events, and terms listed in the question.
Step 4: Write down anything you already know about the question in bullet points to the side.
Step 5: If an excerpt or picture is given, USE YOUR STRATEGIES (OPTIC, TTT, SHIPPS) to break it down.
Step 6: Look at the answer choices and reread the question. Eliminate the outliers by crossing off any extreme and completely out-of-place answers.
Step 7: Look at the answer choices left over. Which fit best with what you already wrote down? Select the answer that aligns closest to your background knowledge, notes, AND answers the question.
Step 8: If you're still not sure, put a question mark next to the answer choices you think might be correct and come back to it later. Some answers can be found in other questions or may trigger a memory in your head.
Extra Strategies
- When two choices are complete opposites, one of them is probably right.
- Stick to information learned in the class. If we haven't talked about it, don't pick it!
- ALWAYS recheck your test- Did you answer ALL of the questions? Do your answers match your scantron?
- Don't read to deep into questions: When you really don’t know the answer to a question, it’s easy to overanalyze. You might wonder if it’s a trick question or if there’s some kind of deeper meaning. Most of the time the question means exactly what it says and you should take it at face value. Go with your gut instinct!