Mrs. Smoral

Student Tips For Taking Reading Tests

* Before you read a story or selection, scan the story or selection. Read the questions at the end of the story or selection. That way, you will know what to look for as you read the story or selection.

 
*On multiple-choice questions, read all of the answer choices carefully before you choose an answer. There may be more than one possible answer, but only one answer is the best.

 
*Practice scanning stories or selections to find key words that will help you locate answers quickly.

*Look for clues in the stories or selections to help you figure out words you don't know. Context clues are other words in sentences that help to define or explain an unknown word.

 
*The main idea or central idea... is often the first sentence of the paragraph. The rest of the paragraph provides supporting details....may be in the center of the paragraph, surrounded on both sides by details....comes at the end of the paragraph as a summary of the details that came before....may not be stated anywhere in the paragraph and must be inferred from the details given in the paragraph.

 
*When you are asked to draw a conclusion in writing, be sure to support your ideas with details from the story or selection.

 
*If you are asked to tell the order of events in a story or selection, look for key words in the passage such as first, then, next, after, finally and at last. The information you are looking for should be close to one of these words.

 
*You may have to infer a meaning from the story or selection to answer some questions. This means that you will not find the answer stated directly in the story or selection. You will have to make an educated guess based on the information in the story or selection.

 
*Practice your literature skills while watching televisions and movies. Ask yourself questions such as What is the setting of this story? What is the author's purpose? Does the author want to entertain us? Does the author want to inform us about a topic? Does the author want to give us directions on how to do soething? Could this story really happen or is it fantasy?

 
* Remember that short answer and extended response questions are usually worth more on a test. You should plan to spend more time answering such questions. Include many details in your answers. Write your answer in complete sentences. Check your sentences for correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.