Test Day Tips

1/17/2011 3:46:00 PM

Use mouse in left hand so you can write with the right hand Practice with scratch paper Get new piece of scratch paper for each section of the exam Look away at times to give eyes a break Practice on the computer Clearly make the incomplete questions on paper to go back to later Do not memorize the details in passages Try to understand passage as a whole Write down main idea of each paragraph

Physics

1/17/2011 3:46:00 PM

Reading Passage y Pay attention to definitions of new terms y When multiple experiments performed look for similarities and differences b/t experiments y Map the passage and identify topics y Persuasive arguments look for topic and arguments cited y For introduction of new equation pay attention to what the term means or does, not the actual term or equation y What is the author trying to accomplish in this passage? y Informational passage: simply topic sentences y Experimental passages: goal, what is tested, variables, how its tested, experimental design y Persuasive: the topic and arguments cited y Look for unit problems . Units must always match y Free fall velocity is independent of mass 45 degrees best angle for projectiles

Biology Tips

1/17/2011 3:46:00 PM

Do not memorize or try to digest the whole passage Dont read to understand all Informational passages: note main ideas, answer questions and spend less time on reading the passage Experimental passage: describe the experimental design and results, pay attention to figures, graphs and tables, know what and why of experiment, and general conclusions from results Persuasive passages: read the explanations of hypothesis & arguments, grasp main points of each presented

Chemistry Tips

1/17/2011 3:46:00 PM

Make not of main ideas and concepts Summarize each paragraph Pay more attention to new terms and equations Informational passages: read quickly, pay attention to graphs, targets for informational questions Experimental passages: follow progression of the experiment, read with critical mind, ask for interpretation of data Less emphasis on passage and look back to passage for specific information

Organic Chemistry

1/17/2011 3:46:00 PM

Pay attention to extraction or purification procedures Dont get bogged down with details (to just look at the categories of a chart will suffice) Important to have a lot of outside knowledge

Verbal Passages
Step 1: y y y y y Step 2: y y Step 3:

1/17/2011 3:46:00 PM

Critically Read passage Pay attention to sentences with authors voice What is the authors purpose in writing passage Find opinions and read carefully Pay less attention to supporting details Paraphrase opinions when you are done Interpreting Question stems Pay attention to LEAST, EXCEPT, NOT, strengthen/weaken What is the question asking? Review map and relevant text

Look for authors purpose and structure of arguments Wrong answer pathologies y Opposite y Outside the scope of the passage y True statement but not an answer to the question y Creates relationships that are flipped or that do not exist in passage y Half right = all wrong y Use of extreme vocabulary o Clear, simple answer is preferred y Distortion o Too extreme or exaggerated y Faulty use of detail o Direct quote from the wrong part of passage, relevant detail out of context If 2 extreme most likely wrong If 2 opposite, one probably right Least/except/Not questions if content of one answer is different from other 3, its probably right

Writing Section
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Develop central idea Synthesizing ideas Presenting ideas cohesively & logically Writing clearly Speed

1/17/2011 3:46:00 PM

Reasoning skills are being tested, not just writing skills Write essay at least one a week Make a pre-write and stick to it Give 2 minutes at the end to look over, make corrections Task I: y y y Task II y y y Task III y y y

Explain what the statement means to you Describe an example Use effective hook to bring the reader in Describe a specific counter-example Explain the relevance of your counter-example Use regular transition to keep the essay unified Discuss the criteria for Task I and Task II Resolve the apparent contradiction End with a bang to make your essay memorable

Explore and define the terms in the statement in the first paragraph y If unusual then it will contribute to the depth Clarify main idea and plan y Do you want to agree/disagree with statement or remain neutral y Cross out ideas that are superfluous y Start to select keywords for transitions y # the points you want to make y Very sentence length and structure y DONT USE o I o Clichs, slang, redundancy Brainstorm

y y y

Make a column of true and false with examples of each Help articulate when the prompt is true and false Then look for similarities and differences between the two sides

Your tasks Thesis, Antithesis and synthesis Thesis: y Start with introductory sentence y Paraphrase the prompt y Address vague terms and underlying causes of the prompt y Give an example that supports the prompt Antithesis y Provide a transition sentence y Present a counterexample o Must be specific and concrete, NOT HYPOTHETICAL Synthesis y Provide a conclusion sentence o The prompt is neither right nor wrong o The prompt is sometimes right and sometimes wrong y Present the conditions o Conditions under which the prompt is right and wrong o Conclude succinctly and clearly in a sentence y Support with examples o Not new ones but restated to be applicable to both conditions y Get out gracefully o Return to first sentence in essay o End on a feel good note