in language arts and math courses.

#2 Understand how you will be scored on the FCAT and learn what your score means to you

and your school.

#3 Study hard in each and every class because reading and math can be found in every class

that you take.

#5 Listen and learn from your teachers when they provide FCAT tips and learning

experiences that urge you to “think”.

#6 Studies show that kids who watched fewer than three hours of television a day scored

higher on standardized reading tests than those who watched more.

#9 Make a Plan-Use the UP QUEEN strategy.    U-Underline the title    P-Predict what the story will be about     Q- Read the Questions first                             U-Underline important information in the passage    E- Read Every paragraph      E-  Eliminate unneeded answer choices     N-Now you are done

#10 Attend after school tutoring for both math and reading skills.

#11 Learn how to answer each kind of question -- multiple choice, gridded response, short

answer, and extended response.

#12 Learn strategies on identifying the setting, the characters, and how stories start and end.

Be sure that you can tell the main parts of a story in order.

problem solving techniques that you have learned.

#16 Eat a good dinner the night before and a good breakfast the morning of the test.

#17 Determine a strategy that you will use when reading over a passage and answering multiple choice

questions. (Practice if needed)

#18 Determine a strategy that you will use when faced with short or long response questions.

#19 Determine what you will do when faced with a question that you have no idea of the

answer.

#20 Warm your brain by reading for at least 45 minutes at home on each of the five nights prior to the test.

#21 Relax. . . don't panic. . . you will do fine.

#25 Relax! All of the hard work is done. Now is just the time to prove that you have been working hard

and have learned what is expected of you.

#26 Get to school on time and be sure to talk with friends to break the tension.

#27 Be sure to drink enough water so you will not get dehydrated. A dehydrated body will lead to poor

performance. Too much water will also cause problems if you need to use the restroom during testing.

#28 Avoid all strenuous activity before school such as running, football, and baseball.

#30 Think positively; tell yourself that you can do this.

#31 To help calm down, breathe in and out slowly and deeply.

#33 The FCAT is a timed test. Concentrate and work at a steady pace.

Multiple choice questions are worth one point each. Carefully determine the correct answer and then

look for the answer in one of the four choices. If your answer is not there, you will need to redo the

problem in math or rethink the problem in reading.

Gridded response questions are worth one point each. Carefully write the number in the space above

the bubbles. Fill in each bubble to match the number above it. Blank spaces should remain blank with

no writing or bubbles filled in the space.

Short answer questions are worth two points. Since they are worth twice as much as multiple choice

and gridded response questions, spend more time on them. Plan to identify and write two examples

and details from the passage to support your answer using 3-5 sentences. Five minutes is

recommended, but do not spend much more than that or you may run out of time.

Long answer questions are worth four points each. They may have two or more problems

to solve within each one. You may also be asked to explain how you solved the problem

to support your answer using 5-7 sentences. You need to spend more time on these. Ten

minutes is recommended.

#38 Long and short answer strategy: Turn the question into your topic sentence. For example,

Question: What color is the car? Topic Sentence: The color of the car is blue.

#39 Remember: Write your answer in your own words. If you are using an example from the passage, you

must place it in quotes.

#40 Remember: You will be graded on your writing inside the box and on the lines provided. Other

writing will be ignored

#41 As you are taking the test, systematically check to be sure that you are bubbling your answer in the

correct area and number.

#42 As you’re reading a multiple-choice question, try to come up with the answer in you head before you

look at the choices.

#43 Occasionally check the time and make sure you are on track.

#44 For each item, very carefully read the entire test item and all the possible answers.

#45 Answer the easier questions first and persist to the end of the test and attempt to answer every

question, regardless of difficulty.

#47 Be sure to move on to a new question if you are confused and are having a difficult time remembering

something. Coming back later sometimes triggers your memory to remember what you have

forgotten.

#48 Mark questions that you want to return to. ( On your test booklet only )

#49 Make no stray marks on your paper near your answers.

#50 If you decide to change an answer, completely erase the old one.

#51 If you answer all the questions in a given section and there is still time left, go back and be

a detective. Reread each question and your answer and see if they make sense.

#52 Relax. . . don't panic. . . you will do fine.

#54 Tackle the test. These tests are not like the ones your teacher gives. There will be questions that seem

too easy and questions that seem way too hard. Your goal is to think positively and to score as many

points as you can.

#55 Don’t let the test trick you. Always read to the end of the answer choices. Cross off answers you

know are wrong.

#56 If you have questions about what you are to do, raise your hand.

#57 Change answers only when you are certain. The answer which comes to mind first is often correct.

#58 Reviewing with an anxious mind and changing answers when you are not certain can do more harm

than good.

#59 Keep a steady pace and do not let more difficult questions affect your attitude and steal your valuable

time. Students often cloud their minds by lingering over difficult questions. Moving on and finding

success with other questions is a better method.

briefly read the questions first so you have an idea of what answers to look for while reading.

#62 Look at the pictures and graphics to help you understand the passage.

#63 Paragraph Labeling: Underline the main points in each paragraph you are reading.

#64 Read each question carefully and be sure to answer what is being asked.

#66 If you are asked to write your answer, be sure to include details from the passage.

#67 Write so that others can understand what you mean. (Keep the reader in mind)

#69 FCAT questions are concerned with the author’s purpose and opinion and are not concerned with

your opinion. Only give examples and details that come from the reading passage and not from the

outside world

#70 When your answer the “Read, Think, and Explain” questions, think and organize what you want to

say before writing down your ideas.

#71 Identify difficult words by looking for little words inside big words, knowing the meaning of word

parts, and using the words surrounding to find clues.

#72 Write you short and long responses neatly so that anyone can read them.

#73 After you read the passage, first answer the questions you know. Skip the ones that are too hard and

go back later.

#74 Relax and think positively -- some questions may seem hard, but you may be able to figure out what

to do after you read the question carefully.

#76 Write on the test. Yes! You can write on the test, since anything written outside the answer box is

ignored and will not harm your results. Use circles, underlining, arrows, and other marks that will

help solve questions and problems.

#78 Relax. . . don't panic. . . you will do fine.

can too!

#80 Use the formulas provided.

#81 Read each problem carefully.

#82 Think about what is being asked.

#83 Choose an appropriate strategy.

#84 Solve the problem using your strategy.

#85 Does the Answer make sense? Did the strategy work?

teachers’ classrooms.

#88 Recall writing strategies from class and write down the main points that must appear in your writing.

#91 Plan your writing by organizing your ideas.

#92 Support your ideas by telling more about each reason or argument.

#93 Use a variety of sentence structures.

#94 Choose words that help others understand what you mean.

sentence.

#96 Review and edit your writing. In your review, check spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

#97 Be sure that the reader is able to TOUCH, TASTE, SEE, SMELL, AND HEAR what your are writing

#100 When all testing is complete, enjoy the rest of the day and be proud of you effort.