Preparing for End of Year Tests
EOG Test Information |
Listen to EOC Test Taking Tips 7 minute mp3 file |
EOC Geometry Formulas Adobe Acrobat file |
Listen to EOG Test Taking Tips 4 minute mp3 file |
Listen to EOC Test Taking Tips for History and Social Studies |
History/Social Studies Helps Civics and Economics |
May 12, 2008 - The months of May and June are busy and exciting times of the year for students in the Wake County Public School System. Students are busy finishing projects, completing their studies and seniors are eagerly awaiting commencement exercises
But there are two particular weeks this month and next that we want to remind parents of. Between May 12-23, our 3-8 graders will be taking End of Grade (EOG) tests, and between June 4-10, high school students will be taking End of Course (EOC) tests. There is link to the right for the Testing Calendars that provide the school system's window that schools use in scheduling their testing at the end of the school year.
We have collected information that we think will be useful to parents in helping their children prepare for these exams – test tips, exam schedules, audio podcasts and useful weblinks.
First, you can visit the NC Department of Public Instruction website where you will find a table with 11 End-of-Course tests. By clicking on the courses in the table, you will find practice test items and related information.
The NC Department of Public Instruction website provides information for the End-of-Grade testing for students in grades 3-8. You can click for information on End-of-Grade testing in reading comprehension, mathematics, or the new science tests. The science tests are being administered for the first time this year at grades 5 and 8. By clicking on the testing area, you will find practice test items and related information.
Then you can visit the Success Series Resource Center at wcpss.net, where you can find online video resources prepared by classroom teachers with lessons for Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Biology and Advanced Placement courses in Calculus and Statistics. Elaine Williams-Hill of Cary High provides 35 different lessons on Algebra I. Catherine Faircloth Hairr of East Wake High provides 29 different lessons in Geometry. Carla Sammons Davis of Sanderson High provides 22 different lessons for Algebra II. Tina Diane Robinette of Green Hope High and Susan Pullium of East Wake School of Health Science team up for 17 different lessons in Biology. With the different lessons provided, students can focus on the area of instruction they need to review. Green Hope High School Social Studies Department Chair and US History teacher Francis Bryant and WCPSS high school social studies administrator Melinda Stephani talk about steps students can take to prepare for End-of-Course social studies testing. Stephani has also provided some information sheets on court cases, analogies and major concepts that students may find helpful. Work is underway on Success Series lessons for United States History and Civics & Economics.
Podcasts are also available with several WCPSS administrators. Sonia Dupree, WCPSS administrator for high school math, talks about steps students can take to prepare for End-of-Course testing. Dupree also provided a link to math formulas that will be handy for students. Christina Zukowski, WCPSS administrator for middle school math, talks about steps parents can take to prepare students for End-of-Grade testing. Marilyn Moody, the senior director for WCPSS Child Nutrition Services, talks about the breakfast and lunch available for students and the importance especially at testing time for students to be well-fed.
Students should make sure they know what they need for the testing and what materials are not allowed. Depending on the test, students may be required to bring pencils or calculators with fresh batteries. They should not to bring items such as books, ipods or calculators with QWERTY keyboards to the tests.
Tips from testtakingtips.com on answering multiple choice questions
- Read the question before you look at the answer.
- Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible answers, this way the choices given on the test won't throw you off or trick you.
- Eliminate answers you know aren't right.
- Read all the choices before choosing your answer.
- (On the EOCs and EOGs) There is no guessing penalty, so take an educated guess and select an answer.
- Don't keep on changing your answer, usually your first choice is the right one, unless you miss-read the question.
- In "All of the above" and "None of the above" choices, if you are certain one of the statements is true don't choose "None of the above" or one of the statements are false don't choose "All of the above".
- In a question with an "All of the above" choice, if you see that at least two correct statements, then "All of the above" is probably the answer.
- A positive choice is more likely to be true than a negative one.
- If there is an "All of the above" option and you know that at least two of the choices are correct select the "All of the above" choice
- Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most information.
-wcpss-