Lesson Plan: Teaching Multiple Choice Test Taking Strategies

The reading and language portions of the ACT, and the SAT as well as most English subject area state test assessments are multiple choice.

Most important English assessments are multiple-choice assessments. Someone who knows and applies multiple choice test taking strategies will score better than one who does not even if he or she is just as proficient in English.

1. RELAX! It is just a test and most of them can be retaken.
2. ELIMINATE WRONG ANSWERS! This is important for a few reasons. If you can eliminate wrong answers, you are more likely to increase your odds of selecting the correct answer. Think about it--if you have answer choices A-D, you have a 1 in 4 chance of selecting the correct answer. If you eliminate two wrong answers, you have increased your chances to a 1 in 2 chance of selecting the correct answer. Ask yourself, if you were playing the lottery would you rather have a 1 in 4 chance or a 1 in 2 chance?
3. READ ALL ANSWER CHOICES AND MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE TEST ITEM! If you do not understand what is being asked, reread the test item until you do understand it. Sometimes, the wording on these tests is a bit confusing, so be patient and read all of the test item as well as all of the answer choices before doing anything.

Giving students opportunities to implement these strategies will go a long way in improving test scores.

• Give students reading packets that are multiple choice so they can practice eliminating the wrong answers.
• When reviewing multiple choice worksheets, have students narrow answer choices until there are only two remaining answer choices. After eliminating, the wrong answers, students will realize they have a better chance of selecting the correct answer.
• If you model these test-taking strategies in your class, students will catch on and soon follow these strategies when completing their work. It will become their habit.