STAAR Test Prep

SMARTS STAAR Test Preparation

What is STAAR?

STAAR stands for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. It is a series of tests that help tell us how our children are doing in school.
STAAR tests starts in third grade through the end of middle school, students across Texas take STAAR tests in math and reading at the end of each school year. Some years, they also take STAAR tests in writing, science or social studies —depending on which grade they are in.
When students get to high school, they take STAAR end-of-course tests in English, algebra, biology, and U.S. history to show they are ready for graduation.

STAAR Test Content:

Every question on a STAAR test is connected to the curriculum taught in the classroom. The curriculum reinforces state standards through the TEKS. TEKS stand for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. TEKS let teachers know what should be taught in class.
TEKS are essential Knowledge skills that students are expected to know by the end of a certain grade.
STAAR isn’t the only way to evaluate student learning, however, it is an important measure to look at, along with report card grades, teacher reports, and classwork. When all of these are put together, we can see a more complete picture of students’ progress in school.

STAAR Test Preparation Strategies

STAAR is an important test and needs special efforts to make sure we achieve mastery level on these tests. Practicing the tests from past years and knowing good test-taking strategies play an important role in acing the test.
We have provided strategies for your student specifically for STAAR which can also be helpful for any other tests. Read the tips given below with your child to help them understand the strategies and hopefully using them during the test. The key to success is to work smart.

Before the Test
1. Prepare for the exam by studying for the type of exam given. If it is a multiple-choice exam, create flashcards that help you memorize the material. If you must write an essay; create outlines that help you see the relationships in the material.
2. Get a good night’s rest prior to the test day and eat a healthy breakfast or lunch on the day of the exam (don’t overeat!).
3. Bring a watch to your exam–it will help you manage your time during the test.

When You Begin
1. Take a deep breath to relax. Anxiety may reduce your confidence and be an obstacle to doing your best.
2. Preview the whole test briefly before you begin (if allowed). This will help get you warmed up to take the test and allow you to note the way the test is organized.
3. Figure out how much time you have for each section of the test and how much each section is worth. Allocate your time accordingly–don’t spend the whole test on a section that is worth only 10 points.

During the Test
1. ALWAYS read the directions before you work on a section. Circle keywords of importance such as compare, contrast, similar, and different. Failing to read directions can cause you to completely misjudge what the test is asking.
2. Ask your instructor to explain directions you don’t understand.
3. Divide and conquer! Answer the easy questions first to build confidence. This will also allow you to rack up as many points as possible right from the start. However, always be sure to mark the questions you don’t answer right away so you can go back to them.
4. Pace yourself. Check your watch from time to time to make sure you’re pacing yourself appropriately.
5. Answer all the questions: When in doubt, guess. You at least have a chance that you might guess correctly rather than loosing marks by not answering the questions.
6. Don’t let others distract you. Focus only on your own test. If others are writing and you aren’t, don’t panic. If others finish before you do, try not to get nervous.
7. Use any extra time to first make sure you’ve answered all the questions. Then, go over the more difficult questions and read them a second time.
Read essays carefully for accuracy and grammar second.
8. For multiple-choice questions
A) If the two answers look alike: probability is that one of them is correct, choose the best by eliminating choices that mean basically the same thing, and thus cancel each other out.
B) If there are double negatives then: create the equivalent positive statement and always look out for negatives in questions because it changes the best answer you are looking for in the choices.
9. Review if you have time.
Resist the urge to finish when your friends complete the test. Keep reviewing your paper. Make sure you answered all the questions, and correct any obvious errors. Check that all the answer choices match the marked answers in the answer bubble sheet. Don’t change your initial answer unless you have a good reason to do so; research indicates that 3 out of 4 times a first choice was probably correct.
10. Critically analyze the questions and remember that you are looking for the best answer, not only a correct one.

SMARTS Club wishes you ALL THE BEST for upcoming tests!