“Test-Taking Secrets”
Improving Your Child’s Chances for Success
Tina Hanes
March 16, 2005
Cognition
Cognition refers to the initial strategies a reader uses to understand the passage!
Strategies include:
Purpose of Text
Organization of Text
Context Clues
Summarizing to Include Main Points
Main Idea
Main Problem
Identify Point of View
Example Cognition Test Questions:
What is the main idea of the passage?
Based on the content of paragraph 3, what does XXX mean? (vocabulary in content)
What is the purpose of the first subheading in the passage?
Which of the following best describes Joe? (answer is clearly stated in the selection)
Interpretation
Interpretation requires the student to develop a more complete understanding of the passage.
Strategies Include:
Clarification
Explain the significance of something
Identify tone/mood of the passage
Complete understanding of the passage
Inferences/Conclusions/Generalizations
Interrelationship of Parts
Examples of Interpretation Test Questions:
What is the significance of Joe’s decision to buy the bicycle?
What is the tone/mood of the selection?
Based on the selection, what will most likely happen next?
Which of the following best describes Joe? (not clearly stated in the passage)
Critical Stance
Critical Stance refers to tasks that ask the student to stand apart from the selection and consider it objectively.
Strategies Include:
Compare/Contrast
Stand apart from the text
Fact/Opinion
Analysis/Impact of Literary Terms
Author’s Craft
Analogies-all relationships are found in the text
Examples of Critical Stance Questions:
How is X different from Y?
How does Joe change from the beginning to the end of the passage?
What is the effect of the beginning of the selection?
What is ironic about X?
The author wrote XYZ in capital letters to emphasize which of the following?
Connections
Connections refers to connecting knowledge from the selection with other information and experiences.
Strategies Include:
Compare/Contrast
Connecting elements in the text to information outside the text
Analogies-initial relationship from text, others from outside experiences
Examples of Connection Questions:
Which experiences is most similar to Joe’s experience in the passage?
How would this experience help Joe the next time he buys a bicycle?
People who play this game are most likely to have which of the following characteristics?
How would a member of a group dedicated to protecting animals most likely react to this passage?