Test Taking Strategies Flashcards

The HSPT has five sections with strict time limits. What pacing habit helps most?

Answer: Track the clock and budget time per question

Monitoring the clock and budgeting time prevents running out before finishing a timed section.

In the Verbal Skills section, you face analogies. What strategy helps?

Answer: Identify the relationship between the first pair

Defining the relationship in the first pair lets you match it in the answer pair.

For Reading Comprehension, what is an efficient approach?

Answer: Skim the passage, then refer back for each question

Skimming first and returning to the text for specifics saves time and improves accuracy.

Watch out for answer choices containing absolute words like 'always' or 'never.' Why?

Answer: They are often too extreme to be true

Extreme words like 'always' or 'never' often signal an incorrect, overly broad choice.

In the Math section, when stuck on a word problem, what can help?

Answer: Plug answer choices back into the problem

Backsolving by testing answer choices can reveal the correct one without full computation.

Why should you read all four answer choices before selecting one?

Answer: A later choice may be more correct than an early one

A 'best answer' question may have a stronger option further down the list.

What is the smartest way to handle a question you cannot solve?

Answer: Eliminate what you can, guess, and mark it to revisit

Guessing after elimination and marking it lets you move on while keeping a chance at points.