1. TEST TAKING STRATEGIES
TCAP

2. THE NIGHT BEFORE
• Go to bed at a reasonable time
• Put extra number 2 pencils in your backpack
• Solve any family or friend arguments so you are
less distracted the next day
• Talk to you parents about
your concerns

3. THE DAY OF THE TEST
• Complete your morning routine as usual
• Eat a good filling breakfast
• Think positive
• Leave your cell phone at home
(we will be collecting cellphones at the door. If a cell phone is out,
rings or vibrates your test will be invalidated)
• Bring something to read

4. MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST
• Listen carefully to the directions
• Read the directions thoroughly
• Read the question and ALL the possible answers prior
to selecting an answer
• Do not change your answer unless you are absolutely
sure it is wrong, often your first choice is the correct
choice
• Answer every question, even if you have to guess

5. PACE YOURSELF
• Do not spend to much time on one question,
do the best you can and then move on
• Answer the easiest questions and then go back
to review the harder questions that you skipped
• While you want to finish, do not rush. You
cannot leave the test room early

6. PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
• If you do not know the answer, eliminate any
answers you know are wrong
• Once you eliminate an answer or two your
chances of guessing the right answer increase
greatly
• Don’t guess blindly, try to make an educated
guess

7. RELAX
• Loosen the grip on your pencil
As silly as it sounds, holding your pencil to
tight can make your arm sore and tired,
making it hard to concentrate
• Remember this test is meant to measure your
progress from one year to the next, we are only
asking that you do your best
• Focus on the content of the test, and not on your
stress

8. TIPS
• If you finish a section early go back and review your
answers.
• Read quietly and wait for the next session to start
• Look for key words in the question that might help you
choose an answer
• Make sure you understand the question being asked
• Make sure you are answering the correct question, pay
attention to the question number and line number

9. ADDITIONAL TIPS
• Fill in the bubbles COMPLETLEY
• Write neatly but don’t obsess over your penmanship
• Erase any mistakes or stray marks
• Don’t be afraid to be a know-it-all
on this exam, none of your classmates are going to
see it
• If it’s hard, don’t worry, the test is meant to be
challenging

10. READING
• If the section asks you to answer questions
about a reading passage, read the questions
first
This way you will know what to look for as you
read

11. MATH
• Only use the extra room in the booklet given to
you as scratch paper
• If you get an answer on your own that is not
one of the options, start over, try to find your
mistake or go back to the problem later