1. Take the full five hours - you paid for them! Don't worry about how quickly your neighbor finishes - s/he probably is taking a different test.

2. Interact with the text. Underline it, circle it, cross it out, whatever you need to do to help you understand what is being said. It's okay to write on the test!!!

3. Know the content. (Study each domain and competency and know what they mean.)

4. Cross out any answers that do not make sense.

5. Choose the answer and circle it on the test first and then bubble it in.

6. Guessing does not count against you, but not marking an answer counts as an incorrect response. Also, accidentally marking two bubbles for the same number counts as an incorrect answer. NEVER LEAVE AN ANSWER BLANK!

7. If you need "think time" for a particular answer, mark that number on the test booklet in some way and come back to it. Always work through the test first, answering all of the obvious questions and then go back to the questions you need time to think about.

8. Always circle answers in the test booklet before bubbling them in on the scantron.

9. Paraphrase whenever you can. It's okay to write on the test!!!!

10. Look for key words in the question that will give you a clue as to the focus of the question.

11. Read carefully. The answers may be found within the question.

12. When you first receive the test, decide on how many questions you can answer with ease. Draw a line under that number of questions throughout your booklet. When you get to the line, stop and take a mental break. Research tells us the brain shuts down when it becomes overwhelmed. (If you think you can answer thirty questions, then draw your line at 30, 60, 90, etc.)

13. Be sure to bubble in from the middle in an /e/ fashion. The scanner reads the very middle of the oval, so it needs to be the darkest part!

14. Here's the most important tip: Once you select the answer, read the question and your answer TOGETHER to make sure the answer answers the question. If it sounds right, it just might be the answer!!!

15. VERY IMPORTANT: If you do not know the answer, GUESS!!