Outlines the benefits of test taking skills, especially for low ability and disadvantaged students, and suggests that achievement tests provide valid assessments only of students with the requisite test taking skills. Offers 13 strategies for teachers to prepare students for testing. Contains 19 references. (SV)

The effectiveness of test-taking skills training was studied by calculating test performance quantitative indices of effect magnitude from data in 24 studies. Longer training programs produced significantly greater achievement gains than shorter programs, supporting recommendations for test-taking training in schools. (Author/MT)

This publication contains six booklets useful to classroom teachers in helping students acquire test-taking skills. These materials are designed to familiarize students with the mechanics involved in taking tests, and teachers with skills which relate to the wider year-long scope of the curriculum. This should minimize format-related problems,…

A discussion of appropriate ways of preparing students to take standardized tests is presented for school administrators. The point at which preparation practices move beyond the ethical depends on the inferences one wishes to draw from test scores. Inferences drawn from test scores are general in nature and will be inaccurate if instruction is…

Describes research about and teaching techniques for test-taking skills. (MKM)

Three variables which affect students' achievement test scores and which can be manipulated prior to test administration are discussed: testwiseness, practice tests, and test practice. Findings were presented from literature reviews. Regarding testwiseness, (1) it can be described, measured, and taught, therefore, testwiseness exists; (2)…

Several experiments were carried out to determine: (1) whether learning disabled (LD) and behaviorally disordered (BD) students exhibit deficiencies with respect to appropriate test-taking strategies and (2) if so, whether these strategies could be successfully trained. In the test-training evaluation, 92 LD or BD elementary-age students…

Seventeen medical school students who participated in a commercial test preparation course were matched with 17 other students judged to be of equal ability. These two groups were compared on the basis of their scores on Part I of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). The two groups were matched closely on both the grade point average…

Offers strategies for improving student scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Covers three areas: improvement in instructional quality in high schools; analysis and refinement of opportunities for students to demonstrate and practice test-taking skills; and enhancement of understanding and support among parents, community, and staff. (PGD)

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT: In general, coaching improves student scores on achievement and aptitude tests--including the SAT--but not very much. While the SAT is not invulnerable to coaching programs, only a few students have found impressive results. Coaching produces the following average gains: On the SAT, .15 standard…

The effects of a test coaching program, "Scoring High on the California Achievement Test," were investigated with a sample of 876 students in grades 1, 2, 4, and 5. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to determine the effects of the program, grade level, sex, and race. Significant differences in favor of the Scoring High program…

Test validity, coaching, the college admissions process, and achievement tests are discussed by the director of the Iowa Testing Programs. Data published on the SAT are examined. It is suggested that systematic instruction in problem-solving skills may improve not only test performance but also skills the test is designed to assess. (Author/MLW)

The Research and Evaluation Branch of the Los Angeles Unified School District presents a bulletin to help prepare students to do their best on achievement tests. The bulletin is divided into five sections. After an introduction, section 2, "Characteristics of Today's Standardized Achievement Tests" discusses test content, test format,…

Highlights biases, that is, learning styles and test bias, involved in testing low income Blacks with norm-referenced achievement tests. Offers suggestions to assist counselors in improving their students' test performance. (Author)

So that comparisons of achievement test scores across campuses would be unaffected by variations in test preparation activities, the Austin Independent School District has set out to standardize all testwiseness instructions and practice testing across the school system. Appropriate preparation activity was defined as that which contributes to…