Helpful Tips
General Writing
Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11
General
- Learn how to answer each type of question.
- For multiple-choice questions, read each question carefully
and think about the answer or solve the problem before you select your
answer from the choices provided.
- Answer questions you are sure about first. If a question
seems to hard, skip it and go back to that question later.
- There is no penalty for guessing. Therefore, it is best
to try to answer all questions, even if you are not sure of the correct answers.
- Think positively. Some questions may seem hard, but you
may be able to figure out how to respond if you read the questions carefully
a second time.
- Be sure to completely fill in the answer bubbles in your
answer document. Do not make any stray marks around the answer spaces.
- Check to make sure the test question number matches the
answer choice number on the answer document.
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Writing+
- Read the prompt carefully.
- Plan your writing by organizing
your ideas.
- Support your ideas by telling
more about each event, reason, or argument.
- Use a variety of sentence structures.
- Choose words that help others
understand what you mean.
- Review and edit your writing.
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Writing+ Essay
- Read the prompt carefully and
completely. The prompt gives you suggestions that may help you begin your writing.
- Use the planning sheet to list
and organize your ideas for writing. Plan to include examples and details in
your response. Budget the time you spend planning. The writing on the planning
sheet will not be scored.
- You have 45 minutes to read, plan,
and write your response. Only the writing on the lines provided in the writing
folder will be scored. If you have time left, check your work and make corrections
to improve your writing.
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Writing+ Stimulus-Based
- Read the writing plan to determine
the topic, subtopics, and details.
- Read the question carefully to
be sure your understand what it is asking.
- Choose the answer you think is
correct, and fill in the bubble that matches the answer.
- Review your work to make sure
you have correctly followed the instructions.
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Writing+ Sample-Based
- Read the sample draft and consider
its strengths and weaknesses.
- Read the question and answer choices
carefully.
- Look back at the sample draft
to help you decide on the correct answer.
- Fill in the bubble that matched
the answer you have selected.
- Review your work to make sure
that you have correctly followed the instructions.
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Writing+ Cloze-Based
- Carefully read the cloze sample
and answer choices for each blank.
- Choose the answer that you think
is the correct spelling, usage, or grammar to complete the blank.
- Fill in the bubble that matches
the answer you have selected.
- Review your work to make sure
that you have correctly followed the instructions.
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Writing+ Stand-Alone
- Read the question and answer choices
carefully.
- Decide which answer choice has
correct capitalization or punctuation.
- Fill in the bubble that matches
the answer you have selected.
- Review your work to make sure
that you have correctly followed the instructions.
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Grade 9 Reading
- Read the directions carefully.
Ask your teacher to explain any directions you do not understand.
- Read the passages and questions
very carefully. You may look back at a passage as often as you like.
- Answer the questions you are sure
about first. If a question seems to difficult, skip it and go back to it later.
- Be sure to fill in the answer
bubbles correctly. Do not make any stray marks around answer spaces.
- Think positively. Some questions
may seem hard, but others will be easy.
- Check each answer to make sure
it is the best answer for the question asked.
- Relax. Some people get nervous
about tests. It's natural. Just do your best.
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Grade 9 Reading (MC)
- Read the passage and question
very carefully. Look back at the passage to find the correct answer to the question.
- Make sure your answer is based
on information in the passage and not something you read elsewhere. If you are
not sure about details from the passage, go back and read that part of
the passage again.
- Once you have chosen your answer,
fill in the bubble that matches your choice.
- Check your answer.
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Grade 9 Mathematics (MC)
- Read the question carefully.
- Solve the problem first and then
look for you answer among the choices given.
- If your answer is not one of the
choices, reread the question to be sure you understand what is being asked.
Solve the problem again if necessary.
- You are not requires to show your
work for MC questions; however, you may use the white space in the test book
to do your calculations.
- Once you have chosen your answer,
fill in the bubble that matches your choice.
- Check your work.
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Grade 9 Mathematics (GR)
- Read the question carefully. Then
use an appropriate strategy to answer the question.
- You are not required to show your
work for GR questions; however. you may use the white space in the test book
to do your calculations.
- Once you have answered the question,
write your answer in the boxes on the answer grid and fill in the bubbles to
match your answer. Make sure the boxes and bubbles are filled in correctly and
match each other.
- If your answer will not fit in
the response grid, check your work. Remember that you might need to round your
answer or use another form of the number.
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Grade 10 Reading (MC)
- Read the passage and question
very carefully. Look back at the passage to find the correct answer to the question.
- Make sure your answer is based
on information in the passage and not something you read elsewhere. If you are
not sure about details from the passage, go back and read that part of the passage
again.
- Once you have chosen your answer,
fill in the bubble that matches your choice.
- Check your answer.
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Grade 10 Reading (SR, ER)
- Read: Read the passage
and then read the question. Some questions have several parts. Make sure you
understand the question before you begin to write your answer. Look back at
the passage as often as necessary to answer the question completely.
- Think: Plan your answer
before you begin to write. Reread the parts of the passage that contain important
information. Make sure that you include support from the passage in your answer.
- Explain: Explain your answer
clearly in writing. If the question has several parts, answer every part of
the question. In your answer, be sure to include details and information from
the passage. You may not need to use all of the lines provided. This is okay
as long as you provide a complete response.
- Be sure to keep your writing inside
the box.
- It should take about 5 minutes
to answer each SR question and 10-15 minutes for each ER question. Use as much
of the recommended time as you need.
- Answer as much of the question
as you can because partially correct answers may receive credit.
- When you have finished, reread
the question and your answer to make sure your answer is clear, accurate, and
thorough.
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Grade 10 How to Answer the "Read, Think,
and Explain" Questions
- Answers to the short- and extended-response
questions can receive full or partial credit. You should try to answer these
questions even if you are not sure of the correct answer. If a portion of the
answer is correct, you will get a portion of the points.
- Allow about 5 minutes to answer
the short "Read, Think, and Explain" questions and about 10 to 15 minutes to
answer the long ones.
- Read the question carefully.
- If you do not understand the question,
go back and review the passage.
- Think carefully and organize your
thoughts before starting to write the answers.
- Write your answer on the lines
provided in the Answer Book.
- Remember to include details and
information from the passage in your answer.
- Use clear, concise language to
explain your answer.
- Be sure to answer every part of
the question.
- Reread the answer to make sure
it says what you want it to say.
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Grade 10 Mathematics (MC)
- Read the question carefully.
- Solve the problem first and then
look for your answer among the choices given.
- If your answer is not one of the
choices, reread the question to be sure you understand what is being asked.
Solve the problem again, if necessary.
- You are not required to show your
work for MC questions; however, you may use the white space in the test book
to do your calculations.
- Once you have chosen your answer,
fill in the bubble that matches your choice.
- Check your work.
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Grade 10 Mathematics
- Learn how to answer each kind
of question. FCAT Mathematics tests have four types of questions: multiple-choice,
gridded-response, short-response, and extended-response.
- Read each question carefully and
think about ways to solve the problem before you try to answer the question.
- Answer the questions you are sure
about first. If a question seems too difficult, skit it and go back to it later.
- Be sure to fill in the answer
bubbles correctly. Do not make any stray marks around answer spaces.
- Think positively. Some problems
may seem hard to you, but you may be able to figure out what to do if you read
each question carefully.
- When you have finished each problem,
reread it to make sure your answer is reasonable.
- Relax. some people get nervous
about tests. It's natural, Just do your best.
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Grade 10 Mathematics (GR)
- Read the question carefully. Then
solve the problem.
- You are not required to show your
work for GR questions; however, you may use the white space in the test book
to do your calculations.
- Once you have solved the problem,
write your answer in the boxes on the answer grid and fill in the bubbles to
match your answer. Make sure the boxes and bubbles are filled in correctly and
match each other.
- If your answer will not fit in
the response grid, check your work. Remember that you might need to round your
answer or use another form of the number.
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Grade 10 Mathematics (SR, ER)
- Think: Read the question
carefully. Think about and analyze what you are being asked to do. Make sure
you understand the question before you begin your work.
- Solve: Begin solving the
problem using an appropriate strategy. Be sure to determine what information
is relevant to the problem and what is not.
- Explain: Solve the problem
and write the solution or its explanation as directed. Take enough time to answer
the question completely. Be sure to answer each part of the question.
- It should take about 5 minutes
to answer each SR question and 10-15 minutes for each ER question. Use as much
of the recommended time as you need.
- Be sure to keep your writing inside
the box.
- "Think, Solve, Explain" questions
require you to show your work.
- Answer as much of the question
as you can because partially correct answers may receive credit.
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Grade 10 How to Answer the "Think,
Solve, Explain" Questions
- Allow about 5 minutes to answer
the short "Think, Solve, Explain" questions and about 10 to 15 minutes to answer
the long questions.
- Read the question carefully.
- If you do not understand the question,
read and answer one part at a time.
- Be sure to answer every part of
the question.
- Use numbers and other information
from the problem to answer the question.
- Show your work. This shows that
you understand how to solve the problem.
- Write your explanations in clear,
concise language. Use only the space provided in the Sample Answer Book.
- Check your work to make sure the
procedure and calculations are correct.
- Reread your explanation to make
sure it says what you want it to say.
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Grade 11 Science
- Learn how to answer each kind
of question. The FCAT Science test for Grade 11 has four types of questions:
multiple-choice, gridded-response, short-response, and extended response.
- Read each question carefully.
- Check each answer to make sure
it is the best answer for the question.
- Answer the questions you are sure
about first. If a question seems to difficult, skip it and go back to it later.
- Be sure to fill in the answer
bubbles correctly. Do not make any stray marks around answer spaces.
- Think positively. Some questions
may seem hard to you, but you may be able to figure out what to do if you reread
the question carefully.
- When you have finished ach question,
reread it to make sure your answer is reasonable.
- Relax. Some people get nervous
about tests. It's natural. Just do your best.
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Grade 11 Science (MC)
- Read the information provided
and the question carefully.
- Study any pictures, charts, and/or
tables presented.
- Look at the answer choices and
determine the information and/or procedures needed to find the solution.
- Reread the question.
- Choose your answer and fill in
the bubble to match your choice.
- Check your work.
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Grade 11 Science (GR)
- Read the information provided
and the question carefully. Then solve the problem.
- You are not required to show your
work for GR questions; however, you may use the white space in the test book
to do your calculations.
- Once you have solved the problem,
write your answer in the boxes on the answer grid and fill in the bubbles to
match your answer. Make sure the boxes and bubbles are filled in correctly to
match each other.
- If your answer will not fit in
the response grid, check your work. Remember that you might need to round your
answer or use another form of the number.
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Grade 11 Science (SR, ER)
- Read: Read the question
carefully. Study any pictures, charts, and/or tables. Think about what you are
asked to do.
- Inquire: Recall what you
know about the science that is presented. Remember what you have learned in
class and/or by doing experiments. Determine which science theories and procedures
apply to the situation presented.
- Explain: Respond to each
part of the question. Formulate and write a complete answer using scientific
terms and concepts.
- It should take about 5 minutes
to answer each SR question and 10-15 minutes for each ER question. Use as much
of the recommended time as you need.
- Be sure to keep your writing or
drawings inside the box.
- Answer as much of the question
as you can because partially correct answers may receive credit.
- When you have finished, reread
the question and your answer to make sure your answer is clear, accurate, and
thorough.
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How to Answer the "Read, Inquire, Explain"
Questions
- Allow about 5 minutes to answer
the short "Read, Inquire, Explain" questions and about 10 to 15 minutes to answer
the long ones.
- Read each question carefully.
- If you do not understand the question,
read it again and try to answer one part at a time.
- Be sure to answer every part of
the question.
- Use the information provided to
answer the question.
- Write your explanations in clear
concise language. Use only the space provided in the Sample Answer Book. Be
sure to keep your writing or drawings inside the box.
- Reread your explanation to make
sure it says what you want it to say.
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