Students in grades 3 through 11 are tested each spring in math. The math test contains three types of questions---multiple choice, a short written answer, and a long written answer. On the Florida Department of Education website at fldoe.org, there are sample test books for each grade available for download. By downloading these test books, you will be able to see what types of questions to expect. Each grade level answers questions that test different skills, ranging from number sense, addition and subtraction, time and money, multiplication and division, equations and expressions, and so on. Be sure to download a test book for your grade level.
Several weeks before the actual test, download and answer the questions in the sample math test book for your grade level. Practice following all of the test directions and answering the questions. If you have trouble finding a solution to any of the questions, ask for help from your teacher or another adult who is proficient in math. When it's time to take the actual test, be sure to get good sleep the night before and eat a healthy breakfast that morning. Research shows a significant increase in testing scores from following just those two steps. This is true for any test, not just the FCAT.
Follow all directions carefully. Directions for answering one type of math question are different from another. Don't assume you know what you are expected to do. Always read the directions.
Think about those answers you can eliminate right away, then choose your answer from the remaining choices. Keep in mind that generally your first choice is the correct choice. Some multiple-choice questions ask you to show your work. Be sure to show all the steps necessary to find the solution, even if you know the answer without doing the work. You will judged on both how you show the problem is solved and the correct answer. Write clearly and line up any columns correctly.
The purpose of short and long answer questions is to see proof of a student's reasoning abilities. These abilities can only be measured by looking at the steps you followed to reach a solution. It's crucial to make sure that all your writing is legible and that all necessary steps are shown. Even if you know the answer without following all the necessary steps, the person evaluating the test will judge your answer on the work you show more than if you've answered correctly. Also, if you show that you are proficient in solving the problem but you make a minor error in the process, you will be judged more favorably even if you do not answer correctly.
More information about the FCAT, such as when it is administered, to which grades, how results are used, as well as sample test questions and sample test books, can be found on the Florida Department of Education's website: www.fldoe.org