Train students to read directions carefully. Make sure students understand what is being asked. Use a highlighter to mark key words that give indicators to correct responses.
Read the questions first. This focuses the student on main ideas and tested concepts. Highlight any key phrases in the questions that may give hints or clues to the answer, such as negative words in questions and sequence indicators such as first, next, finally, and after.
Read the passage. Highlight information remembered from previewing the questions and any italicized words. Phrases and words in italics indicate importance to the reader.
Respond to the questions. Use the highlighter to mark answers found within the passage.Read all answer choices eliminating those choices that are clearly incorrect. Continue to refer to the passage and highlight portions that are key to answering the questions.
Review all answers. Make sure that all answers are found or implied within the reading passage. Go back through the test to make sure that all questions are answered and that the best answer is given. Sometimes test makers will add a distractor or an answer that is mostly correct. Make sure you have chosen the best answer for the question presented