Create science vocabulary cards and study them throughout the year.
Include on the cards the scientific term, a definition from the science book, a student-written definition, and a visual representation of the concept, such as an illustration or photograph. The student should create vocabulary cards for each new term she encounters, and she should study the cards nightly.
Practice analyzing charts, graphs, tables and illustrations.
Scientific data is often presented in these forms. The student should learn to read these items so that he can analyze the data represented in them. The student must be comfortable interpreting and describing the relationships between or among different sets of data.
Know lab safety procedures and rules, and know the materials used in the lab.
According to science TEKS, 40 percent of science instruction should be focused on lab and field investigations. Students are expected to practice safety when in the lab, to use the appropriate tools and materials for investigations, and to consider the environment and natural resources as they conduct their investigations.
Practice math calculations and conversions.
Measurements and calculations for items such as temperature, volume, density and rate of change are a part of the science standards. Students must be able to perform the necessary math operations and calculations associated with their grade level TEKS.
Download and study the Science TAKS Study Guide.
This guide acts as a review for students and will help them know what to expect on the assessment. The guide includes a review of the TEKS objectives, information about the types of questions included on the test, and practice test items. Study guides are available for fifth, eighth and 10th grades.
Take practice assessments.
The Texas Education Agency releases TAKS items and tests from previous years. They are available for download from the TEA Web site. Taking practice tests allows the student to become more comfortable with the format of the test, as well as the types of questions asked.
Use test-taking strategies.
TAKS is a standardized, criterion-referenced assessment that includes multiple choice questions and griddable questions. The multiple choice questions are sometimes grouped in clusters, which are a series of questions about one topic or set of data. As with most standardized tests, strategies -- such as previewing the questions before getting started, eliminating obviously wrong answers and marking questions for review -- might help improve performance.