Unit 6 — Test Prep
Description
This unit prepares students for standardized testing through targeted test-taking strategy instruction. Students engage with released test items and practice with close reading techniques. Teachers guide students through test simulation activities that build confidence and familiarity with test formats. Students learn strategies for managing time, understanding distractors, and answering different question types. Daily oral language activities and mentor sentence work reinforce grammar and convention skills. Collaborative team competitions make test preparation engaging while building academic skills.
Essential Questions
- What are some strategies that I can use to do my best on a test?
- How can materials be best utilized in order to increase test scores?
Learning Objectives
- Apply test-taking strategies to improve performance.
- Use close reading techniques to comprehend challenging texts.
- Identify and eliminate distractors in multiple-choice questions.
- Analyze and synthesize information from multiple sources.
- Answer open-ended questions with clear evidence and reasoning.
- Manage time effectively during testing situations.
- Demonstrate understanding of grade-level reading standards.
Suggested Texts
- NJSLA Released Items — test items
- NJSLA Digital Item Library — online resources
Supplemental Resources
- Printed passages for close reading practice and annotation
- Index cards with context clues strategies for quick reference
- Timers for pacing practice during timed writing activities
Language
Reading: Literature
Writing
Students use digital platforms and technology tools to produce and publish writing, conduct research, create multimedia presentations, and engage in online collaboration and communication.
Students develop critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills through discussions, presentations, and written work that prepare them for post-secondary success and informed citizenship.
Formative Assessments
- Test simulation and evaluation using released items
- Table team test prep competitions
- Daily oral language editing activities
- Mentor sentence analysis and application
- Practice with context clues and vocabulary strategies
- Timed reading comprehension passages
Summative Assessment
Research Simulation Task with multiple choice and written response demonstrating reading and writing standards.
Benchmark Assessment
— not configured —
Alternative Assessment
Students may respond to test items orally or through scribed responses in place of written answers. Extended time, reduced number of items, or simplified question formats may be provided while maintaining the core content and skill being assessed. Visual supports such as annotated sample test items or strategy reference sheets may be available during practice activities.
IEP (Individualized Education Program)
During test preparation activities, provide students with graphic organizers or structured response frames to help organize evidence and reasoning for open-ended questions. Offer extended time and chunked practice passages so students can build stamina with close reading without becoming overwhelmed. Allow oral responses or dictation as alternatives to written output when the skill being assessed is comprehension rather than writing mechanics. Scaffolded process guides for identifying and eliminating distractors can help students develop test-taking strategies more independently over time.
Section 504
Provide preferential seating and a low-distraction environment during timed reading and test simulation activities to support focus and stamina. Extended time on timed passages and practice assessments should be consistently applied so students can demonstrate their comprehension skills without the added barrier of pacing pressure. Printed copies of any directions or question prompts displayed digitally should be made available to support access.
ELL / MLL
Preview key academic vocabulary and signal words commonly found in standardized test questions before students engage with practice passages, using visual supports and examples in context to build familiarity. Simplified, step-by-step directions for navigating different question types will help students focus on comprehension rather than decoding task expectations. Where possible, allow students to briefly discuss their thinking in their home language before constructing a written response in English, supporting meaning-making across linguistic resources.
At Risk (RTI)
Connect test-taking strategies to reading and writing skills students have already practiced earlier in the year, framing this unit as an opportunity to demonstrate what they already know rather than as new or unfamiliar content. Reduce the complexity of initial practice items and gradually increase difficulty so students build confidence before engaging with full-length simulations. Frequent, low-stakes check-ins during practice activities allow teachers to catch and correct misunderstandings about question formats or strategy application before they become habits.
Gifted & Talented
Encourage students to move beyond identifying the correct answer and instead analyze why each distractor is incorrect, building a deeper understanding of how standardized questions are constructed. Students can be challenged to synthesize information across multiple complex sources and craft written responses that demonstrate nuanced reasoning and precise use of textual evidence. Opportunities to examine the design and purpose of different question types — including how passages are selected and how prompts are written — can extend thinking into the analytical and evaluative levels appropriate for advanced learners.