ELA Test Prep Review

Name :

WHAT TO EXPECT
DAY 1: Tuesday, April 14

6 passages
42 multiple choice

DAY

2: Wednesday, April 15

DAY

3: Thursday, April 16

3 passages
7 multiple choice
3 short responses
1 extended response

3 passages
5 short responses
1 extended response

TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES
FIRST, BEFORE YOU READ:
1 Read the directions
2 Identify the genre
3 Preview the questions and highlight key words
WHEN YOU READ:
Highlight, underline, circle
Take notes of BIG IDEAS in the margins
REMEMBER:
You have extra timeUSE IT! Do not rush. If you finish early, go back and check your
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answers.

3 TYPES OF QUESTIONS
MULTIPLE CHOICE

Use the process of elimination

o Eliminate the answers that you know are wrong
o Two answers will seem correct, remember to choose the best answer
Never leave a multiple choice blank!
o Even if you have no clue, take a guess. You have a 25% chance of guessing the
right answer.

SHORT RESPONSE

Answer ALL PARTS of the question

Use text-based details
Dont forget to ADD
o Answer

o Detail (For example)

o Detail (Another example is)

EXTENDED RESPONSE

Read the prompt before you read the text

Make a plan/outline
o Include a claim or thesis statement
Remember the bullets are your BFF
o Check to make sure you answered all parts of the question
Organize your ideas in 4 to 5 paragraphs

VOCABULARY
These words might show up in the DIRECTIONS. They might sound fancy,
but they are really asking you to do something simple.

Words that mean to SHOW

communicate
convey
create
describe
develop
explain
express
indicate
reflect
reveal
signify
support
demonstrate
illustrate
verify
confirm

Words that mean OPPOSITE

conflict/conflicting
differ/differing
oppose/opposing

Words that connect to CLAIM

advantage/disadvantage
agree
assert
benefit
claim
defend
disagree
drawback
justify
persuade
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WRITING STEMS
Ways to include EVIDENCE
According to the text,
The author states,
The text explains how..
One example is
Another example is
Ways to include ELABORATION
This quote demonstrates
This quote illustrates
The evidence confirms

GENRES
FICTION
a text that is made up, not real, fake

Key words in the directions:

o act
o drama
o folktale
o legend
o myth

o
o
o
o
o

Focus on:
o characters
o problem

o setting
o theme

play
retelling
scene
story
tale

NONFICTION
a text that is true, based on facts and real events
written about a topic, person, or event

Key words in directions:

o account (scientific/historical)
o argument
o article
o biography
o document
o
Focus on:
o authors point of view
o authors purpose
o
o

o
o
o
o
o

o central idea
o supporting details

o Authors Purpose

editorial
essay
report
speech

to entertain (fiction, stories, legends, myths)

to inform (articles on news, science, history, biographies)
to persuade (essays that try to persuade you to agree with a point of view, editorials)

o
o POETRY

o
Focus
o
o
o

on:
theme
symbolism
poetic devices
o
Poetic devices:
o alliteration
the use of 2 or more words with the same consonant sound
Example: Frank fries fruits
o free verse
a poem that does not have a rhyme pattern
o hyperbole
an extreme exaggeration
Example: Im so tired, I could sleep for a year.
o metaphor
comparing two things without using like or as
Example: The cloud is a cotton ball.
o onomatopoeia
the use of a word to represent a real sound
Example: Buzz, Moo, Swoosh
o personification
gives animals or objects human-like qualities
Example: The sun smiled at me.
o repetition
the use of the same word or line over and over again
Example: Feel the love. Feel the joy. Feel the warmth. Feel the
laughter.
o rhyme
two or more words that have the same sound
Example: The cat jumped on the bed. He landed on his head.
o simile
comparing two things using like or as
Example: She is as beautiful as the night sky./Your lipstick is red like
a rose.
o stanza
a paragraph in a poem
o
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