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Test-taking strategies poster (free printable steps)

Five habits for taking any test, from reading the directions to taking a breath when stuck. Edit the steps to match the tests your students take, and post the poster before testing week.

Printed on the sheet. Leave it empty to write by hand.
Step | detail | icon
Colour
Test-Taking Steps, page 1Test-Taking Steps1Read the directionsTwice, and underline what to do2Easy ones firstSkip a hard one and come back toit3Cross out wrong answersCut the choices that cannot beright4Check your workRead the question and youranswer again5BreatheOne slow breath if you feelstuck

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About this sheet

Test strategies are habits, and habits come from practice. This poster lists five of them with a small picture beside each: read the directions twice, do the easy ones first, cross out wrong answers, check your work, and breathe when stuck. It is a reminder on the wall, not a lesson, so teach each step on ordinary quizzes weeks before a big test, and point to the poster as children try it. Change any step to match the tests your students really take, and shorten the wording for younger readers. A calm room beats a crammed one, so let the last step carry as much weight as the others. Hang it where eyes land during a quiet test.

Grades: 2 to 8. Best in: February, March, April.

How to use it

  1. Edit the five steps so they match the kinds of tests your students take, keeping each to a few words.
  2. Print in color and hang the poster where children will see it during quiet work, a few weeks before testing.
  3. Practice one step at a time on regular quizzes, and point to the poster so the habit sticks before the big day.

Five ideas for class

  1. Teach one step per day on classroom quizzes in the weeks before testing, and ask children which one helped them most.
  2. Model thinking aloud on a hard question, crossing out wrong choices on the board, so children hear how a careful test taker decides.
  3. Add a step for your own tests, such as Use the whole time, if there is a habit your class tends to skip.
  4. Keep the tone calm and light, since a poster full of warnings can raise worry, and a friendly one can lower it.
  5. Send a small copy home with the testing checklist, so families can echo the same steps the night before.

Related

Questions

Can I change the steps?

Yes. Each line has a step, a short detail and a picture word. Change the words freely, and keep the picture words from the list on the sheet.

Is this only for state tests?

No. The same five habits help on unit quizzes, spelling tests and finals. Practicing them on small quizzes is what makes them work on the big ones.

Will it fit for older students?

Yes. Rewrite the details in a more grown-up voice for grades six to eight, and print it smaller as a desk reference if the wall is crowded.

How do I save it as a PDF?

Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.

Can I print it in black and white?

Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.

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