About that About that TEST!!!TEST!!!

Tying up the loose ends Tying up the loose ends

~Content Sections~~Content Sections~

American Government/CivicsAmerican Government/Civics – (about 18% of test)(about 18% of test)– These items test your knowledge of the These items test your knowledge of the

philosophical foundations of the U.S. philosophical foundations of the U.S. government and how that philosophy government and how that philosophy developed into the structure and developed into the structure and function of the U.S. government. Also function of the U.S. government. Also tested is your knowledge of the U.S. tested is your knowledge of the U.S. government’s relationship to states and government’s relationship to states and to its citizens.to its citizens.

U.S. HistoryU.S. History (about 51% of test) (about 51% of test)– U.S. History to 1865 U.S. History to 1865 (approximately (approximately

26% of the test)26% of the test)– These items test your knowledge of These items test your knowledge of

major events and themes in U.S. history major events and themes in U.S. history from early European colonization to the from early European colonization to the end of the Civil War.end of the Civil War.

– U.S. History since 1865 U.S. History since 1865 (approximately 25% of the test)(approximately 25% of the test)

– These items test your knowledge of These items test your knowledge of major events and themes in U.S. history major events and themes in U.S. history from Reconstruction to the late from Reconstruction to the late twentieth century.twentieth century.

World GeographyWorld Geography – (about 13% of test)(about 13% of test)– These items test your knowledge of the These items test your knowledge of the

importance and impact of physical and importance and impact of physical and cultural geography on the development cultural geography on the development of regions throughout the world. of regions throughout the world. Assessment of this domain will focus on Assessment of this domain will focus on geography content that you will have geography content that you will have had an opportunity to learn in your had an opportunity to learn in your study of World History and U.S. History.study of World History and U.S. History.

World HistoryWorld History – (about 18% of test)(about 18% of test)– Although the GPS World History Although the GPS World History

standards begin in pre-history and standards begin in pre-history and extend to the early days of the twenty-extend to the early days of the twenty-first century, items in this domain will first century, items in this domain will test your knowledge of major events test your knowledge of major events and themes and themes beginning beginning with the with the Renaissance and Reformation period Renaissance and Reformation period and and ending ending in the second half of the in the second half of the twentieth century.twentieth century.

Map & Globe Skills/Information Map & Globe Skills/Information Processing SkillsProcessing Skills – Found in the transitional test content Found in the transitional test content

description but not assessed as description but not assessed as separate separate domains. domains.

– These Social Studies skills are included These Social Studies skills are included in the content of test questions as in the content of test questions as appropriate.appropriate.

What kind of What kind of questions?questions?

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

Multiple Choice tests are designed so that students can show their understanding of a subject by selecting a correct answer from a list of possible choices.

There’s a method to the madness…Multiple Choice Questions have specific PARTS:

A stimulus (sometimes)A question or stemSeveral options(some of which are distractors!)

Why are MULTIPLE CHOICE Tests so confusing???

Let’s take a look…Let’s take a look…stimulus

It is estimated that 500 million people face hunger and malnutrition daily. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, enough food was grown worldwide to provide an adequate diet for every human being. The United States and Canada produce approximately 80% of the world’s supply of grain, yet have only 6% of the world’s population, whereas poor, developing nations cannot produce enough food to feed their populations.

stemBased upon the preceding passage, why is hunger a major world problem?

optionsa. The United States and Canada produce too much grain.b. Developing nations cannot afford to feed their

populations adequately.c. The world’s population is increasing more rapidly than

the food supply.d. There is an unequal distribution of world food supply and

world population.

Multiple Choice Test Taking TipsMultiple Choice Test Taking Tips

Read the question Read the question beforebefore you you look at the answer. look at the answer.

Come up with the answer in your Come up with the answer in your headhead beforebefore looking at the looking at the possible answerspossible answers, this way the , this way the choices given on the test won't choices given on the test won't throw you off or trick you. throw you off or trick you.

EliminateEliminate answers you know answers you know aren't right. aren't right.

Read all the choicesRead all the choices before before choosing your answer. choosing your answer.

If there is no guessing penalty, If there is no guessing penalty, always take an educated guessalways take an educated guess and select an answer. and select an answer.

Don't keep on changing your answerDon't keep on changing your answer, , usually your first choice is the right one, usually your first choice is the right one, unless you miss-read the question. unless you miss-read the question.

In In "All of the above""All of the above" and and "None of the "None of the above"above" choices, if you are certain one of choices, if you are certain one of the statements is true don't choose the statements is true don't choose "None of the above" or one of the "None of the above" or one of the statements are false don't choose "All of statements are false don't choose "All of the above". the above".

In a question with an In a question with an "All of the above""All of the above" choicechoice, if you see that at least two , if you see that at least two correct statementscorrect statements, then "All of the , then "All of the above" is probably the answer. above" is probably the answer.

A A positive choicepositive choice is is more likelymore likely to be to be true true than a than a negative onenegative one. .

Usually the Usually the correct answercorrect answer is the is the choice choice with the most informationwith the most information. .

GHSGT Social Studies SpecificsGHSGT Social Studies Specifics

Test Time:Test Time: up to 3 hours (usually up to 3 hours (usually takes about 90 minutes)takes about 90 minutes)

You may use:You may use:– Ruler or straight edge (index card)Ruler or straight edge (index card)– Test booklet margins (you can write in it Test booklet margins (you can write in it

– DO!!!)– DO!!!)

Hints:Hints:

– Read Everything Carefully!Read Everything Carefully! Questions may involve short articles, tables, charts, and Questions may involve short articles, tables, charts, and

graphs. graphs. All test questions require careful reading of both the All test questions require careful reading of both the

directionsdirections, the , the questionquestion, AND , AND all four answer choicesall four answer choices..

– There are NO trick questions There are NO trick questions Don’t waste your time trying to figure out what it Don’t waste your time trying to figure out what it reallyreally

means!means! Careful reading and consideration of all choices IS Careful reading and consideration of all choices IS

necessary.necessary.

– Consider EVERY choice!Consider EVERY choice! Beware of Beware of distractorsdistractors – those alternative answers that – those alternative answers that

seem attractive on the surface!seem attractive on the surface! Be sure the ENTIRE answer is correct!Be sure the ENTIRE answer is correct!

More Hints:More Hints:– Guess intelligently!Guess intelligently!

There is There is NO penalty for guessingNO penalty for guessing.. If you can eliminate one or more items guessing is easier!If you can eliminate one or more items guessing is easier!

– Spend test time wisely!Spend test time wisely! The GHSGT is NOT arranged in an “easiest to hardest” The GHSGT is NOT arranged in an “easiest to hardest”

order!order! You may find several difficult questions followed by a set You may find several difficult questions followed by a set

of easier items – of easier items – don’t get discourageddon’t get discouraged – move on and – move on and come back to the more difficult questions!come back to the more difficult questions!

– Check your work!Check your work! Carelessness can cause you to lose points!!!Carelessness can cause you to lose points!!! #1 -- Read EVERYTHING carefully!#1 -- Read EVERYTHING carefully! #2 -- Evaluate EACH answer choice!#2 -- Evaluate EACH answer choice! #3 -- Transfer your choice to the CORRECT box on your #3 -- Transfer your choice to the CORRECT box on your

answer sheet!answer sheet!