Module 9- Strategies for Success on the Day of the Test
Review the following strategies to help you do your best when taking the WEST–B
| Follow directions | Listen to and follow all test directions. |
| Pace your work | The test session is designed to allow sufficient time for you to complete the subtest(s) for which you register. You may wish to review the test items for a subtest before you answer any test items to help you gauge how to pace yourself. If you are taking the Writing subtest, remember to leave enough time to respond to the writing assignments. |
| Choose which section to complete first |
If you are taking more than one subtest, choose which section of the test you want to complete first. Many candidates choose to complete the Writing subtest first, when they are fresh. Others choose to complete the Reading or Mathematics subtests first, depending on areas of anticipated difficulty. No one approach is recommended, but you should feel free to complete the subtests of the WEST–B in the order with which you feel comfortable. |
| Read carefully | Do not try to save time by skimming directions or by reading the test questions quickly. You may miss important information and instructions. |
| Determine the "best answer" | Your response to each multiple-choice question should be the best answer of the alternatives provided. Read and evaluate all four answer choices before deciding which one is best. |
| Guess wisely | Your multiple-choice results will be based on the number of questions you answer correctly. Attempt to answer all questions. You will not be penalized for incorrect responses; it is better to guess than to leave a question blank. If you are unsure about a question, use your knowledge of the content area to eliminate as many of the alternatives as you can, then select among the remaining choices. |
| Estimate | Some test questions on the Mathematics subtest of the WEST–B ask you to make a calculation based on numerical information. One way of dealing with this kind of question is to estimate the answer before reading the response options. If you can estimate, for example, that the answer will be between 10 and 20 (rather than between 100 and 200, or 1 and 10), you may be able to eliminate one or more of the response options. Often you do not have to perform a detailed calculation to obtain the correct response. |
| Respond to writing assignments fully and clearly | If you are taking the Writing subtest, be sure to read and respond to each part of the assignment. It is important for scorers to be able to understand your responses. Also, make sure that you have recorded your responses to the writing assignments as instructed. |