Bubble Sheet Mechanics
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Skills
Bubble Sheet Mechanics
If your student struggles to efficiently work between test book and answer key on high stakes tests
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Learn and become comfortable with the standard bubble format of the test. Get practice bubble sheets if you need them. -
Fold over the test booklet so you only see one page at a time. It will help your eyes focus and give you more desk space to work.
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Cross out the letter of the answer choices that you are sure are wrong, so that you don't spend time re-reading the choices over again. Circle your final answer before filling in the answer sheet so you can easily check it if needed. (Don't cross out the actual answer, just the letter choices, in case you want to review your choices.)
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Pay close attention to the problem number on the test booklet matching the problem on the answer sheet. When your eyes move from test booklet to answer sheet, say the problem number and your answer letter in your head as you find that spot on the answer sheet and place your finger there. A combination of using your finger as a marker and saying it in your head can help you avoid a silly mistake. Practice and find the process that works best for you.
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Decide if you want to group your answers or go one at a time. Some students work best going one at a time. Others group questions (finish all questions on a page of the test booklet and then fill in the bubbles in that group). Experiment to find which method works best for you BY SECTION.
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Diagram sentences to help you visualize more clearly. For example, circle the subject and underline the verb. Box your punctuation. Draw a thin line through subordinate clauses. Draw a vertical line after independent clauses.
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Annotate the paragraph re-organization questions. Draw a thin line through the phrase that would be deleted. Underline the key clauses in the proposed addition to determine what the value-add is.
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If you have difficulty focusing your eyes or mind when reading, cover part of the page with your answer booklet as you are reading. Limiting the amount of words you are seeing at once can help focus. Alternatively, you can use your finger or pencil to track while you read.
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Jotting notes and/or underlining and circling key words and phrases in the passage as you read can also help you more efficiently answer the questions, so you do not have to sift through and pinpoint what you need when you refer back to the passage.
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The neater your work, the easier it will be to avoid or catch computation errors
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Clearly label every problem as you begin. Consider only having one problem per page so you can write large and clear
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Circle the point in the graph or data in the chart that you will use before checking the answers so you do not lose your place. If you have trouble finding it, take a breath. Remind yourself that you will find the answer in the graph/chart. To help with visual interpretation, use your finger as a straight edge to draw straight lines between data points if you need.
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Find more detail on Graph & Chart Questions