EOG Strategies and Tips for Students

Monday, May 5- Reading Directions and Questions

1. Read the directions carefully. Look for words like all, none, and except. These can
throw you off.
2. Understand what the question is asking before trying to complete the answer. If
you don’t understand the question, chances are you’ll answer the wrong question.
3. Use your test booklets to help you! Circle and underline words in the question or
directions that help you to answer the question. Write in your test booklets.
4. Read each question and answer carefully. If you don’t understand something, read
it again.

Tuesday, May 6- Marking Answers on the Answer Sheet

1. Check periodically (every five answers and at the bottom of each row) to see that
item numbers and answer numbers match.
2. Use a piece of paper lined up under each row on the answer sheet. This will
ensure you are on the correct number and not accidentally skipping a line.
3. If a question is skipped, also skip the answer.
4. Put a light mark next to skipped items on the booklet and the answer sheet. This
will remind you to go back and answer those questions.
5. Don’t erase mistakes too hard, and don’t redraw erased circles. This may cause
holes in the answer sheet and make it hard to score.
6. Watch for stray marks on the answer sheet. These can be picked up by the
computer as the answers and cause you to miss questions you should not miss.
7. The computer will count your answer incorrect if two circles have pencil marks in
them.

Wednesday, May 7- Multiple Choice Questions

1. Read each item completely and all of the answer choices before choosing an
answer.
2. There are usually a couple of choices that sound correct; don’t be tempted to mark
the first one that sounds good.
 3. Check back over your answers at the end of testing. Sometimes, you can make
silly mistakes, and you’ll catch them when you look back over your answers.
Check your work!
4. Students miss the easy questions as often as the hard question because they do not
read the questions carefully. The questions all count the same. Be sure to get the
easier and more difficult ones correct!
5. Make sure you answer every question. If you don’t, you are guaranteed to be
wrong.
6. Read all of the answer choices before answering. One of the choices might
include more than one answer. For example: both A and B.

Thursday, May 8- Eliminating the Wrong Answers

1. Test booklets with a large number of elimination marks receive higher marks than
those with few or none. Use the process of elimination to help you have a higher
score. Cross out wrong answer choices as soon as they are read. Pick your answer
from the remaining options. If you eliminate two answers as being incorrect, you
have a 50 /50 chance of getting the right answer.
2. Make logical and reasonable guesses—perhaps the choice with the most
information provided. If you don’t know the answer completely, use the partial
knowledge you have about the question and answers to help you.
3. A couple of the answer choices usually look like they could be correct. Choose
the best answer.

Friday, May 9- Time Management

1. Focus on one question at a time; avoid looking ahead at other questions. This can
make you feel overwhelmed.
2. Try not to feel rushed and anxious. If you begin to think about all you have to
finish in an amount of time, it can make you feel too stressed and make it hard to
focus on what you are doing. As long as you don’t waste your time, you will have
plenty of time to complete the test.
3. Don’t worry about other people in the room. We all work at a different pace, and
finishing first does not make you do better.
4. Keep moving through the test. Skip questions that are giving you trouble. When
you finish, go back and retry any skipped questions. Don’t spend too much time
wrestling with one question.
 Monday, May 12- Reading

1. You can read through all of the questions in a selection before reading the text.
This gives you an idea of what to look for in your reading. Be sure to still read the
text carefully. Don’t just look for the answers. Lots of times, the questions ask
overall concepts, and you have to infer the answers.
2. Underline and circle important parts of a passage as you are reading. Write ideas
and comments to yourself in the margins about what is happening in the story.
3. Be sure to read all information including graphs, charts, pictures, and captions.
Some questions will pull information from this part of the text.
4. Try to relate the passage to something you have done or know about. Make a
connection.
5. Read the title and predict what you think the passage will be about. Make a
prediction.
6. It is imperative to look back and find a piece of proof in the passage to support
your answer.
7. Number the paragraphs as you read. This will help you to refer back to certain
passages.
8. Use context clues to help you decipher unfamiliar words. Read the sentence
before and after the word to help define it. Replace the word with the definitions
provided. If it makes sense, it’s probably the correct choice.
9. Base your answers only on what is in the passage and not some outside
knowledge.

Tuesday, May 13- Math

1. If you are having difficulty with a problem, draw a picture or diagram to help you.
If a figure or diagram is provided, mark it up to help you solve the problem.
2. Use formulas provided for you. Be familiar with formulas needed whether they
are provided or not. If no formula is provided, write one on the page from
memory. If one is provided, use it to help you solve the problem.
3. Check your work. Test writers will include answers that look like they could be
right if you read the question incorrectly. Double check everything!
4. Use all materials provided for you to help with your answers. Use your calculator,
extra paper, figures, drawings, etc….
5. Read each problem carefully and think about ways to solve the problem before
you try to answer the question.
6. When you have finished each problem, reread it to make sure your answer is
reasonable.
Wednesday, May 14- Relaxation Techniques

1. Take a deep breath, hold it and then slowly release the breath and the tension.
Repeat until your body relaxes.
2. Make an effort to relax. You have learned this information. Most people get
nervous. It’s natural. Just do your best.
3. Think positively. Some problems may seem hard to you, but you may be able to
figure out what to do if you read each question carefully.
4. Don’t get frustrated. The test is designed so that the middle part of the test is
actually the hardest. Do not get frustrated and give up during this part of the test.
It will get easier. Don’t give up.

Thursday, May 15- Testing Environment

1. To provide a positive testing environment for all, avoid tapping your pencil or
fingers, etc… This can be very distracting to others in the room testing with you.
They may tend to focus on you rather than the test.
2. Go to the restroom and get water before the test. You should not have to leave the
room during testing for any reason.

Friday, May 16- Before the Test

1. Don’t stay up late. You don’t need to feel sleepy during testing. Getting a good
night’s sleep has been proven to help you stay alert and perform better on tests.
2. Eat a healthy, well balanced breakfast before school starts each day of the test.
Feeling hungry during testing can really distract you. Having a full stomach can
help you to do your best.
3. Try to have a positive morning before coming to school and once you arrive at
school. Problems hanging over you can make you lack focus.
4. Wear a comfortable or favorite outfit each day. This will build confidence and
help you feel comfortable as you take the test.
5. Increase water intake to hydrate your brain throughout the weeks leading up to
EOG.
6. Don’t miss school unless you are really ill.