Lesson Plan - Test Taking Skills

School Counselor: Breanna Jones

Date: 2016/2017
Activity: Students will learn test-taking, and goal-setting skills to improve their scores on the
ACT Aspire test.
Grade: Ogden International High School 7th Graders
ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors:
Mindset Standards

Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes
Behavior Standards

Apply self-motivation and self-direction to learning (Learning Strategy)

Demonstrate perseverance to achieve long- and short-term goals (Self-management)

Use effective collaboration and cooperation skills (Social Skills)

Learning Objectives:
1. Students will be able to identify and share test-taking strategies and resources meant to
help them excel on the ACT Aspire test and improve grades.
2. Students will complete Set Your Targets/Setting Goals for Next Year worksheets at the
beginning and end of the year to learn how their personal academic strengths and
weakness have changed.
3. Students will be able to identify effective and ineffective test preparation techniques.
Materials:
1. Set your Targets/Setting Goals for Next Year worksheets.
2. Effective Test Preparation worksheet
3. Pre Test/Post Test
4. Pens/Pencils

Plan for Evaluation:

Pre- and Post-test responses and increase in ACT Aspire scores.
Procedure:
During the first quarter, 7th grade students will receive classroom lessons meant to reinforce testtaking and goal setting skills. Students will also receive lessons about effective test preparation
skills.
Test Taking and Goal Setting Lesson
1. During the first quarter, students will engage in a goal setting activity and revisit the
activity at the end of the year during the fourth quarter to evaluate progress. They will

break into small groups to discuss each others progress and give supportive suggestions
to remain on-track.

Directions: During the fall quarter, explain to students that they will be setting goals
for the remainder of the year today. Pass out the Set Your Targets beginning of year
worksheet and explain what the worksheet means. Give a few examples of things to
put in the boxes. Allow a few minutes for the students to fill this out. Then have
students break into small groups and discuss the goals that they put down for the year.

Repeat this same activity in the end of the year during the fourth quarter using the
Set Your Goals for Next Year end of year worksheet. When breaking into small
groups, have students discuss what their goals were in the beginning of the year, how
they have achieved or not achieved these goals, and what they plan to do different or
the same next year.

Effective Test Preparation Lesson

1. The first activity is designed to help students with reading questions and directions on
tests effectively.

Directions: Explain to students that today they will be taking a timed test. Tell
students that they will have 5 minutes to complete the assessment, but provide no
other instructions. Do not allow students to talk during the assessment. Pass out the
A Simple Task For You assessment and leave it face down on the students desk,
instructing them not to touch it until everyone has one. Once everyone has a test, tell
the students they can begin. Once all of the students figure out the trick, have some
students share what they think this assessment was meant to do. Go into discussion
about why it is important to read directions on tests carefully. Explain the importance
of reading and understanding the entire question on a test before choosing an answer.
Give students tips on how to read questions effectively in a timely manner.

2. The second activity is designed to help students identify the best and worst ways to study.

Directions: Have students break into small groups to discuss the worst ways to
prepare for a test. Have them come up with five different ways and list them on a
sheet of paper. Once the groups have completed the list. Have a member from each
group come to the board, one by one, and write down their list on a large sheet of
paper. If one of the items on their list has already been written on the board, they
cannot write it up there again. The idea is to have a list of different and unique
answers. Once everyone has completed, read the list to the class and discuss with
them why these might be bad ways to study for a test. Explain to students that this
paper will remain in the class as a reminder of what not to do before tests.

Hand out the Attacking the Test worksheet. Explain to students that these are some
good ways to prepare for their tests. Go through the sheet with them providing
examples of each. Have students come up with their own study strategies that relate

specifically to standardized tests. Discuss these examples and provide them with
information on how to prepare for standardized testing.
Process Data:
Once per year prior during the fall semester Ogden International 7th grade students will receive
an hour-long academic core curriculum lesson plan on test preparation and goal setting.
At the end of the year, students will have a short 20 minute lesson revisiting their goals and how
they have progressed throughout the year.
Perception Data:

100% of students will be able to successfully identify effective test taking strategies.

100% of students will be able to articulate their goals and how to achieve them.
Outcome Data:
At the end of the 2016-2017 academic school year, the school will show an increase of 5% in
College Readiness based on a raise in ACT Aspire scores.
Follow-up
After reviewing ACT Aspire test scores with the school counselor, students will work with the
counselor to identify areas for improvement to be addressed in subsequent lessons. The
counselor can help arrange additional school supports and community-based resources. The
school counselor might develop an in-service presentation for teachers to help them reinforce the
growth mindset in their lessons and teaching.
Printable Handouts: Set Your Targets and Setting Goals for Next Year are both available on
website for download.