AAAuuuuhhh!!! I hate this test. I have taken this test 3 times. Does anyone have any advice for this test besides the ets books. Did anybody find any websites helpful?
I used the Cliff's Test Prep book to study for this test and found it to be very useful. What part of the test do you struggle with the most? Are you generally a good test taker? If not you may want to search general test taking strategies for multiple choice tests. Maybe switching how you take the test would help. If you're taking it on the computer maybe switch to a paper test.
That's elem content knowledge, right? Move to TN--we don't have a minimum score for it here (I have no idea why--we have one for everything else.) Realistically, I agree that you should focus on test taking strategies like narrowing the choices down and leaving the difficult q's for later, etc. Are you getting through the whole test or having problem finishing? I have heard good things about those Cliff books that the other poster mentioned. Best wishes--you can do it!
Well guys, I actually struggle with standarized test. I struggle the most with social studies and science. I do really well in Language Arts and I'm OK in Math. Social Studies is REALLY the worst for me. When I look at those questions I'm like where did this come from. I have no idea the answers for half of them. I have tried the ets book and even bought programs. I don't know what more to do.
Could you give me an example of a question you have problems with? I am the reverse of you--I am bad at math and good at ss. I would love to help if I can. I know we can't post actual questions from the test, but can you think of a q that is similar to the ones you have trouble with? What are some of the areas in s.s. that you need to strengthen? Don't feel bad either--many people struggle with standardized tests. We will get you over this hurdle!
Oh my goodness, i have problems with the whole section. I pretty much just guess at all of them. I guess I would have to say the world history and american history are the worse for me. I just don't know what to do, I'm frustrated. I have been to so many workshops. I actually have everything answered from the ETS book. I got that information from a workshop.
I would suggest maybe buying a cultural literacy book. Those books have info just like what is probably on your test. Maybe get that as well as the Cliff book. Also, try not to just guess! Try to use context clues if you can and make an educated guess. Maybe you could find a tutor for this test to study with? Maybe you need to learn some key names and points from the highlights of American and world history. You could even draw the concepts to make it more visual if you think that would help. Don't give up!
Speaking of visual, find a good historical atlas: the maps can make it clearer why (for example) the barbarians in the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. were much harder on Rome than they were on Constantinople, or for that matter just what the American settlers were up against as they wagon-ho'ed from St. Louis westward to the Pacific. You might also want to check out this reference from the ever-helpful EduTechieGal: http://www.neok12.com/, which categorizes a slew of useful videos on YouTube and elsewhere. Go find the history stuff, okay?
It was a few years ago, but I remember the social studies being the most difficult part of the test for myself as well. I remember just staring at the test and thinking WHAT!? I know that I have always struggled with making connections in history so even if a question sounds familiar, I can't remember anything beyond that. I would suggest spending the time you have until your next try on the test focused on LA, Math, and Science and kind of just skim the SS part. It's an overall score so you want to score high in the areas that you are best at. Then when it's time to take the test, leave the Social Studies section for last so you don't psych yourself out. While you are taking the test really try to remember the types of questions that you are having trouble with so you will have a better idea of what you may need to study in the future. Actually what KinderESLtchr has to say is good advice. It may help if you go into the test having a backup plan for getting your license such as moving to another state (even if you are lying to yourself about it). Or go into the test with the mindset that you are just there to see what else you need to study for the test and not that it is the actual test. Just something that may help you relax about the whole thing. On a side note, I think these tests are horrible and I find it interesting that pretty much every test out there for teachers are created by ets. The FOUR tests I have taken have all been the same test with different names--someone is making a lot of money.:sorry:
In fact a good many tests aren't made by ETS: most of the tests in New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, and California, and some of the tests in Virginia and Oregon, are made by the Evaluations Systems group of Pearsons (this used to be National Evaluation Systems (NES), and all the Web sites are www.___.nesinc.com). For about a year, Texas had NES exams too, but then ETS got the contract back - though I notice that the TExES exams continue to look more like NES exams than they do like Praxis exams. In my experience, the two biggest mistakes that test takers make are (a) going into the test convinced that the test is going to eat their lunch and (b) going into the test hating tests.
That is the elem. content knowledge right? PraxisII? Do you have the ETS Praxis II Study guide from their website? i think it was like 40 bucks. or just a general test book? If not, I may can help you out.
I took that test like four times and moved on to the Social Studies test, and passed it on the first time. I want to take it again, but I have not decided just yet. Try getting a middle school ss book. World history and american history. There is a site you can buy some notes if you are interested.
