Study Guide

How to Prepare for the Tests

This section of the study guide provides information to help you prepare to take the MTTC tests.

Plan Your Course of Study

Follow the steps outlined below to prepare to take the MTTC tests.

Assess your content knowledge.

Read the test objectives.

The set of test objectives for each test is the only source identifying the information covered by the test(s) you are taking.

1. Read through the entire set of objectives to get a general picture of the material the test covers.
2. The test objectives form the foundation and focus for the test questions. The descriptive statement(s) that follow each objective are included to provide examples of possible content covered by the objective. Read each objective and its descriptive statement(s) carefully to get a more specific idea of the knowledge and skills you will be required to demonstrate on the test.
3. Once you have become familiar with the test objectives, make a list of those objectives about which you feel you know the least.

Practice your test-taking skills.

Answer the sample test questions.

After you have become familiar with the test objectives, review the sample test directions and try to answer the sample test questions for the test(s) you are taking. Set aside several hours for this exercise. If possible, take the sample test questions in a quiet room that simulates the testing environment. As you answer the sample test questions, time yourself to get an estimation of how long it may take you to complete the actual test.

The Day of the Test: Helpful Hints

The following are suggestions for preparing for the experience of the test administration as well as strategies you may wish to employ while taking the test.

Preparing for the Test Administration

The following are tips to help you prepare for the day of the test.

Start early.

• Make sure you leave plenty of time to have a good breakfast or lunch and to get to the test center on time.
• Arrive on time so that you are relaxed and ready to begin the test when instructed to do so.

Dress comfortably.

• Wear layers of clothing that you can easily remove or add on (e.g., a sweater or sweatshirt). This will allow you to make personal adjustments for fluctuations in room or body temperature.
• Wear soft-soled shoes so that you will not disturb other examinees when you leave your seat.

Test-Taking Tips

The following tips for taking standardized tests are offered as suggestions that may contribute to your success and confidence during the test session.

Follow directions.

• At the beginning of the session and throughout the test, follow all directions carefully. This includes any oral directions read by the test administrators and all written directions presented on the computer screen.
• The computer screen presents directions for the multiple-choice questions and the constructed-response assignments (if the test you are taking includes constructed-response assignments).

Pace your work.

• The length of a test session varies depending on the test(s) and/or subtest(s) you are taking. The test schedule is designed to allow sufficient time for most examinees to complete the test(s) assigned to a session.
• The amount of time elapsed during the test session will be shown on the computer screen to aid you in pacing yourself.
• You may find that you need less time than is allotted in a test session, but be prepared to stay for the entire time.
• Do not make any other commitments for this time period that may cause you to work more quickly than you should.
• Do not spend a lot of time on a multiple-choice question that you cannot answer promptly; skip that question and move on.
• If you skip a multiple-choice question, flag it on the computer screen so that you can return to it later.

Read carefully.

• Read the directions and the test questions carefully.
• Read all response options.
• Remember that the test questions call for the "best answer." Do not choose the first response option that seems reasonable; read and evaluate all choices to find the best answer.
• Read the test questions closely so that you understand what they ask.
• Do not skim the test questions in an effort to save time; you may misread key words and select the wrong answer or spend more time than needed on a test question. For example, if a test question calls for an approximate answer and you skip over that detail, you could waste time performing a long computation.

Designate your answers carefully.

• Your responses to the multiple-choice questions will be scored electronically. It is very important for you to designate your answers carefully.
• You will be provided with a note booklet for making notes, calculations, or outlines. However, your responses must be entered into the computer or they will not be scored.

Determine the "best answer."

• Your multiple-choice results will be based on the number of questions you answer correctly.
• 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.

• Attempt to answer all questions. 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 from the remaining choices.
• There is no penalty for incorrect answers; therefore, it is better to guess than not to respond at all.

Check your accuracy.

• Use any remaining time at the end of the test session to check your work.
• Go back to the test questions that gave you difficulty and verify your work on them.

Follow the rules.

• Review the Rules of Test Participation contained in the testing policies.
• Be aware that actions such as using a cell phone during the test session, attempting to remove notes written in your test booklet, removing test materials from the site, or other such violations may result in your score(s) being invalidated.

Test Directions

Visit Computer-Based Testing Tutorials for brief tutorials on how to navigate through the computer-based test. A short tutorial is also provided at the beginning of the computer-based test session, with instructions for how to navigate through the test. For tests with constructed-response assignments, sample directions are also provided in the field-specific section of the study guide.

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