Research has shown that often students know the answers to the questions on standardized tests, but miss them because they did not understand what the question was asking.Dr. Larry Bell, educational consultant and motivational speaker, has identified 12 words that confuse students when taking standardized tests.These words are listed below with their “student friendly” meanings.
POWER WORD
“STUDENT FRIENDLY” MEANING
trace
Follow, track outline, list in steps
analyze
Think through, break apart, break into pieces
infer
Figure out, read between the lines
evaluate
Judge, value of, meaning, examine, solve, test for the truth of
formulate
Come up with, make a plan, develop, make, create
describe
Tell about, show me, list details
support
Provide reasons, tell reasons, give examples, back it up
explain
Tell all about, tell what and why, tell how, teach someone else
summarize
Tell main parts, bottom line, main ideas
compare
List sames, all the ways they are alike
contrast
List differences, all the ways they are different
predict
Educated guess, tell what could or may happen, look into the future
Mrs. Oakley's 5th Grade Science Medina Middle School 1300 Middle School RD Medina TN 38355
