CST Test Preparation and Review

Viviana Aguilar Daniela Martinez Period 1

About The Test

The CST has 5 bands, the bands are: Far Below Basic, Below Basic. Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. This school has a goal to get a score of 711 on the CST. We start taking the test next Thursday on April 18. We are taking the test for the Principal could know what class we belong in the next year.

How Ive Prepared For The CST

I prepare for the test by studying and reviewing everything I learned in the last year. I take a lot of notes so I can study them for the CST. I also sleep a little early so I cant be sleeping through the test and I can have more focus on the test.

How SFMS Teachers Have Prepared Me For The CST

Teachers from SFMS have prepared me for the test by helping me review everything, slowly, that we learned throughout the year. The teachers make us take important notes that will prepare us for the test. They also give us reviewing sheets to help us prepare for the test.

Test Taking Tips: The Night And Morning Before

Go to sleep early so you wont be tired in the morning. Make sure your ready and prepared for the test. Get your mind off of the test so you wont be freaking out.

Test Taking Tips: During The Test

Dont cheat during the test. Dont fall asleep during the test. Take your time. Dont waist all or most of your energy at the beginning of the test.

Math Tips
Find the answers that are definitely wrong to save to energy. When youre stuck on a problem, skip it and at the end go back to it. Use the least amount of energy at the beginning of the test to not be tired in the middle or end of the test. Take your time and dont rush through the test. Plug in all the answers.

English Tips
Read and go through the answer choices before reading the story. Take your time reading the passage or story and the questions. Make sure you know what youre reading so you will know the answers to the questions. Have study sessions 1-2 weeks before the test instead of cramming everything the night before. Underline key words in the passage or story.

Solving Simple Equations

When youre solving simple equations, keep the equation balanced. By balanced I mean if you do something to one side of the equation, you must do the same thing to the other side. If youre solving for x, you must get x by itself on one side of the equation. You must simplify, or combine like terms, before solving the equation. Once you solve for x or y substitute them to check if your answer is correct. On the CST, if you have a simple equation and theyre asking to solve for a variable, just substitute the variable with each answer choice.

Variables and Algebraic Expressions

A variable is a letter used to stand for a number. The letters i and e have special values in algebra and are usually not used as variables. The letter o is usually not used as a variable because it can be mistaken as 0. Variables are used to change verbal expressions into algebraic expressions,that is,expressions that are composed of letters that stand for numbers. Follow the order of operations: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction, or PEMDAS.

Example
Simple equation
Solve for y : 5y+3=2y+9 1. Subtract 3 from both sides: 5y+3=2y+9 -3 -3= 5y=2y+6 2. Subtract 2y from both sides: 5y=2y+6 -2y -2y 3y=6 3. Divide both sides by 3: 3y=6 --- --3 3 y=2

Similes
A simile is an analogy that compares two things that are alike in one way and uses the words like or as. For example, cute as a kitten. This simile is comparing the way someone looks to the way a kitten looks. Writers, poets, and songwriters make use of similes often to add depth and emphasize what they are trying to convey to the reader or listener. The uses of similes can be confusing to people who are not fluent in a given language because they will interpret the words literally. For example, as busy as a bee. This simile is comparing someones level of energy to a fast-flying bee.

Good Luck SFMS Students