us history staar test 2024

us history staar test 2024

Strategies for Success: A Comprehensive Guide to Preparing for the US History STAAR Test 2024

1. Introduction to the US History STAAR Test

In this guide, we intend to meld the TEKS with supporting resources to give students the very best chance to pass the test with a high score. You see, the questions on the test are not written to test rote memory, but are written to test the student’s ability to apply critical thinking skills to the knowledge gained. Additionally, since there are only 52 questions to answer in just over four hours, the ratio of the number of questions on the test to the amount of time available for each question is not that much different from the ratio of questions to time for the lower-stakes tests which you took in previous years. The difference is that the high-stakes test will come with a higher level of difficulty. By contrast, in the lower-stakes test, the questions could be so easy that all students in a group could answer every question correctly! Go back and check it out.

Now that we have nearly finished the 2018-2019 school year, it’s time to start thinking about how to pass the US History STAAR Test in 2024. Don’t believe me? According to the state of Texas, students will be held to account on some of the very first lessons of 8th grade history by having to recount factual information, new information, make inferences, and form conclusions from primary sources. In fact, the US History STAAR includes the era 1565-1877!

2. Key Content Areas and Concepts to Master

Key Content Areas of the US History STAAR EOC Social Studies classes include a tight but specific chronological narrative that reflects multiple perspectives. The advice given here closely mirrors the TEA-STAAR US History High School Social Studies Blueprint. Since over three-fourths of the test content areas can be found in periods 6 through 9, some background on the periods that will be tested is also provided here. Test administration collects psychometric data on students’ interaction with the exam. These types of data may be surveyed forms of personal information, such as political preferences, religious backgrounds, sex, age, or self-identified race. Ideal strategies trying to promote student equity from this diversity of sources should only be taken from TEA, your STAAR testing coordinators, scientists.

Regardless of whether one takes the May 2024 or December 2023 STAAR test administrations, the makeup, types, and structure of questions are not expected to change. In its 2018 reading list for those who want to improve their content knowledge, the Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability (CNGAA) group reaffirmed the need for teachers to revisit the content they teach. As educators work to implement the historical thinking component, they should remember that Student Expectations are the foundation of the TEKS mandates for Social Studies classes. This subchapter thus reviews the key content areas on the US History EOC exam. It will first provide background information on the material that will be covered before expounding on the key concepts in each era of US History.

3. Effective Study Techniques and Resources

Additionally, there are multiple scaffolded, released STAAR tests. At the beginning of the school year, or even in summer, you can quickly scan to gauge what the general goals of the course are, and whose leadership you would like to study under—you will discover that the skills the teacher is testifying to them are your key to success, both in their class and on the STAAR exam. With time, you can use a released STAAR test as a complete practice exam to gauge your progress performing the techniques we will be covering, including choice elimination strategies, process of elimination, using reference materials to answer questions, exemplar paragraph development, exemplary writing organization, and, of most importance, your ability to stay focused and complete the exam in testing conditions without burnout. You can also recommend this download to your teachers to use in their test preparation program, such as including an outline of your war in American history in the week leading up to Veterans Day, to display and appreciate national sacrifices.

The following is a guide for using a variety of reliable, effective study resources and techniques to improve performance on the US History STAAR test quite significantly. You can customize your study program to fit your available time and effort level. These are the techniques. Consider checking online on network sites for credible practice presentations, activities, examples, and resources from respected organizations, educational bloggers and your very own history teacher. Your first step is getting all of the actual STAAR scaffolding copies available. This includes the types of multiple-choice questions, to use for reading practice and the two types of essays (short answer and essay), to practice constructing their required elements. You can get these directly from the website shared to educators in the preceding section.

4. Practice Tests and Timed Practice Sessions

Remember to pace yourself (learn how to manage your time wisely) and look over the choices even if you know the correct answer (there might be a better, “more correct” answer). It is vital that you verify your results through the explanation guide; this process will help you to understand the standard by which your work will be judged on the actual EOC. The teacher may elect to have you use Practice Test B and/or Test C as supplemental activities at their discretion.

Let’s face it: the best way to get better at something is to practice. The same is true with the EOC; students can improve their skills, gauge their progress, and increase their confidence through practice. The following pages contain three complete U.S. History practice tests, each featuring 55 multiple-choice items. (You will find complete answer keys at the end of the book.) To take your test, you will need to set aside a 90-minute block of time to complete this activity. Please make every effort to duplicate actual test conditions. This will require you to use a timer and do the test in one sitting, without conferring with other students or using any study aids. After you have completed your test, the next section will provide you with the correct answers and give detailed explanations for each item. Instances in which a question includes an image that is too large for the standard item template are denoted with the phrase “IMAGE USED” instead of the image in question. When you get to the explanation of the “IMAGE USED” item, you can use the book’s URL to determine the correct answer.

5. Test Day Tips and Strategies

Remember that the US History STAAR Test is a reading test, too! Reading each question and then reading and thinking through the answers carefully is very important to help you be successful and to help you avoid making small mistakes, and it will also boost your confidence and help you stay relaxed. Good luck – you are going to do GREAT!

In total, you will have at least 4 hours to take the test, so don’t rush yourself too much. Make sure you are able to finish the test within the four-hour time period by managing your time wisely, however!

Work diligently and attentively on the test and you will do well, stay focused and follow all of the test-taking tips and strategies you practiced. Just like you played hard to win last night’s football game, successfully conquering the STAAR exam also takes good effort and focus.

When you come across a question that you don’t know the answer to, skip it and come back to it (put a small circle around the question or mark through the number and write it on your paper). The answer to a question you’ve already answered may give you hints that’ll make the hard question easier to answer.

Read each question slowly and carefully; take time to really understand what it’s asking. Double-check your work before you move on. Since you don’t want to rush, it’s important to use your time wisely so you make sure that you answer every question but also double-check any harder questions for mistakes first. Skim and scan to help you think through questions that are more difficult for you.

You get a 5-minute break after every 40 minutes of testing. Use the restroom and eat a snack quickly during the breaks, then take a deep breath and jump right back into the test. Make every minute of testing time count!

You can also bring mints so your mouth doesn’t get dry and chalky during the test. Sucking on mints can help you to feel more alert, and they’re also a good way to help reduce stress naturally. Make sure it is a flavor that does not interfere with the testing environment or be disruptive to the other students.

Take water and/or a drink to the testing room with you. You will be able to drink during testing to help stay awake and refreshed, but you won’t have a drink if you don’t bring one with you.

Listen to all the directions your teacher tells you for when you are in your testing session(s), and then listen carefully to the directions the proctor/monitor gives you during each part of the test. Do exactly as they tell you and ask them to repeat any directions you don’t understand completely.

Take a deep breath the morning of the test and tell yourself you can conquer this exam! Keep a positive attitude when you get to school. You are ready to be successful!

Get at least 8 hours of sleep the night before the test. No matter how well you know the materials, being tired will slow you down and will make it more difficult for you to concentrate. Doing well on the STAAR exam can earn you a high school credit, so take this seriously!