How to Get Students to Pass the Science TAKS

Texas students in fifth, eighth and 10th grades take the science TAKS test. The TAKS, or Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, is a criterion-referenced exam designed to measure a student's mastery of the goals and objectives outlined in the science TEKS, or Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. Science TEKS drive the curriculum instruction presented in the classroom. Beyond classroom instruction, students often need help learning how to pass the TAKS test.

• 1

  Help students learn science vocabulary.

  Knowing the meaning of scientific terms is essential for passing TAKS. The questions on the assessment will cover different strands of science depending on the student's grade level. Students in each grade will learn new scientific vocabulary words. To help students learn these, have them create vocabulary cards that include a student-created definition and visual representation of the concept or term. Have the student study these cards each night.

• 2

  Have students practice analyzing data.

  Scientific data is presented in the form of charts, graphs, tables and illustrations. Students should practice reading and interpreting the data and describing relationships among data sets.

• 3

  Teach lab safety rules and procedures.

  The TEKS note that 40 percent of classroom instruction in science should involve laboratory and field investigations. Students learn about lab safety and procedures in the beginning of the school year, and are tested on this information before they are allowed to begin working in the science lab. Students are also asked to consider environmental factors and conservation of natural resources when conducting their investigations. Students should be prepared to answer questions about all of these items on the TAKS test.

• 4

  Teach students about units of measure, calculations and conversions.

  Students are asked to measure, calculate and convert items such as temperature, volume, density, and rate of change throughout the school year. Students should be prepared to answer questions about these topics and to perform grade-level calculations and conversions on the TAKS test.

• 5

  Give practice assessments.

  Released TAKS tests make great practice assessments for students. The Texas Education Agency releases certain TAKS items and sometimes entire tests from previous school years. These can be accessed and downloaded on the TEA Web site.

• 6

  Teach test-taking strategies.

  TAKS is a standardized test that includes both multiple choice and griddable questions. Using good test-taking strategies -- such as previewing the questions before getting started, eliminating wrong answers and marking questions for review -- might help improve performance.