ATLAS Test-Taking Strategies 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When taking the ATLAS assessment, what should a student do first after receiving the test?
- Answer the hardest question first to get it out of the way
- Skim through the test to get a sense of its length and question types before starting (Correct answer)
- Skip all reading passages and answer questions by guessing
- Write the answers in any order without reading directions
Correct answer: Skim through the test to get a sense of its length and question types before starting
Skimming the test first helps students manage time effectively by understanding how many questions and passages they need to complete on ATLAS.
Question 2: Which strategy is most effective when a student encounters a difficult multiple-choice question on ATLAS?
- Leave it blank and never return to it
- Use process of elimination to rule out clearly wrong answers (Correct answer)
- Always choose option C as a default
- Skip the question and do not mark it for review
Correct answer: Use process of elimination to rule out clearly wrong answers
Process of elimination improves the odds of selecting the correct answer by first removing options that are clearly incorrect.
Question 3: On ATLAS extended-response questions, what is a key strategy for maximizing your score?
- Write as few words as possible
- Restate the question, provide a clear answer, and support it with specific text evidence (Correct answer)
- Copy large portions of the passage without adding your own ideas
- Write only your personal opinion without referencing the text
Correct answer: Restate the question, provide a clear answer, and support it with specific text evidence
For ATLAS extended-response items, restating the question, giving a clear answer, and citing specific evidence from the text earns the most points on the rubric.
Question 4: How should students manage their time when an ATLAS reading section has multiple long passages?
- Spend all the time on the first passage and rush the rest
- Divide time equally among passages and move on if stuck (Correct answer)
- Read only the questions and skip the passages entirely
- Only read the last paragraph of each passage
Correct answer: Divide time equally among passages and move on if stuck
Dividing time evenly across passages and not getting stuck on one section is the recommended ATLAS time-management strategy.
Question 5: What should students do when they are unsure about an answer on ATLAS but must make a selection?
- Leave it blank to avoid a penalty
- Make their best educated guess after eliminating wrong answers, since there is no penalty for guessing (Correct answer)
- Always pick the longest answer choice
- Circle the question and skip it without answering
Correct answer: Make their best educated guess after eliminating wrong answers, since there is no penalty for guessing
ATLAS does not penalize wrong answers, so students should always make an educated guess rather than leaving items blank.
Question 6: Which test preparation habit best improves ATLAS performance over time?
- Cramming the night before the test only
- Practicing regularly with released ATLAS sample questions and reviewing mistakes (Correct answer)
- Skipping review of incorrect answers to avoid discouragement
- Memorizing test questions from previous years without understanding
Correct answer: Practicing regularly with released ATLAS sample questions and reviewing mistakes
Regular practice with released ATLAS items and careful review of errors is the most evidence-based strategy for long-term score improvement.
ATLAS Test-Taking Strategies 1
When taking the ATLAS assessment, what should a student do first after receiving the test?