TESTING VOCABULARY

The following words and phrases, which may be confusing to English language
learners as well as other students, can often be found in the directions for task
items in student assessment booklets. Teachers can intentionally present these
terms during learning activities so that students understand what they are being
asked to do on a given test item. In addition, task directions may be alternated
when doing brief test practice sessions. Many test items require more than one
step, so terms from different columns may appear in the same task.
Thanks to Ms. Kathleen DelMargo and the sixth-grade teacher team from Van
Buren M.S. for their help in offering ideas for this list.
Items that indicate test-takers should

WRITE (about)
PROOF
tell
show
share
narrate
describe
relate
inform
compose
express
depict
recount
speak about
analyze
represent
report
portray
label
name
enumerate
mention

Items that require

a special format

CHOOSE
pick
select
decide
indicate
point out
designate
specify
make a choice
mark (on answer
form)
eliminate
decide
discriminate
determine

GIVE
explain
support/substantiate
conclude
generate (ideas)
give evidence/ideas
exemplify, give
examples
analyze
justify
evaluate
compare/contrast
illustrate
prove
show
solve
distinguish between
draw a conclusion
judge
consider
demonstrate
defend
verify
confirm
argue (for, against)
determine
Words which require a
close reading (flags)

make (draw, write) a(n):

web/chart/table
diagram
outline
graphic organizer
paragraph
letter
than
essay
same/different/opposite
sketch

most/least likely
best
not/doesnt
only
all
except
in addition to/other

antonym/synonym