Tips for approaching the NCFE English IV

Nuts and bolts

• 20% of your semester grade
• 120 minutes
• 2-minute breaks at the 40 minute and 80 minute mark
• 50 multiple choice questions
• 5-7 reading passages

Three types of passages

• Fiction
• Non-fiction
• Poetry

For each passage...

Step One:
Notice the title if there is one. Does it tell you anything initially about the topic of the work?

Step Two:
Read the text. Highlight key words as you go (words that aid in the overall understanding of a piece).

Step Three:
Summarize the piece in your own words. This can be in your head, or on a sheet of scrap paper.

Step Four:
What type of piece is in front of you? Fiction, non-fiction, or poetry?

After completing these four steps, then answer the questions!

Strategies for answering the multiple choice questions

1. Read the full question.

2. Read all four answer choices.

3. If the question asks about a specific line or passage, go back and read that selection.

4. If you know a choice is incorrect, cross it out.

5. If you don't know the answer, make an educated guess.

6. Trust your gut!

7. Answer every question (50 total).

Sleep the night before, and eat healthy (and hydrate) on test day!