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Every 8th grade student in New Jersey is required to take the NJ ASK8 Language Arts Literacy exam... Are you ready for the NJ ASK8? REA'sNJ ASK8 Language Arts Literacywith TestWaretest prep helps you sharpen your skills and pass the exam! Revised for the 2011 testing season Fully alignedwith the core curriculum standards of the NJ Department of Education,this third edition of our popular test prep provides the up-to-date instruction and practice that eighth grade students need to improve their Language Arts skills and pass this important high-stakes exam. The comprehensive review features student-friendly, easy-to-follow lessons and examples that reinforce the key concepts tested on the NJ ASK8, including: Reading Writing Focused lessons explain reading and writing concepts in a language suitable for the eighth grade level, while reading passages, drills, and examples strengthen student abilities. Color icons in each chapter highlight important questions and study tips. The book includes a full-length pretest and a full-length practice test based on official exam questions.Each test comes complete with detailed explanations of answers, allowing you to focus on areas in need of further study. A special supplementary section on the additional Language Arts skills of speaking, listening, and viewing is provided. Our interactive TestWare CD features both of the book's full-length tests in a timed format with automatic scoring, on-screen answer explanations, and diagnostic feedback.The TestWare CD contains the most powerful scoring and diagnostic tools available today. Automatic scoring and instant reports help you zero in on the topics and types of questions that give you trouble now, so you'll succeed when it counts! REA's test-taking tips and strategies offer an added boost of confidence and ease anxiety before the exam. Whether used in a classroom, at home for self-study, or as a textbook supplement, teachers, parents, and students will consider this book a "must-have" prep for the NJ ASK 8 Language Arts Literacy exam. REA test preps have proven to be the extra support students need to pass their challenging state-required tests. Our comprehensive test preps are teacher-recommended and written by experienced educators.

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The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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SUCCEEDING ON THE NJ ASK8 LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY ASSESSMENT
ABOUT THIS BOOK AND TestWare®
This book, along with REA’s exclusive TestWare® software, provides excellent preparation for the
New Jersey ASK8 Language Arts Literacy Assessment. Inside you will find lessons, drills, strategies,
and test practice—all of it with a single-minded focus: success on the NJ ASK8, an acronym that stands for Assessment of Skills and Knowledge.
We have also made every effort to make the book easy to read and navigate. The practice tests are
included in two formats: in this book and on CD.
The book is divided into several parts. The first section is a PRETEST, which is half the length of
an actual ASK8 test and introduces students to some of the key sections on the actual test:
• Explanatory writing prompt
• Informational reading passage
• Narrative reading passage
• Persuasive writing prompt
We recommend that you begin your preparation by first taking the practice exams on your
computer. The software provides timed conditions and instantaneous, accurate scoring that makes it
easier to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.
Following the pretest are two lesson sections:
Part 1 teaches students about the different types of ASK8 questions and skills on the reading
portion of the test;
Part 2 instructs students on the writing, revising, and viewing portions of the test;
Finally, a full-length POSTTEST appears at the end of the book and on the TestWare® CD.
At this time, speaking, listening, and viewing are not part of the NJ ASK 8 LAL test. The classroom
teacher assesses these skills. However, because these skills are vital to a full curriculum, we provide
a special supplementary section on them to be used where needed by the student.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK AND TestWare®
FOR STUDENTS:To make getting through the book as easy as possible, we’ve included icons
shown on the next page that highlight sections like lessons, questions, and answers. You’ll find that our
practice tests are very much like the actual ASK8 you’ll encounter on test day. The best way to prepare for a test is to read over the test information and study tips. Take the pretest on CD-ROM to determine your strengths and weaknesses, and then study the course review material, focusing on your specific problem areas. The course review includes the information you need to know when taking the test.
Make sure to follow up your diagnostic work by taking the Posttest on CD-ROM to become familiar
with the format and feel of the NJ ASK8 Language Arts Literacy Assessment.
FOR PARENTS:New Jersey has created grade-appropriate standards for English language arts
and has listed them in clusters, which are explained below. Students need to meet these standards as
measured by the ASK8. Our book will help your child review the ASK8 and prepare for the Language Arts Literacy exam. It includes review sections, drills, and two practice tests complete with explanations to help your child focus on the areas he or she needs to work on to help master the test.
FOR TEACHERS:No doubt, you are already familiar with the ASK8 and its format. Begin
by assigning students the pretest. An answer key and detailed explanations follow the pretest. Then
work through each of the lessons in succession. When students have completed the subject review, they should move on to the posttest. Answers and answer explanations follow the posttest. WHY STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE ASK8
In 1996 the New Jersey State Board of Education adopted Core Curriculum Content Standards that
define New Jersey’s expectations for student learning. The board updated the Language Arts Literacy
standards in 2004, 2007, and again in 2009. The latest version of the Common Core State Standards was adopted as of June 20, 2010. To determine how well a student is advancing and whether the student is on course to perform well in high school, eighth grade students are required to take the ASK8.
It is one of the key tools used to identify students who need additional instruction to master the
knowledge and skills detailed in the Core Curriculum, the standards that guide education in New Jersey.
WHAT’S ON THE ASK8
The NJ ASK is composed of a reading section and a writing section. The reading cluster of the test
has students read four passages that are either narrative or informational in content. They then respond
to related multiple-choice questions and constructed-response items.
The writing section contains one persuasive prompt and either one explanatory prompt or one
speculative prompt. The persuasive prompt asks for the student’s point of view or opinion about a given controversy. The explanatory and speculative prompts present students with a springboard topic from which to write a composition. TIPS FOR THE STUDENT
There are plenty of things students can do before and during the actual test to improve their test-taking
performance. The good thing is that most of the tips described below are easy!
Preparing for the Test
Test Anxiety
Do you get nervous when your teacher talks about taking a test? A certain amount of anxiety is
normal, and it actually may help you prepare better for the test by getting you motivated. Nonetheless,
too much anxiety is a bad thing and may keep you from properly focusing. Here are some things to
consider that may help relieve test anxiety:
• Share how you are feeling with your parents and your teachers. They may have ways of
helping you deal with your concerns.
• Keep on top of your game. Are you behind in your homework and class assignments? A lot
of your classwork-related anxiety and stress will simply go away if you keep up with your
homework assignments and classwork. And then you can focus on the test with a clearer
mind.
• Relax. Take a deep breath or two. You should do this especially if you get anxious while
taking the test.
Study Tips and Taking the Test
• Learn the test’s format. Don’t be surprised. By taking a practice test ahead of time you’ll
know what the test looks like, how much time you will have, how many questions there are,
and what kinds of questions are going to appear on the actual exam. Knowing ahead of time
is much better than being surprised.
• Read the entire question. Pay attention to what kind of answer a question or word problem
is looking for. Reread the question if it does not make sense to you, and try to note the parts
of the question needed for figuring out the right answer.
• Read all the answers. On a multiple-choice test, the last answer could also be the right
answer. You won’t know unless you read all the possible answers to a question.
• It’s not a guessing game. If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t make an
uneducated guess. And don’t randomly pick just any answer, either. As you read over each
possible answer to a question, note any answers that are obviously wrong, then select one
of the remaining answers. Each obviously wrong answer you identify and eliminate greatly
improves your chances at selecting the right answer.
• Don’t get stuck on questions. Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Doing this
takes away time from the other questions. Work on the easier questions first. Skip the really
hard questions and come back to them if there is still enough time.
• Accuracy counts. Make sure you record your answer in the correct space on your answer
sheet. Fixing mistakes later wastes valuable time.
• Finished early? Use this time wisely and double-check your answers.
SOUND ADVICE FOR TEST DAY
The night before.Getting a good night’s rest keeps your mind sharp and focused for the test.
The morning of the test.Have a good breakfast. Dress in comfortable clothes. Keep in mind that
you don’t want to be too hot or too cold while taking the test. Get to school on time. Give yourself time to gather your thoughts and calm down before the test begins.
Three Steps for Taking the Test
1. READ. Read the entire question and then read all the possible answers.
2. ANSWER. Answer the easier questions first and then go back to the more difficult questions.
3. DOUBLE-CHECK. Go back and check your work if time permits.

TIPS FOR PARENTS
• Encourage your child to take responsibility for homework and class assignments. Help your
child create a study schedule. Mark the test’s date on a family calendar as a reminder for
both of you.
• Talk to your child’s teachers. Ask them for progress reports on an ongoing basis.
• Commend your child’s study and test successes. Praise your child for successfully following
a study schedule, for doing homework, and for any work done well.
• Attack test anxiety head-on. Your child may experience nervousness or anxiety about the
test. You may even be anxious, too. Here are some helpful tips on dealing with a child’s test anxiety:
• Talk about the test openly and positively with your child. An ongoing dialogue can not
only relieve your child’s anxieties but also serve as a progress report of how your child
feels about the test. When talking together, make sure your child understands what areas
he or she is going to be tested on.
• Form realistic expectations of your child’s testing abilities.
• Be a “test cheerleader.” Your encouragement to do his or her best on the test can alleviate
your child’s test anxiety.
• Have your child use the last days before the test to review all tested subject areas.

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Ready, Set, Go! New Jersey Ask8 Language Arts Literacy, Grade 8

Ready, Set, Go! New Jersey Ask8 Language Arts Literacy, Grade 8

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