If the variables are defined in the problem, read carefully how they are defined. Students need more practice naming angles and line segments. Students need a complete understanding of the properties of geometric figures. There is confusion between construction and drawing. For the high school assessment students may also use patty paper, miras, or mirrors.
Measurement can be part of their strategy.
Students need to be instructed that when a transformation is asked for, the response must specify distance and direction for translations, line of reflection for reflections, and point of rotation, degree and direction for rotations. Students need to understand the difference between congruence and similarity. Students need more experiences with proofs, including proving two triangles are similar. Students need more experiences using similarity as justification.