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 Testing Tips
Testing Tips for Parents Although a child is ultimately responsible for his or her performance on a test, parents and guardians are important in helping children prepare for taking a test. Here’s how you can help: • Ask your child’s teacher why tests are being given and how the test results will be used. Learn what kinds of tests your child will be taking each year, when they will be scheduled and how long the tests will take. • Be encouraging and supportive all year round, not just at testing time. Make sure your child attends school regularly, pays attention in class and completes all homework. Ask your child about his or her performance in school and be generous with praise. A child who feels good about himself or herself will always do better than a child who is afraid of failing. • Encourage good work habits at home and at school. Explain to your child the importance of following directions carefully, avoiding careless errors and reviewing work when it’s completed to make sure it’s done properly. • Let your child know your expectations. Be positive about the test. Demonstrate that you have confidence in his or her abilities. Children will not know the answer to every question. Explain that some questions will be difficult and some easier, and that while other students may finish first, each child should proceed at his or her pace. • Discourage last-minute studying. It won’t help. Standardized achievement tests cover much more school work than can be learned in a few hours. • Be sure your child is physically prepared on the day of the test. Test-taking is hard work. It requires physical and mental energy. Pack a nutritious lunch and snack. Ensure that your child gets a good night’s sleep before the test and eats a healthy breakfast before leaving home. • After the test, follow up with both your child and the teacher. When your child arrives home after taking a test, be interested in his or her thoughts about it. You may gain valuable information about your child’s feelings toward school. • Follow up with the teacher once you receive the test results. Make sure you understand what the test results mean and if they are consistent with your child’s classroom performance. • Pass along any information about unusual situations on test days, such as illness. Let the teacher know you are interested in your child’s performance, and ask how you can continue to give your child help and support. Just remember: test scores are only one indication of how your child is performing in school. Grades are another important indicator. Your child’s interest in school and how he or she interacts with others are also important indicators. >>back to top Testing Tips for Students Taking tests doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, you probably show up to the test more prepared than you think you are. But, just to help you go the extra mile, here are a few of our recommendations on how to prepare for test day. Before the Test • Do your homework. Doing your homework every night will give you a chance to understand what you’ve learned and how well you’ve learned it. Learn from the mistakes you make on your homework and ask your teacher for extra help understanding how to correct those mistakes in the future. • Take good notes. Even though you might think you will remember every word your teacher says, chances are, you probably won’t. Writing things down is a good way to reinforce what you’ve just heard. And, when you take good notes on your teachers’ daily lessons, you’re creating your very own study guide to refer to when test day approaches. • Study with your friends. Try starting a weekly study group with a few of your classmates. For example, you might consider meeting up at the library at the same time each week to research a long-term paper you’re required to write for a particular class. You can also get together to talk through recent homework assignments and help each other figure out the right way to solve problems that were answered incorrectly on the assignment. • Test yourself. Think about ways you can quiz yourself on a regular basis. Make flash cards, search online for web sites that offer online quizzes on subjects you’re studying in class. If you can find ways to quiz yourself, by the time test day comes, you’ll already be a testing pro! • Talk to your teacher. Ask your teacher if he/she will be holding a review session before the test. If not, ask if there are certain lessons you should prioritize as you review on your own. Test Day • Sleep well and eat smart. Read test directions carefully; make sure you understand what you are supposed to do to answer the question. Nothing will distract you more from taking a test than feeling tired or hungry. Make an effort to get to sleep an hour or two earlier the night before the test, and set your alarm for at least 30 minutes earlier than you would normally wake up in the morning. Use the extra time to prepare and eat a healthy breakfast. Skip the breakfast bars and sugary cereals – healthier foods like fruit, eggs and whole grain toast will keep you feeling full longer. • Be prepared. The night before your test, pack your book bag with all of the items (pens, pencils, calculator, etc.) you are required to have on hand for your test. Being prepared the night before the test will save you time and stress the next morning. • Dress smart. Wear comfortable clothing, and wear layers in case you get warm or cool. Why waste your time thinking about how cold you are, or why your shirt is making you itch when you should be thinking about the answer to the next question? • Read carefully. Carefully read each question and each of the answer options before selecting your final answer. Sometimes answers will seem similar; taking the time to focus on each answer choice individually will help you better determine which option is the right answer. • Use the process of elimination. When responding to multiple-choice questions, use process of elimination:
>>back to top Testing Tips for Teachers You have a difficult job. You work hard to make sure your students have learned all of the things they need to know to succeed on a test – but, despite your best efforts, you can’t control how well each student performs on test day. However, there are a few things you can do to help your students be prepared for the test and feel prepared for the test. • Every time you underscore the importance of tests, also be sure to reassure your students that you are there to help them be as successful and as well-prepared for tests as they can possibly be. • Think about helpful hints you can offer to students before each test. Remind them to read every question and option carefully before selecting an answer, and to use remaining testing time to double check their answers. • A day or two before the test, give your students a checklist of items they will need to bring on test day (e.g. calculator, two pencils, pens, a snack), and encourage them to pack these items in their book bag the night before the test. • Encourage your students to form study groups, or offer to run your own weekly or bi-weekly study group after school for students who want extra learning time. • Involve parents. Encourage parents to make sure their student gets a good night’s rest before the test and a healthy breakfast in the morning. >>back to top |
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