Standardized Tests
During their academic career, students take standardized tests to track their progress and see where they rank compared to others around the country. Children who are homeschooled might also have to take standardized tests to prove that they are on the same track as those in traditional school. In case a homeschooled child performs low on a test, it can lead to modifying the homeschooling arrangement. Standardized tests are not only used to assess the student’s progress in context, but they can also serve as part of the selection procedure of certain schools. When students want to enroll in college, for example, they may be required to take the ACT or SAT. Besides this, standardized tests are useful for teachers because they help them prepare class lessons to ensure students receive all the vital information before taking the specific test. These standardized tests make sure the school teaches according to each state’s standards and keeps them accountable.
How to Prepare for a Standardized Test
As parents and guardians, there are many ways to prepare your child for a standardized test. Below we will give you some tips on how you can help your child get the best results.
Talk to the Teacher
You can find out from the teacher what exactly will be tested and what the teacher has done to prepare your child. Your child’s teacher knows how your child is performing and which areas need more attention. The teacher can recommend certain assignments that your child can do in order to prepare for the test. Since teachers have come across many standardized tests before, they have an idea of topics that will be covered.
Make a Schedule
Once you know what your child needs in order to pass the test, create a schedule until the day of the test. You can revise the topics and assignments that will be examined to prevent your child from becoming bored with one subject. In case there are specific areas pointed out by the teacher that need more attention, make this a priority in your schedule. Repetition is key in helping your child understand a concept. Instead of only spending a full hour on studying for one day, you could split this time up and make it 15 minutes per day for a whole week. Sometimes your child might be distracted or tired when studying. If you take a day off, their performance and understanding might be better.
Take Tests
Children can feel nervous about taking tests because they don’t know what to expect; they might feel like a lot depends on their results. To take away the fear of the unknown, look up tests from previous years. You can go through these tests together step by step for extra practice. Alternatively, you can let your child take the test on his or her own and give feedback after. By doing so, your child gains an idea of the type of questions that will be asked. The results of the model test will indicate what topics needs more attention.
Get a Tutor
In case you don’t have time to prepare your child for the ACT, SAT, or other standardized test, consider hiring a tutor. Tutors are experienced when it comes to preparing students for standardized tests. They incorporate fun activities into their lessons, follow up on homework, and make sure students feel confident before taking a test. Practicing with a tutor can be advantageous for children since some take learning from a stranger more seriously compared to studying with their parents.
Sufficient Rest
In the days leading to the test, provide a positive environment for your child at home. This means that your child needs to eat well, do fun activities besides studying, and sleep on time. Rest is crucial for your child because being exhausted results in not being able to concentrate, which leads to lower test scores. If you notice your child becoming nervous about the test, encourage him or her and remain positive. Even if the results turn out to be lower than expected, do not show your disappointment. Your child probably already feels disappointed about the results. Seeing your disappointment can have a negative impact on his or her self-esteem. Also, don’t pressure your child into studying too much. Yes, it is good to enter the test prepared. But making your child study too much can be counterproductive. Free time is just as important as study time, so make sure you include this in the schedule as well.
During the Test
There are certain steps students can take during a test that can make it easier to answer questions. You can walk your child through the following steps in preparation for test day.
Read Carefully
Make sure you read the entire question carefully before answering it. There are clues provided in the text to help answer most questions. When reading too quickly, students might not be aware of these clues. Also, by reading the question with care, they make sure they are certain about which is being asked. Do not skip parts of the question. Some questions come with introductory passages or extra texts—students should read all of these before answering.
Formulate Answers
Without looking at the provided answers, try and have your student formulate an answer for himself or herself. Once your child has an answer, he or she can look at the options provided to see if the answer is among them. If so, it is probably the right answer.
Eliminate Wrong Answers
When in doubt about the correct answer, first eliminate the choices that are definitely wrong. It will be easier for your child to focus on two possible answers rather than four or five. After removing some choices, ask your child to go back to the text and question while keeping in mind the remaining answer options. Then, you child can determine which one seems most suitable. Even if your child has to guess, their chance of guessing the right answer is higher when choosing between two instead of four options.
Pacing
Standardized tests have to be completed within a certain time frame, but students do not have to feel rushed. They should take their time when taking the test. When they start, they can count the total of questions being asked and divide it by the time available. Then, they will know how much time they can spend on each question. Once students start rushing, they might actually make mistakes because they did not read well or take enough time to understand the questions fully. These are mistakes that can be avoided if students are at ease. Rushing can make students feel stressed and give them a higher blood pressure level, leading to less concentration. This is a problem because students need to concentrate when taking tests.
Review
Once they have filled in all the answers, if they still have time left, they can go back to the first question and review their answers. Students may notice some mistakes or things that weren’t clear the first time. This is their chance to give it their last shot and adjust answers when necessary.
Takeaway
At some point, all students in public and private schools will have to take standardized tests during their academic career. Whether they like it or not, there are a few things they can do to prepare for the test so that they feel confident and capable when exam day comes. As a parent, you can help your child prepare by creating a schedule that includes assignments and tests from previous exams that your child can take in the weeks leading up to the test. As much as you may want the best for your children and wish to see good results, don’t pressure them by giving them a workload they can’t handle. It is important that they get enough rest, eat well, and have some time to relax and not study. Some things that students can do during the standardized test itself include reading carefully, eliminating wrong answers, and reviewing tests after completing them. The best results are gained in a conducive environment with people supporting the student in however way they can. This also means being there for a student and encouraging when results are not as high as expected. There will always be another chance to improve results by retaking the test or preparing sufficiently for the next test.
