Winter Break is over, and everybody is settling back into a routine. The second semester brings renewed enthusiasm for doing well at school. Additionally, it brings the testing season. For some children, this can cause anxiety. Below are testing tips to help your child prepare and perform their best on tests.
Before Testing
Be prepared. Make sure you have everything you need in one place (sharpened pencils, calculator, etc.).
Know your test schedule. Check with your teacher, so you are aware of the test day ahead of time.
Be well rested. Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test.
Eat a good, healthy breakfast.
Arrive on time. Don’t miss the bus, and don’t linger in the hallways.
Do not schedule appointments during a testing session. Once a session starts, a student must finish for some tests to receive their score.
During Testing
Stay calm during testing.
Know how much time you have and pace yourself.
Read the directions before you begin answering questions.
Read each question carefully.
Eliminate the answers that can’t be right before choosing one. Sometimes, it’s easier to spot the wrong answers than the right ones.
Sometimes, you must make an educated guess. Once you have eliminated wrong answer choices, it’s better to guess than to leave it blank.
Double-check and review your work before you submit your test.
If your child is really struggling or seems extremely anxious, talk to your school guidance counselor, who can offer resources to help the testing period go more smoothly. If your child needs help with a particular subject, getting some small group or one-on-one tutoring may be worthwhile. Always talk to your child’s teacher if you have concerns about their progress. Communicating with the teacher not only helps your child but helps the teacher identify and resolve any issues or problems your child may be experiencing, especially regarding testing.
