Standardized Testing
Standardized tests. They’re on the increase and the stakes are high. In many states the results of standardized tests determine whether children are promoted to the next grade or graduate from high school. Sometimes just thinking about these tests makes students and their parents anxious and angry. But hating them won’t make them go away. In fact, a bad attitude can actually hurt your child’s test performance. Here are some ways you can help your child at testing time.
v Talk to the teacher. Find out when the tests
are scheduled and whether there are any weak areas where your child needs extra
help.
v Set your own standards. Make sure your child knows
it’s important to take thetest seriously, follow the rules, and do his or her
best.
v Are you ready? Check to make sure your
child has the correct kind of pencils, calculator, or other supplies needed for
the test.
v Early to bed. A good night’s sleep is
very important the night before a big test. Most of the children need at least
10 hours of sleep to perform their best.
v Prepare a good breakfast. Test morning is not the
time for a high-sugar snack – or no breakfast at all. A nutritious and filling
breakfast is a must.
v Keep things in focus. Standardized tests are just
one of the ways that schools evaluate children’s abilities. Don’t believe or
let your child believe that poor test results ark him or her as a failure.
Tips
for Students
v Take it seriously. Schools use standardized
tests as a way to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses, so do your best.
v Relax. Try not to be nervous
before the test. Take a few deep breaths. Close your eyes for a moment and tell
yourself to just stay calm and focused.
v Ask ahead. Find out beforehand if
you’re expected to finish the entire test. Many timed tests have far more
questions than most students will be able to answer in the time allowed.
v Listen up. Pay lose attention to the
teacher’s instructions and carefully read the test instructions to make sure
you understand exactly what you’re supposed to do.
v On your mark, get set – whoa. There’s no need to rush,
so take your time before answering each question.
v Watch out for tricks. On multiple choice tests,
consider all the choices before selecting the one best answer. Beware of choices
that are close to the right answer – but aren’t.
v Keep track. Make sure that you match
the number of your answer to the question number on your answer sheet. When
answering question #3, fill in the #3 circle on the answer sheet.
v Doodle bugs. Completely erase incorrect
or accidental pencil marks so the sensor doesn’t record them as answers.
v Double jeopardy. Make sure you haven’t
accidentally filled in two answers for the same question.
v Move on. If you’re having a hard
time with one question, leave it and go on to the other questions. Come back
later to the hard one – if there is time.
v Change it. As a rule, you should
stick with your first answer. But if you’ve thought about it afterward, and now
think that another answer is better, go ahead and change it.
One
of the best things about standardized tests is that when they’re over, they’re
over. The results won’t be known for weeks or months, so the best thing to do
after the test, for both parents and students, is to breathe a big sigh of
relief and then celebrate.
(Report
to Parents, NAESP, 99-3)