TEST PREPARATION
Standardized tests are a fact of life for New Jersey’s schoolchildren. Here is some important information that will help your child and you survive and succeed during testing time.
Get Familiar. A parent test booklet will be given to students in grades 3-6. Ask your child for this parent booklet. Knowing the format and seeing the types of questions that will be asked could help build child’s confidence.
Encourage, don’t pressure. Encourage your children to do their best, but avoid putting on the pressure. Too much pressure can cause test anxiety. And lead to worse, not better, scores. Understand that standardized tests are just on way schools measure a child’s ability.
Give the “brain food.” Give your children a healthy breakfast the morning of a big test- and remember that good nutrition fuels brains year-round. Food high in Food high in fat or sugar doesn’t provide the nutrient children need to do their best.
Put them to bed. Sleepy children have a tough time succeeding academically. It’s particularly important for your children to get a good night’s sleep the night before a big test. For most elementary school children, need as much as 10 hours sleep every night is best.
Help your children understand these very important tips:
Pay attention. Stress that they will need to listen to the testing instructions very closely and follow the written directions exactly.
Keep track of the “bubbles.” Remind them that it’s very important to make sure they’re at the right place on their answer sheet. It’s easy for children to lose track, especially if they’ve skipped a question. Suggest that they double-check every five or tem questions, making sure that the bubble they’re filling in match the number of the question they’re answering.
Skipping is OK. Remind them that they don’t have to answer the questions in order. If they’re unsure about a question, tell them it’s OK to come back to it later.
Find the best answer. It’s temping for children to choose the first answer that looks right. Make sure they understand that several of the answers may seem right, but that they need to choose the one best answer.
Aim high. Encourage them to do their best and help them believe that they will do well.
