Kids and Education - Test Preparation Strategies for Super Busy Students

When it comes to attending school, test taking is an inevitable part. So, developing test preparation skills are very important. Being prepared may help reduce anxiety associated with test taking and to perform well in the test. These are the general things that are to be taken to notice while preparing for the test:

Start early- Starting early helps you to maximize your performance in the test. Prepare for the test the day you start learning the material.

Stay familiar- Review the materials you have learned on regular basis.

Study tools- Create your own study tools to remember the materials in a better way e.g. making flash cards, pictorial representations, abbreviations etc.

Schedule- Schedule time to study for the test as it approaches.

Prepare your body- Make sure that you sleep for at least seven to eight hours the night before the test. Eat a well balanced meal in the morning so that your mind works to its fullest.

I'm interested to Introduce a five – step plan to students to get prepared for the test.

Five-Day Test Preparation Plan

Day 5

Read the text book notes and class notes. Also look at any notes provided by the teacher. Highlight the important information.

Day 4

Use several remembering strategies (repetition, mind picture, grouping, abbreviation, graphic organizers etc.) to remember the identified information on day 5.

Day 3

Rewrite the information in brief form using the fewest words. Use abbreviations and symbols where ever possible. Use remembering strategies to review these notes at least twice on this day.

Day 2

Think of the questions your teacher might ask for the test. Write each question and their answers.

Day 1

Review rewritten notes from day 3. Also review all the question and answers prepared by you. Just before the test go through information you have difficulty to remember.

DETER Strategy

Using the DETER Strategy to do well on test:

D- Read the test Directions carefully. Ask the teacher to explain any part you don’t understand.

E- Examine the entire test to see how much you have to do. Do this right after you have read and understood the directions.

T- Decide how much Time you should spend on each question. Spend more time for those questions that hold more points.

E- Begin by answering the Easiest questions. Then answer as many as the remaining questions as you can. Try to answer all the questions if there is no penalty for wrong answers.

R- If you finish the test before the time is over, Review the answers you have written to make necessary corrections.

Review your test preparation and identify those habits that worked well and replace those that don't!