Help Your Kid Test Their Best

More than ever before students of all grade levels are being encouraged to score well on standardized tests in school. Test scores are tied to everything from public school funding to real estate value. Testing time provokes anxiety in everyone involved including teachers, counselors, administrators, parents and especially the students.

Standardized test scores may be used to determine educational placement such as remedial, regular, or advanced classes in elementary, middle or high school. Low scores may limit a student's access certain schools, magnet programs or scholarships. These uses and implications of test results may be debatable, particularly when students may have high grades but don't necessarily test well.

Although parents and educators would agree that test results only provide very limited and specific information about a student's academic performance and potential, both teachers and parents would like for students to score their best on standardized tests. Here are some tips for parents to help their kids relax and perform their best on testing days.

Know What to Expect

Your child's teachers and guidance counselor are the best resources to becoming familiar with the tests your child will be taking. Most standardized tests emphasize math skills, both computation and application and reading comprehension. Meet with your child's reading and math teachers many weeks prior to testing time to learn about the testing format and content. Work with your child on building his or her basic skills in reading comprehension and math computation and applications. Find out if calculators will be permitted for math portions of the test.

Ask the teacher if your child is performing on grade level. Most standardized test results provide a percentile ranking which compare students' results with others. The teacher can let you know how your child is doing academically and inform you of his or her strengths and weaknesses in the tested areas. Parents may even be given specific test taking tips and sample test booklets to supplement students' preparation at home. The school may even provide students and parents with test-taking strategies. These may include how and when to guess, whether guessing is appropriate, finding clues and learning key vocabulary and hints about monitoring one's pace during timed testing situations.

Be Supportive

Talk to your kids about trying their best on test days. Depending on their age and, it may be comforting to remind your child of how their personal test results may influence their goals. Encourage your child to do his or her best while reinforcing that the standardized test results are only part of their academic record. Let your child know that you will be proud of his or her best effort regardless of their actual test score.

Some students may experience testing anxiety causing them to perform below their actual ability or skill level on testing day. Provide encouragement to these students by reminding them of their academic strengths. Try to build their confidence. Encourage them to relax and take deep breaths as they begin taking the test. Tell them to tackle the standardized test as they would any other test in school. Remind them that you will not be disappointed in them if their test results are not superior.

Practical Tips for Testing Days

Make sure your child is well rested the week of testing. A full night's sleep will help your child to concentrate on the test. Make sure your child has a nutritional breakfast and provide a snack if the school will permit it for breaks during testing. Your child's clothing, jewelry, or hairstyle should not be distracting or uncomfortable for testing days. If your child wears glasses, make sure he or she has them to take to school.

Provide a calm home environment the morning of testing to minimize rushing or anxiety. Make sure your child is on time for school and knows which classroom to report to when arriving at school. Give your child one last word of encouragement as he or she heads to the classroom. These tips can be used for any day of the school year but they are especially important during stressful testing times.

Remember standardized testing is stressful for everyone involved particularly the students. By being informed and supportive parents can assist their kids in performing their best on testing days.

Louise Hajjar Diamond is a guidance counselor, writer, and mother of two.