Getting ready to practice for standardized tests coming up? In the months of February through May, standardized tests flood the American school system like the plague. Today, students take more standardized tests than in any other period in history. My parents who grew up in the 50s and 60s experienced standardized testing usually for college entrance only. Let’s just say…my dad did not even attempt these tests as he had no desire to attend college.
Now, just because students are taking these tests ALL THE TIME does not mean they are performing well. In fact, less than half of elementary students are passing the tests in math and reading, and the scores just decline into the middle and high school years. And this is why we need a systematic approach to teaching literacy and mathematical concepts as well as routine practice for standardized tests integrated already into the curriculum!
I don’t know about you, but I purchased books in my sophomore and junior years that prepared me to take my college proficiency exams. I was taught well and took AP classes and even calculus in high school back in the early 2000s. As number two in my graduating class (there were only 60 of us), you would think I could just go in and perform. And I did okay, BUT with consistent practice over 6 months or so for standardized tests, I got a scholarship and a grant for 100% of my tuition.
Clearly, my investment in reviewing these test prep books and the opportunity to take the exam multiple times were required. If we want our students to succeed and graduate and go to college, they need these experiences as well.
Keep reading for 10 Ways to Practice for Standardized Tests!!
Need help with test prep? Check out this FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities to help students practice for standardized tests!
10 Ways to Practice for Standardized Tests
1. Practice throughout the year
Too often, students and teachers are inundated with test prep ONLY in the spring. And constant practice for standardized tests over several months becomes overwhelming and monotonous. So why not integrate test prep throughout the year?
Test Prep Ideas You Can Use Throughout The Year:
- Use standardized test questions and answers for the literature you already love and read: poems, short stories, nonfiction, plays, etc.
- Use timed testing for quizzes or longer exams, so students get used to a time limit.
- Use a practice test every 2 weeks or so to see where students are.
- Use the same test from the start of the year and in the middle of the year to assess student learning.
- Use previous state standardized tests and model how to approach and take these exams.
With more integrated practice for standardized tests, your students will feel more confident from the very start of the year!
2. Practice with a focus on individual standards
When I struggle with a specific skill, I usually try to practice that skill over and over through repeated exposure. If your students need additional help with a mathematical concept or a reading standard, offer individualized help based on these skills!
Reading Standards:
- Citing Evidence
- Making Inferences
- Characterization
- Central Idea
- Theme
- Structure
- Author’s Purpose
- Author’s Point of View
- Context Clues
If you cover these standards when your students practice for standardized tests, they will be more prepared when they see similar ideas on the end-of-year test!
Do your students need more practice on standardized tests? Check out the post below!
3. Practice with a variety of texts
Unfortunately, because most students cannot read at grade level, many of us want to give students lower-level passages as a part of the curriculum instead of what they will see on the actual exam. This tendency is unfortunate because when we read together with our students, we should be providing more difficult texts, not easier ones.
When you are reading “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, many of your students may not understand every single word. And that is okay. You might be tempted to use a modified version with simpler language and sentence structures, which might be effective if used in addition to the original short story. I would encourage you not to take this approach.
We NEED to include higher-level texts that include more difficult vocabulary and syntax. If you only read modern texts from the 1950s-2020s or easier versions of texts, your students simply won’t be prepared for the rigorous passages they will encounter when they take high-stakes tests.
Click below for test prep questions and answers for “The Tell-Tale Heart!”
4. Practice inside and outside of class
I am not a huge fan of homework as kids are already in their classrooms for eight hours a day, BUT let’s be real, sometimes students need additional practice for standardized tests.
Now, you may not be able to assign worksheets every night; however, you can always offer students and parents other options:
- Provide a list of websites that students can use to practice.
- Offer extra credit test prep assignments.
- If you offer after-school or lunchtime tutoring, you could have students use that time to practice.
- Let students redo assignments that incorporate test prep.
- At the end of every day, provide a single paragraph and a standardized test question or two linked to the standards in your lesson.
Remember, we can try to motivate our students, and you never know who you will reach as they practice for standardized tests on their own!
5. Practice reading the directions
When I administered exams, I found that sometimes the directions took upwards of 45 minutes! Then, students would take the actual exam. That is tough and exhausting!
However, the process of reading the directions is vital for student success as they practice for standardized tests. Often, students might miss a specific requirement or not understand an important element.
For example, some questions require a student to check multiple answers. Paragraph responses may ask students to cite evidence, so a single-sentence response is not nearly enough to earn full credit. If you review how to read directions and annotate certain parts, most students will start to understand the vital nature of directions.
6. Practice with various test formats
Every test varies in some way. Some assessments are paper and pencil. Others might require the use of technology.
And tests might be structured very differently depending on the organization creating and distributing the test. Some practice for standardized tests with a focus on the similarities and differences might aid your students in how they will approach various tests!
Click the image below for test prep questions and answers for paired texts!
7. Practice resilience
Unfortunately, many students start to lose their motivation about 20 minutes into a 60-minute test. And most of these students are struggling readers who cannot afford to stop halfway or answer half-heartedly.
Because of this common situation, we need to help our students strengthen their reading and overall test-taking muscles as they practice for standardized tests.
We can accomplish this feat in several ways:
- Start out the year with shorter passages and build up to longer passages.
- Use only one reading passage at the beginning of the year and then add on several more until you reach about 4-6 passages.
- Practice in class with more difficult, complex passages.
- Model how to read, think, annotate, and answer the questions in an extended time period.
- Let students know that they can take mini-breaks, move on to other passages, and skip responses at the moment.
8. Practice end-of-test strategies
When students only have five or ten minutes left, it is imperative for them to employ effective test-taking strategies. Employing these techniques as they practice for standardized tests will help tremendously!
Here is a short list of strategies to ensure students do their best near the end of the standardized test:
- Answer all of the questions. Most tests don’t penalize for wrong answers anymore.
- Recheck any questions you skipped.
- Be sure to submit the test.
- Work until the last minute if necessary.
- Check that all writing responses are answered and revise if necessary.
Do you need help with other reading strategies for the day of the big test? Check out What Reading Strategies Work Wonders on Standardized Tests!
9. Practice with differentiated materials
Not every student struggles with the same concept, genre, or standard. Because of this issue, using differentiated materials throughout the year is helpful.
For example, you could assign a quiz for students based on a single standard. One group of students might get a quiz focused on the citing evidence standard, while another group might be assigned a quiz on the central idea or theme!
You could also offer varied texts for a similar topic. One class might read a short story; another class might read a short novel. Both will learn similar concepts, but the activities and texts might vary a bit!
Every student needs a challenge, so it is imperative that we try to meet every student where he or she is, especially when providing practice for standardized tests!
10. Practice for standardized tests with a message of confidence
Before your students take the test, be sure to have a mini-conference with each student. You can discuss some last-minute tips or encourage them to simply dig down deeply on this test because ALL students can grow. Every student can show progress when they try their best. So many students are told that they are struggling readers, writers, and/or students, so a quick reminder that they are capable of learning and showing what they have learned is usually the pep talk I give right before a major standardized test.
Plus, if they have participated in regular practice for standardized tests, they will usually feel more confident on the day of the big test!
Need more practice on standardized tests through lessons, activities, and test prep quizzes? Check out my store Kristin Menke-Integrated ELA Test Prep!
