How to Best Help Your Kid Prep for Math Tests

Many students who visit us at Mathnasium of Parker are nervous about taking math tests. Tests are not just given in math subjects, but most students are now tested in all subjects for comprehension and knowledge. With that said and being that it’s test season for many schools, here are a handful of study tips to help your student tackle each test and be able to perform at their best.

Prepping for any sort of test is not a sprint, rather, a marathon. Cramming isn’t preferable and does not lead to comprehension. Attending classes, staying on top of school work and regularly doing homework to make sure all material covered in math class is sinking in is really the best way to prep for tests. Homework is your best friend in this way! Tackling smaller math assignments are like bite sized pieces to math success. While practice may not make test taking perfect, it certainly will help. Like many things, exposure and practice are how you garner confidence.

Doing math homework can also help your student figure out what they need to work on. If they discover they don’t have a solid understanding of what’s been covered in class, it’s fixable. It will take work and it won’t happen overnight, but with dedication to want to get better and have more confidence, it’s entirely possible to strengthen the foundation of math and increase knowledge that’s bound to show up on tests. There is no shame in your student asking for help. It should be encouraged! 

Once a math test is scheduled:

• Make sure the material that’s being covered is clear. Together, you and your child can come up with an efficient study plan. 
• Take some time to organize. Studies show that when kids have routine, they thrive much better. Homework and study time shouldn’t be an exception to that. Choose some regular times where homework can be done and stick with those. 
• Revisit old homework and quizzes. There’s a reason all that homework has been given – to help you practice what needs to be understood to move to the next level in math. Often material covered in assignments or smaller tests it covered in larger tests. Just make sure to note that the material might be presented in a little bit different way than it was on assignments.
• Make sure your student takes adequate breaks for snacks and drinks and recreational activity. In other words, make sure they’re still having fun in their life. Taking a break after an hours of study is a good way to not lead to burnout and exhaustion.

The day before the test:

• Remember, cramming doesn’t work that well. The good news is that if your child has been preparing consistently for several weeks leading up to the test, they’re more likely to do well. They should review their notes and especially go back to parts that might feel a bit sticky and difficult and focus on those right before the test. 
• Review all the materials that your student needs to bring in their backpack. Do they have everything they need? A pencil and pen? A calculator? Having your child frustrated and tearing up your house looking for materials the day of is frustrating. Having those materials prepped beforehand will lead to more calmness the day of. Also, bringing a watch can help your student keep track of time during the test, especially if there isn’t a clock in the classroom.
• Make sure to do everything possible to help your student sleep well the night before the test. Anxiety can keep us all up at night. Following a regular bedtime routine beforehand and being in bed right at the proper bedtime will help. 

The day of the test:

• Make sure your child eats a good breakfast. Avoiding super sugary breakfasts without any protein is clutch. Breakfasts high in sugar will not sustain your child as well though out the morning which can lead to crashing, fatigue and mood shifts. Your child should follow their regular routine in the morning.  
• Remind your child to use the bathroom before they head into the test. There’s nothing worse than feeling like you have ants in your pants because you have to pee so badly! It’s very hard to concentrate through that. 

Once the test is in front of your child, they should:

• Relax, take once large deep breath and think “I’ve got this”.
• Read and follow the directions. If all work needs to be shown, they should make sure that’s done. If calculators can only be used for certain parts, they should make sure they know that in order to credit for all their work.
• Double check all their answers if there is time left. This includes making sure all work is shown when necessary, but also cleaning up any sloppiness. A “5” that looks like a “3” might hurt them in the end.

After the test:

Celebrate the work that your student put into the preparing for the test, regardless of the result. If they really were disciplined about prep, perhaps they deserve a treat of some sort. And if the results after hard work studying and preparing beforehand are not what’s expected, we, at Mathnasium of Parker, can help!