Parenting & Family

Top 7 Ways to Help Your Child Get Ready for Standardized Testing

By Ann Logsdon, About.com Guide

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Whether your child is in K-12 school or facing college entrance exams, standardized testing is important to his educational future. For schools, standardized testing is an important part of accountability and effectiveness measures. How you can help your child get ready for them.

1. Standardized Testing Accommodations - Determine if Your Child Needs Them

As a student with a learning disability, your child may benefit from standardized testing accommodations. Common standardized testing accommodations include use of readers, scribes, extended time, and paraphrased instructions. To qualify for accommodations, your child must demonstrate a need for them. In most cases, your child must require these modifications in daily instruction to receive them on a standardized test, and the Individualized Education Program team must agree on the need.

2. Use Standardized Test Preparation Programs or Materials

Instruction in taking standardized tests can help. Standardized test preparation programs are often available:

Through counseling and guidance programs, seminars, and practice test sessions;
Through commercial test preparation programs at centers that also offer tutoring, such as Kaplan Test Preparation;
Through adult learning centers offering programs for General Equivalence Diploma programs;
Distance learning through state educational television programs and public broadcasting affiliates; and
Through public libraries in the form of preparation booklets, videos, and CDs.

3. Help Your Child Develop Strategies to Deal With Skill Weaknesses

Well before standardized testing appears, know your child's areas of academic need, and work with his teachers to ensure he develops and uses strategies to improve his comprehension and ability to perform test-like tasks. If your child regularly uses reading comprehension strategies, he will also use them in standardized testing. Even strategies as simple as the PQ4R have been shown to help improve test scores.

Math problem solving strategies can also help.

4. Preparing for Standardized Testing in Advance is Most Effective

The best preparation for any assessment requires solid instruction, good study habits, and appropriate learning experiences that challenges, not frustrates, students. Last minute cramming rarely helps and may actually hurt. Strategies such as developing study groups and creating a good workspace for homework can help.

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5. Avoid High-Pressure Tactics in Preparing for Standardized Tests

Students with learning disabilities often carry a great deal of pressure with them in school. It takes tremendous courage for them to go to school every day knowing that there's a chance they will fail at something, perhaps in front of people. Pressuring them to perform well on standardized testing can actually do more harm than good. Instead, simply and matter-of-factly, let them know it is important for them to do their best work but not to worry about it. Let them know that regardless of testing outcomes, reassure them that you are there to support them and that you appreciate their efforts.

6. Ensure Rest and Nutrition Before Standardized Testing

Proper diet and adequate rest are important for learning every day. This is especially important before testing. A child who lies awake worrying about testing will likely have more difficulty with it than a well-rested child would. If possible, the day before testing, get out for some physical activity, have a nutritious meal, and ensure at least eight hours of sleep.

7. Help Your Child Understand Teachers' Behaviors in Standardized Testing

While most teachers handle testing appropriately, occasionally some become very stressed and worried about their students' performance. This can contribute to frazzled nerves and shorter tempers. If your child experiences this, tell him that teachers may feel extra stress and may not be handling things in the best way. Help him understand that you support him and that he should not take teachers' negative comments personally. If necessary, talk with the teacher and explain how her behavior is affecting your child. If the matter is truly serious, talk with the principal.