The Smart Start Guide to Test Preparation
We've all done it—the night-before-the-test "cram" session. Does it really work? There's certainly a lot to be said for reviewing material. On the other hand, there's only so much you can review—or learn—in a few hours. The key is not to study harder (or faster) but to study smarter.
The "smart start" to test preparation includes the following:
1. Separate what you know from what you don't know
Don't waste time reviewing material already mastered. Instead, use a detailed practice program designed to identify weak areas in core subjects, allowing you to spend your study time where it's needed most.
2. Strategize how to move through the test
Whoever said you have to answer every question? Or answer them in order? No one did. In fact, knowing when to skip a question can be key to testing well.
Lingering on a difficult problem can cost a lot of time. Even if the test isn't timed, it still absorbs brain energy and can even lead to an emotional "freeze." Skipping the problem lets the student tackle the rest of the questions that he may not have seen if he'd stayed put—questions he may be able to answer correctly to make up for the lost problem.
Discuss strategies with your student throughout the year so that he can master them before the test.
3. See the test format before the clock starts
Previews of the test format are available to parents, no tester approval needed. These usually include a few sample questions from each subject and can easily be shared with the student for practice with multiple-choice questions. (Note: These sample questions are not intended to show test difficulty, only test format.)
4. Sleep well the night before
The few questions gained by last-minute cramming can be offset by many questions lost by fatigue. Be sure your student is well rested (and well-fed) before testing.