3 ways to become a better test taker

July 25, 2022

Standardized testing is an essential part of our education system. It quantifies a students ability to get into college and exemplify their deductive reasoning. Approximately 10 million children in North America suffer from test anxiety. This is a result from lack of sleep, which affects energy levels as well as confidence. Not to mention, the overachiever student that puts immense pressure on themselves to get a certain grade and if they do not hit that mark, they put themselves down. As opposed to the slacker, who does not prepare for their test and expects to somehow receive a good grade through luck and good will. We decided to compose 3 simple ways your child can become a better test taker and get the grade they want. 

I. Study

I know this may seem very simple, but effective study habits ensure positive results. We recommend figuring out what type of learner your child is and capitalize off of that. If they are a visual learner, instead of having them read and memorize their notes; condense their notes into venn diagrams and draw groups and subgroups to help see the bigger picture of the concept at hand. If they are a kinesthetic learner, we recommend using flashcards or give them a white board in their room so they are able to write out what they understand. 

II. Create Study Groups 

Have your child study for a test/exam at least 5 to 7 days from the date. This will give them enough time to prepare. (side note: they should study their notes everyday from school). Encourage them to form study groups with their peers. This way everyone is bouncing information off of each other and they are sharpening their knowledge. This ensures a higher success rate for their exam and a boost to everyone's confidence. 

III. Rest Well

Our sleep schedule affects our mood, energy and confidence. We suggest getting a good night's sleep especially days leading up to the test. This will reduce a load of anxiety and remove any negative thoughts. 

IV. Remain Calm (Bonus)

Although we wanted to keep this blog to 3 tips, this one had to be mentioned. During the test, it is crucial for your child to remain calm and collected. Panicking because a question seems difficult or unfamiliar does not help in any way. If your child gets flustered easily by multiple choice questions, have them try the process of elimination. This means, filter out the answer choices that they know are 100% not the correct answer and cross them out. If they can get the answers down to two choices, that is a 50% chance of getting the right or wrong answer. 

Another useful tip, if they do not know the answer to a question or they are uncertain of their answer. Have them draw a star next to the problem. This will serve as their indicator to comeback to the problem, once they have completed their test. It is important they double check their answers and remain confident in the choices they selected. 

We hope these tips were useful and helped your child reduce their test anxiety tremendously. Even our tutors went through the same thing your child is experiencing. Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more useful tips to navigate school and succeed!