Test Taking Strategies for Students

Standardized Test Taking Strategies for Students

It’s that time of year for us. State testing time! As the school counselors at our schools we wear many hats. One of those hats is Building Test Coordinator. In addition to keeping testing materials secure, we feel the responsibility of inspiring students to do their best on the test. It’s a fine line we dance between making sure students don’t feel so stressed that we have to implement test anxiety treatment strategies but equipping them with enough test taking tips that they understand how to use strategies like process of elimination and how not to panic by changing answers on a multiple choice test. We hope the following top 5 test taking strategies help your test scores soar this year!

Use Calming Techniques

Like we mentioned above, you definitely don’t want students to feel so much pressure to perform that they panic the minute the test administrator says, “Go!” What calming techniques will your administrator support? Many of these ideas work as test taking strategies for elementary students, test taking strategies, for middle school, and test taking strategies for high school students. One such idea is to talk with a local animal shelter to see if they have therapy dogs they could bring in. Many students of all ages are animal lovers and feel the most calm when they are petting dogs, cats, or even miniature horses. Another calming strategy that might work for elementary students could be to use sand trays. Some students immediately feel better when the cold sand slips through their fingers. A test taking strategy that works for elementary, middle school, and high school students is to use art therapy. Let the students use a variety of art supplies to stay calm during the testing window. Finally, get the students outside. Maybe the younger students could use some extra recess time. If your middle school or high school campus is close to the elementary school, check to see if you could use the playground one day. It might be a refreshing change of pace for both the grown ups and the students!

Relaxing Music for the Classroom

Many studies have been linked to the effects of music on brain development in students. During test review, why not try playing some classical or instrumental music? Additionally, incorporate songs into your review lessons. For example, this super cute Attack the Test lesson includes a test taking strategies song set to the contagious tune, Baby Shark. Your students will be singing it for days! It is our hope that when they sing the song, it will give them confidence as they realize they are equipped to attack the test!

Eat Breakfast

This test taking strategy is universal, whether your students are in 2nd grade, 4th grade, or high school. I remember this being drilled into my own head when I was in elementary school. In fact, many moms took turns providing breakfast for our class just to ensure each child ate a good breakfast before the test. How many times have you been sitting in a meeting when all of a sudden your stomach growled so loudly that it distracted you and your neighbors? Yeah, that’s exactly what we don’t want to happen during the test. Plus, I don’t know about you, but when I’m hungry, I can’t focus on much else. Encourage your students to arrive early enough to eat breakfast in the cafeteria OR enlist some help from room moms to provide breakfast items for the class. Protein-rich foods such as eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese, and/or nuts will stick with the students longer.

Create a Test Taking Strategies Activity

Test Taking Strategy lessons can work for elementary, middle, or even some high school students. These lessons aren’t a cramming session, but rather, a confidence builder that teaches them simple tricks to do their best. When looking for a lesson, look for one that includes test taking strategies activities or test taking skills games. I doubt anyone ever inspired greatness by test taking strategies worksheets so try to make it more interactive and fun. We’ve already mentioned our Attack the Test lesson that compares shark traits to test taking skills we need to have. Another lesson we love is our Bee Ready lesson. This test taking strategies lesson plan has the students creating a flip book using a beehive template. Both of these lessons include graphic-rich test taking strategies powerpoint for elementary students or middle school students. These hands-on activities, fun test taking tips ppt, and memorable songs will likely stay with the students for a long time after the test.

Deck the Halls

Tip #5 Deck the Halls
We mean this literally. Hang test taking strategies posters and share test taking strategies bulletin board ideas with your coworkers. Seeing these daily reminders in the hallways and the classrooms will be great for your students! Brainstorming with your coworkers could lead to amazing test taking strategy campaigns, but if you don’t feel like creating these yourself, or if you are feeling the time crunch like we are, just download these and mark something off your test taking strategies list of to-do’s!

Let us know what your favorite test taking tips and preparation procedures are! We learn best by sharing ideas!