Supporting Children Through Standardized Test Prep

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Standardized tests measure how much children know in certain categories, in theory. Figuring out how to juggle preparing your child to excel in a very limited testing capacity can be complex. Some kids freeze when they have to take a test, doing poorly simply because they worry about how they’ll do on the assessment. Others may need some prodding to study and do their best.

You can argue all day long that they aren’t a fair measure for students who stress at testing time, but many colleges and schools measure how well they predict a student might do based on the results of standardized tests.

As a busy mompreneur, you may not have the time to continuously prod your kids to study. Fortunately, there are many different ways you can offer support and help them secure that impressive SAT or ACT score many colleges consider during the admissions process. Here are some simple things you can do to ensure your child excels on tests while finding the right balance between work and life.

1. Assess Your Child’s Proficiency

Education experts have long noticed that grades and standardized test scores don’t always match. The disconnect happens when kids learn facts for a test but fail to master the concepts for long-term memory. 

Amidst the challenges of e-learning, you might find your child easily passed courses and even has a high GPA but struggles to do well on the SAT. Researchers are still trying to figure out why some students struggle to retain information learned online. Strategies for assessing your child’s proficiency:

• Talk about tests the child has taken in school, even ones they did well on.
• Review homework with them frequently. Keep old papers and go over them periodically to reinforce concepts.
• Play games that improve math and reading skills.

If you can make reviews part of your daily routine, keeping them light and fun, your child should better retain what they’ve learned throughout the year.

2. Reduce Stress

The idea of taking a test is stressful for many children. They worry they won't perform well. Since standardized tests assess long-term learning and retained knowledge, some people get lower scores. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to reduce their stress and make reviewing concepts fun:

• Set small milestones for your child to study for the test by breaking tasks into single elements, such as taking a practice test.
• Create a place where the child can focus as they study without distractions like cell phones and television. 
• Focus on the effort rather than the mastery. Your child is likely to miss concepts and even fail the practice test at first. Let them know as long as they keep trying and improving, they’ll get there. 
• Insist on breaks. Some kids will study for hours on end until they burn themselves out and don’t want to study at all. 

As the parent, set the tone for your child, putting self-care first. They’ll perform better on any test if they are rested and less anxious. 

3. Balance Studies With Family Time

Getting a perfect score on a standardized test isn’t everything. While it can get your kid into the college they want or help them move into gifted and talented programs, many experts now wonder just how beneficial it is to spend too much time studying.

Around 90% of students with a 4.0 GPA and the highest SAT score possible still aren't accepted into Ivy League schools like Harvard and Stanford. More factors are at play than a single test. Those with close family ties may fare better on standardized tests because of the daily family dynamic. 

Turn quiz time into game time, letting them throw the flashcard into the air if they get the answer correct. Although anyone can improve their test scores, spending every second of the day studying may not be conducive to work/life balance for preteens and teens. 

4. Let Them Be the Decision Maker

As a parent, it’s hard to know when you’re overstepping boundaries and when it’s time to guide your kids. There are some tactics you can try to begin teaching your child responsibility for their own scores.

Allow them to do it their way, even if it involves not studying and taking the test early. While it will cost you a little money, it can be a valuable lesson on why they need to work hard to do well on any test. 

Show your child your own calendar where you track tasks and upcoming events. Tell them how you break bigger projects into smaller goals. Give them the materials to create their own schedule and set up what they’ll study when.

Almost all SATs and ACTs are early in the morning. However, the timing of when they take the test can make a difference in how well they do. They know if they have a big game the night before, a school dance or other commitments. Let them choose the date they take the test so they are well-rested and ready.

Being a parent never really ends, but it should change and morph over time, where your kids are taking more responsibility for their future.

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5. Use Things They Enjoy to Help Them Learn

Preparing for tests can look like fun rather than yet another flash card. Tap into technology to drive learning. The following are suggestions to make learning more enjoyable:

• If your child enjoys gaming, let them learn the coding languages and math skills to create one of their own. The process can teach them concepts they can apply to tests. 
• Play family games that reinforce the skills you want them to learn, such as Trivial Pursuit for history. 
• Sing songs to memorize complex concepts in science or history.
• Play a sport and ask questions between each play. 

Some families choose to focus only on the key skills in math and literature, but many tests include other concepts as well. 

6. Use Technology to Prep

One of the benefits of advanced technology is tapping into new programs to help your child test prep and save you time in planning. 

Use things like test prep apps your child can access anytime and anywhere. Tap into prep for specific tests on their websites, where they might have online practice tests and games.

Look for adaptive tools that track your child’s progress and offer lessons based on where their skills are. 

There are many programs for younger children, especially those who might need to prepare for a state skills test. Reach out to virtual tutors for help with test prep or grasping concepts your child is struggling with. A virtual consultation allows programs to customize a solution for your student.

As long as your child commits to a few minutes a day, online help can make the difference between a low and a high score.

7. Offer Emotional Support

Parents can either increase or decrease the stress students experience. Some of the ways you can offer emotional support include:

• Let your child talk: Active listening isn’t always easy for moms. It’s tempting to jump in with suggestions for how to fix a problem. However, kids sometimes just need to vent about how overwhelmed they feel without someone rushing to their rescue.
• Stay positive: Be their cheerleader. Say things like, “You’re working so hard and improving every day,” “You’ve got this!” and point out specific things they’ve learned already.
• Express your pride: Make sure they know you are proud of them no matter how they score on a test. A test doesn’t determine who they are or their individual worth. It is just a measure of what they know in a moment and also how well they take tests. 
• Seek therapy if needed: Some kids are more anxious than others. If your child suffers from anxiety, seek a counselor to help them with coping skills.

Being the steady force you are in your child’s life makes a difference in how hard they strive to improve and how well they bounce back if they don’t do well. 

8. Take on Test Day

Spend time prepping them for the actual events of the testing day. Some kids do better when they know exactly what to expect:

• Drive by the testing center and talk about how they'll enter the building, what the test proctor will ask for and how the test will be conducted. This information is likely on the test website. 
• Make sure your child eats a breakfast that keeps them fueled through the test. 
• Arrive early so your child isn't stressed by entering at the last second. 
• Pack everything they need, such as snacks, sharpened pencils, water and a calculator. 
• Make sure your child gets enough rest. 

Preparing for the little things can take enough stress off your child’s shoulders to allow them to cope with the bigger issue of taking and scoring well on the test. 

Be Their Support System

Parents have a huge role to play in how well their kids handle the stress of standardized testing. Test prep can be complex, but having someone who supports you and cheers you on can make the entire process less anxiety-provoking. The tools at your fingertips today take a lot of the pressure off working moms. The role you play as emotional support can’t be overstated. Simply being there and uplifting your child can give them the confidence to do well in a critical world.