How to Prepare for a Math Test

How do you prepare your students for a math test?

Do you spend any time preparing your students for the end of year math test?

In previous blog posts we discussed Math test prep tips and 15 Math test taking strategies for math test success. These were great points of discussion for making a math test success plan and what strategies to teach your students to use on testing day. Another point that needs to be addressed is how to prepare for a math test. Today's blog post goes over all the top five things necessary to prepare your students for math test success.

How to Prepare for a Math Test

When preparing for a Math test first look at the big picture. What is the end result you want for your students? What will your students accomplish? Start from the desired end product and work backwards.

Do you want your students to pass the math test? What do they need to know to pass the test? Look for math test prep materials to help your students, make a lesson plan, and outline your plan of action.

  

Make a 1-week or 2-week plan to follow for math test success. 

The following are tips for math test success. For optimal success try  all of these activities to prepare your students for the math test. When students are prepared, then they can succeed.

5 Tips for Preparing Students for a Math Test

The following tips for preparing students for a math test are guidelines for math test success. What you do to prepare is up to you. Try one or all of these with your students to maximize their preparedness. 

1. Know how to use a reference sheet. 

Look up your state math assessment website. Do you get a reference sheet with your math test? If you do, print it before hand and review it with students. 

2. Know how to use a calculator if necessary. 

Learning how to use a calculator is not always intuitive. Do your students get to use a calculator on the math test? Teach your students what all the keys means before the test day.

3. Know what material to cover. 

Before you begin planning look at what your students are supposed to know. What will be covered on the math test? Teach or reteach math material for test prep success.

4. Know how to check for mistakes.

After solving problems always check your work. Do your students know this important step? Review how to answer a math problem from start to finish. 

5. Know how to review your test answer sheet.

After finding the answer for a math problem, write it on the answer sheet correctly. Make sure the right bubbles are bubbled. Put the correct numbers in the right columns.  You've done all the hard work to find the answer, don't mess up writing it on your answer sheet. 

Plan Your Math Test Success Now

Getting your students to earn higher test scores isn't tricky. Make a plan for success. Download the roadmap for Math Test Success today! 

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Math Test Taking Strategies

Do you do math test prep in your classroom?

Should we even bother preparing our students for the math test?

YES! We should focus on preparing students. Do you take a test without studying first? Preparing your students will help them achieve better results. Try one or all of these strategies with your students.

Math Test Taking Strategies

1. Be prepared. 

What is the math test going to cover? What do I need to know to pass? Be ready to take on the math test by studying the material weeks ahead of time.

2. Review early. 

It's never too early to start reviewing for the math test. Review by yourself or with a group. Do a couple questions a day leading up to the big test.

3. Make an outline. 

Prepare your own math test notes outline. List what math concepts you need to know for the test. Add any other information that is important.

4. Take a practice test. 

Before testing day, find a math practice test to take. This will help you know if you are ready or need to review more math skills.

5. Be relaxed. 

Take a moment before the test to take a deep breath. Focus on what you need to accomplish to pass the test.

6. Listen to the teacher. 

Before, during, and after the math test you should be listening to the directions. Ask the teacher to repeat the directions if you didn't hear them.

7. Memory dump. 

List any important information that you want to not forget on the math reference sheet or first page of the math test. This way you won't forget it!

8. Read the directions. 

Carefully read and re-read the test directions. What are they asking? What do you have to do to find the correct answer?

9. Answer all the questions. 

Even if you're short on time, it's important to answer all the questions.

10. Use your time wisely.

If you know how long the math test will take watch the clock and pace yourself. If you're no sure about a question leave it for the end and come back later to answer it.

11. Get plenty of sleep. 

Go to bed early the night before. Get at least eight hours of sleep or the best sleep you can.

12. Eat breakfast and lunch. 

Eat your breakfast and lunch before the math test. It may be in the early morning or early afternoon. Make sure you have eaten ahead of time.

13. Stay hydrated. 

If allowed keep a water bottle by your desk. Make sure you have a drink before the math test.

14. Use the bathroom. 

Go to the bathroom before the math test.

15. Sharpen pencils. 

Make sure you have plenty of new number two sharpened pencils with erases. It's always good to have at least two at your desk just in case.

Learn more about test taking strategies that can improve math test performance. Download the road map for test prep success today!

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Math Test Prep Tips

How do you prepare your students for the big math test? 

Do you give students tips for math test prep? 

Math Test Prep Tips 

Getting students ready for the end of year test doesn't have to be hard. Prepare your students now. Have a plan in place and watch your students exceed testing expectations. The only way to succeed is with a plan in place. Do you have one? Here are 3 tips for math test prep.

 

1. Take a Diagnostic Test. 

Find out what math concepts students know from this baseline assessment. This will give you an overall picture of what they know and don't know. You can strategically plan to reteach and review what students didn't know on the diagnostic test. 

Download the Diagnostic Test grades 3-8 here. 

2. Practice Grade Level Math. 

Only quality test prep will help your students succeed. If you are not using test prep time to review the big math concepts you are wasting your time. Plan ahead what concepts you will cover.

Download the Math Test Prep Practice here.

3. Demonstrate How to Take a Math Test. 

Completing a standardized test is not always intuitive. Students need help navigating how to read directions, solve math problems, and where to put their answers. Start by reviewing the grade level reference sheet that students will receive on test day. Look over formulas and measurement conversions. Show students how they can use the reference sheet to help them solve problems.

Want to help your students earn higher test scores this year? Use these math tips and more to plan to for your students' success. Sign up to access your test prep roadmap today! 

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How to Review for a Math Test

How do you review for a math test?

Do you give a handout to the students?

Do you review with a PowerPoint presentation?

Do you have the students do the quick review from the textbook?

Let's look at 3 ways to review for a test and help your students earn higher scores. Higher scores? Yes! It is possible to move your students into mastery during review after all the lessons have been taught. If you implement one or all of these techniques your students will improve their efforts on the test.

How to review for a math test

1. Summarizing and Note Taking. 

When students take hand written notes, they are reviewing key skills and remembering what is important. Do not give the students a short cut to taking notes. The one who does the work is the one who learns. If you're taking the notes and writing them for the students, that is called a handout. If you give them a fill-in the blank notes, that is called scaffolding. Make the students write their own notes. Note taking yields a 34 percentile gain (Marzano 2001). When students take their own notes they earn higher scores. 

Have them take their own notes with this FREE note taking organizer. Students write the math topic(s) and add main ideas and questions on the left hand column. Then on the right hand column, students add details about the main ideas and questions. At the end of the notes, students will write a summary of their notes in 2-3 sentences using their own words.

Click HERE to download FREE notes organizer

2. Practice. 

When students practice key math skills they need for a math test it helps them remember how to perform operations and apply mathematical procedures. Practice yields a 28 percentile gain (Marzano 2001). There are many different ways you can practice math skills. The 3 categories of math practice are: Retell, Recite, and Review. Students can retell what they've learned through making their own diagram or chart. Students can recite verbally what key concepts mean and how they relate to one another mathematically. Students can review key skills with similar math problems. 

Have students review in a mini booklet that keeps and records their practice. This can be done easily with a review booklet that covers all the math standards. Having a portable review also allows students to take it with them to review at home, take pride in their work to show their parents and guardians, and to be able to use it on a test as a quick reference. Giving students the opportunity to have a quick reference during the math test takes away the anxiety and reassures students that they know how to solve the math problems. 

Click HERE to download the Math Review Booklet 

3. Have fun with Cooperative Learning! 

Getting students to work together can be fun and helpful in their learning process. Learning with others yields a 23 percentile gain (Marzano 2001). Review with a game, math stations, a project, or task cards. Students who review with a game are going to have fun and not be bored with another review. Make it exciting and play a Bingo game! BINGO is an easy game to implement and a high impact for students to practice key math skills.

Click HERE to download the BINGO review game

These 3 tips for how to review for a math test are a great starting point for the classroom. Use one or all three when your students are preparing for a math test. The statistics were from Classroom Instruction that Works: Research-based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement, by Robert Marzano (2001). (Affiliate link). Research based strategies are easy to implement and provide a powerful approach to teaching. It is key that we are teaching intentionally for math mastery to occur.

 Happy Reviewing!

Math Test Anxiety Tips

Do your students have math test anxiety?

Do your students feel upset or uneasy about math test days?

There are 5 simple things you can do to put them at ease for math test days.

What is Math Test Anxiety?

Math Test Anxiety is having an unease and nervousness about a math test that will in turn lower your score. It creates a mental block and leads to inadequate test preparation. The concern and worry over the original problem leads to more apprehension and negative self talk.

How can I calm my nerves before a math test? 

There are many things that students can do before a test to calm their nerves and eliminate math test anxiety. Trying one or two of these strategies can lower math test anxiety of students. When students are able to not worry or be nervous about the math test, they will perform better.

1. Be Positive. 

Students need to think positive thoughts about themselves. Work on a math growth mindset activity or focus on an encouraging quote. Math confidence for students is key to creating a mindset for testing.

2. Read books about Testing

Reading about Math Test Anxiety is helpful for students to see how others struggle with it as well. The Big Test is a book about how Mrs. Hartwell prepares her class to take the Big Test. She teaches them all the test taking skills and then realizes she forgot to teach the most important one! It's a great read for students during test taking season. (Affiliate link included to book).

3. Prepare for the Test

The simplest tip to not having Math Test Anxiety is to prepare. Students want to know what is on the test and how to take the test to earn the highest possible grade. Instruction and preparation for math tests is key. With proper preparation students will feel better, have less concern, and not be nervous about the math test.

4. Letter to Parents

Writing a letter to the parents and students about the test can be helpful. Tell them what concepts are on the test, what pages to review, and any other important math facts to memorize. Knowing what to expect will help parents reassure their children and prepare them for the math test at home. Remind students to get a good night's sleep and eat breakfast. Having personal needs met helps students to be less concerned and better prepared.

5. Positive Note from Teacher

Writing a note to the students gives them extra confidence. Students may not know how you feel about their ability to take a math test. Writing a quick note to each student to identify their strengths and how they will do well on the math test will help their math test anxiety. Use these Testing Motivation Mint Notes for students. Give students a peppermint and note to tell them you believe they will do their best on the math test! You can print the notes on regular paper or on Avery address labels to quickly stick in place. These labels can be used on eggs, plastic bags, and more!

Grab the Workshop and Notes with the Positive Note to students included too. Click here!

 

Try one or two of these tips with your students to relieve the math test anxiety. Students will feel better and earn higher scores when they are prepared for the math test. I hope you have a great testing season with your students.

Happy Testing!

Testing Motivation NO PREP Mint Labels FREEBIE

Are you preparing for testing season?

Are you thinking of last minute ways to motivate your students?

Here's one way to tell your students that you care for them, are thinking about them, and want them to do their VERY BEST on the TEST!

What I used: Eggs (12 for $0.89 from Target), Market Pantry Starlight Mints ($1.89 with Cartwheel coupon from Target), and Avery White Easy Peel Address labels for 5160 ($19.99 from Costco last year).

STEP 1: Just put 2 to 3 peppermints in each egg.

STEP 2: Print & add labels to each egg.

CLICK HERE to download the Testing Motivation NO PREP Mint Labels

Teacher Testimony:  I have personally used these Testing Motivation NO PREP Mint Labels in my classroom for several years. I've used them in special bags, Ziploc bags, or just handed out the mint with a note not on an Avery label. Students were always surprised that I thought of them personally. Students went home that day from testing and told their parents about what a special note they had received from their teacher. Those parents emailed my principal and were thankful that I took the time to make their child feel special and motivate them to do their PERSONAL BEST on the test!

Sometimes the smallest kindest gesture to a student could make their testing experience that much SWEETER. I hope these Labels are a motivator for your students and they feel that you personally want them to do THEIR BEST on the test.

Happy Motivating!

Math Test Prep Reference Sheets

Do your students need additional help on tests or exams?

Would your students perform better on tests or exams with the use of an instructional aide?

This instructional tool is EASY to use and can be given with any Math assessment or exam.  

Click HERE for the Elementary Math Test Prep Reference Sheet

Included are:
-2 Pages of Elementary School Math Reference Sheets
-7+ Geometry and Other Formulas Included
-30+ Measurement Conversions Included
-Key Words and Symbols Included
-Covers 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Math Standards
-NO PREP, Print & Go for any test!

 

Click HERE for the Middle School Math Test Prep Reference Sheet

 

Included are: 

-2 Pages of Middle School Math Reference Sheets

-20+ Geometry and Other Formulas Included

-30+ Measurement Conversions Included

-Key Words and Symbols Included

-Covers 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Math Standards

-NO PREP, Print & Go for any test!

 

Happy Testing!