Why Pre-tests are the best tool you can use in your math classroom

 

Math is a practical subject. Students learn strategies and approaches to questions best through practice and by doing. Practice questions and tests are one of the most underutilized tools available to teachers and their students. There is no better way for your students to familiarize themselves with an exam than using practice tests. By allowing students to practice a variety of sample questions, you will eliminate the anxiety that comes with the territory of taking a test.

Pre-tests are typically used to determine if students have the prerequisite

skills needed for the upcoming unit of instruction, or to what extent students have already achieved the objectives of the planned instruction.

Assessing prior knowledge and experience not only  will improve your teaching, but it will also encourage students to reflect on their own knowledge. This will create a habit of students taking ownership of their learning.

Practice tests serve as a form of active learning and they are a great way to engage students before beginning a new topic. Pre-tests can be used at the end of a unit also to assess what the students have learned during the unit to see if there was growth or highlight areas that need attention.

Attempting to answer pretest questions which at times can result in errors has been found to be better than reading statements that included the correct responses to the questions. The act of attempting to answer a question promotes a deeper level of processing for students.

Pre-tests are a great diagnostic tool for identifying what level children are at at the beginning of the year, they will give you concrete data to inform your future lessons and allow you to establish a baseline early on. It is here where you can begin to track their progress. If the teacher identifies a skill their students are struggling with, they can allocate significantly more time to learning the material they are finding difficult as opposed to wasting it on a skill they have already mastered.

Pre-tests are downloadable, so there is no paper trail. This means that students can use them to study before tests in class or whilst at home during distance learning. The pre-test will serve as a reminder to the student of what they have already covered.

Below are some of the benefits of using pre-tests with your students:

-       Instant access of students’ prior knowledge

-       Concrete data that can be easily scored

-       Students are prepared for what is to come because they are familiar with the material

-       Assessing students’ level of understanding on a unit

-       Identifying students who need extra support

-       Identifying students who need to be challenged

-       Informing future content and instruction

-       Specific and individualized learning objectives for your students

-       Actively engaged students who will seek feedback

Remember to keep pre-tests low stakes for your students and frame them as instructional tools rather than graded assignments so that they can be an engaging way to introduce topics to your students.

You can download the Middle School Math Pre-tests here.