10 Test Prep Tips for Upper Elementary and Middle School

As a middle school math teacher, gearing up for state testing and end-of-year assessments can feel like preparing for a marathon. Will it ever end? Where’s the finish line? Am I actually running in the wrong direction? But don’t worry! With the right test prep strategies, you can confidently ensure your students are ready to tackle those big tests.

Now, I’ve dealt with many tests in my day, and there are some test prep tips for students that I feel everyone should know. So, let's turn this pitiful time into a pivotal time and use the weeks leading up to state tests and end-of-the-year tests for good.

Why Test Prep is Important

State tests and end-of-year assessments are not just about measuring student knowledge but also an opportunity for students to showcase their hard work and progress throughout the school year. Adequate test preparation ensures students have the tools to effectively demonstrate their skills and knowledge.

Don’t Stress Over Test Prep

While it's natural to feel some pressure during testing season, it's essential to maintain a positive and supportive atmosphere in the classroom. Stressing over test prep can actually increase students' anxiety levels and hinder their performance. By approaching test prep calmly and confidently, you can alleviate students' concerns and promote a healthy attitude towards testing. I always say, “They know what they know.” The weeks leading up to the test are a time to review, not to stress yourself out trying to reteach every concept like it’s your first time.

10 Test Prep Tips for Upper Elementary & Middle School

These tips will cover everything from reviewing materials to teaching test-taking tricks and encouraging healthy habits. Let's prepare your students to do their best on test day!

#1: Review Materials Thoroughly

Take time to review key concepts and materials covered throughout the year. Use resources such as task cards, review sheets, online games, and practice tests to reinforce learning in a fun and interactive way.

Using full-year review resources makes the planning easy. Every standard is covered with a warmup, practice sheet, and some fun activity to complete for each topic. There’s a suggested pacing guide, or you can pick and choose which topics to use.

#2: Teach Test-Taking Strategies

Equip students with effective test-taking strategies, such as reading questions carefully, eliminating wrong answer choices, and managing time wisely. Give students specific ways to relax when encountering a problem they do not know and show them how reading the question multiple times can help them break it into easy-to-understand parts.

#3: Practice “Test Language” Questions

Familiarize students with the format of multiple-choice questions, constructed responses, and any other format they may encounter. Teach them how to analyze answer choices to select the best possible answer, read the problems carefully, look for words that help them determine their first steps, and review any other test language they may need to know.

#4: Engage in Interactive Activities

Incorporate interactive activities, such as game shows, math centers, and board games, to make test prep engaging and enjoyable for students. Using full year review resources like the one mentioned under Tip #1 makes planning these types on interactive activities easy.

#5: Provide Extra Help in Small Groups

Identify students needing extra support and provide targeted assistance through small group instruction or one-on-one tutoring sessions. A little extra practice before a test can help these students feel more confident and may even help fill in a couple of small gaps that may allow them to perform better.

#6: Encourage Good Study Habits

Emphasize the importance of good study habits, such as regular review, active participation in class, and seeking help when needed. This is obviously not something you want to suggest only before a state test. But, something you want to try and instill in your students from the beginning. Although, I promise it won’t be easy.

#7: Promote Healthy Habits

Remind students to get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast on test days to ensure they are well-rested and focused. Consider bringing in some bananas, oranges, apples, etc. for students who may have forgotten or do not have the best support system at home. If your school offers breakfast, encourage students to eat at school before heading to the classroom. Many schools even offer FREE breakfast.

#8: Tailor Prep to Different Learning Styles

Recognize that students have different learning styles and preferences. Offer a variety of test prep activities that cater to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. Including a variety of different review activities will not only help multiple learning styles, but students won’t get bored of the review and will hopefully stay focused longer.

#9: Provide Practice in Different Test Formats

Expose students to different types of test questions and formats to ensure they are prepared for any variation they may encounter on the actual test. Giving them an inside look will make them less anxious about what the questions/format will look like.

#10: Stay Positive and Encouraging

Finally, maintain a positive and encouraging attitude throughout the test prep process. Celebrate students' progress and efforts and reassure them that they can succeed.

End-of-the-year Assessments

Need to review, but short on time? Using a quick, end-of-the-year assessment that reviews all concepts learned during the year is a great way to see where your students stand in comparison to the previous year. Plus, you can even use that data to help improve your teaching each year.

Want to know my secret when it comes to end-of-the-year assessments? Google Forms! I swear, this program is an absolute lifesaver. These assessments literally grade themselves!

Not only do I not have to deal with a pile of tests on my desk. But, the students see their results quicker, and I can also see where my students need a little more practice because Google Forms gives you such a deep look into the results data. This allows me to create more review sheets, games, or task cards focused on that specific skill to help us finish out the school year!

Preparing for state testing and end-of-year assessments doesn't have to be daunting. By implementing these test prep tips for upper elementary students, you can ensure that your students are well-equipped to excel on test day. Remember, the key is to approach test prep positively, provide ample support and resources, and celebrate students' achievements along the way. With the right preparation and support, your students are sure to shine! Good luck!