Does your child struggle with finishing tests on time? Although you’ve tried many things to help, does your teen continue to experience test-anxiety? Do you wonder if your child might have a learning disability that’s affecting their test scores?
Test-taking is challenging at any age, but it can be especially stressful for those with underlying issues like anxiety or a learning disability. With younger kids, sometimes it’s hard for parents to know if their child has an issue until they get a little older and their grades begin to suffer. It’s important that parents recognize the signs and get ahead of any issues so that their kids have a level playing field when it comes to high-stakes tests.
For some kids, test-anxiety negatively affects their performance, causing them to not finish in time or get the grade they were hoping for. According to Enteromedics, researchers measured cortisol levels in students’ saliva and found that levels rose about 15 percent on average during the week when high-stakes standardized tests were given. Those students with the most dramatic changes in cortisol levels scored “significantly lower than expected on the exams when compared with other academic measures.” Further, the teachers that they interviewed revealed that 75 percent of their students who didn’t receive additional educational support were more stressed about standardized testing that year than they were the year prior.
Kids need test-taking strategies
Testing isn’t just about knowing the material that’s on the test, but it’s also about knowing how to strategize. One of the best ways to support your child with time-management during tests is to give them strategies to help them approach the material. For tests like the ACT and SAT that have strategies that are specific to them, it’s always a good idea to think about enrolling kids in a Dynamis Learning Academy Bootcamp or bringing an experienced tutor on board who can teach them the skills and strategies they’ll need for each exam. (Hint: those tests are more about strategy than recalling content).
To get started, here are some foundational strategies that can help kids of all ages succeed at test-taking, according to veteran teacher Jennifer Findley.
5 test-taking strategies:
- After reading all of the choices, mark off the ones that you know are wrong, and put a question mark by the ones you want to revisit. Choose the best answer from what remains.
- Underline, highlight, or circle key words or details in the questions.
- Before reading all of the choices, predict the answer. Choose the answer that is closest to the one you predicted.
- After reading all of the answer choices, plug in each one to see if it fits. Ask yourself if it makes sense.
- Don’t spend too much time on a question. Take your best educated guess and move on. Make a note of the questions that you’re unsure about, and revisit it if there’s time.
Does your child need a 504 plan?
For many students, issues with time-management during tests can be improved with strategies and better preparation. However, some kids need additional support to be successful. For instance, if a child struggles with a learning disability or anxiety, a 504 plan can provide accommodations like extended time, a quiet testing location, and modifications.
What I am finding is that parents are waiting too long to address time-management in terms of testing. Many of them don’t know where to turn for help. My suggestion would be to start with the teacher, school counselor, pediatrician, and, if appropriate, a psychologist and tutor. It’s important to get the ball rolling as soon as possible because it could take several weeks to get approval for an intervention plan (i.e.,504 plan). Keep in mind that it will need to be in place a few months before your child begins testing for standardized tests such as SAT/ACT.
A few years ago, I had a high school sophomore who came to us because she struggled with time-management during tests, resulting in low ACT scores. Her GPA was high, and she had a good handle on the material. Unfortunately, she could never finish the test because she ran out of time.
After giving her parents guidance on pursuing an intervention at the child’s school, eventually a 504 plan was put into place for extended time on tests. Additionally, the student worked with one of our tutors and got to the point where she was able to finish the test on time. She also raised her scores high enough to make her eligible for a scholarship for a substantial amount of aid.
We, at Dynamis Learning Academy, believe in helping find a solution to a child’s academic problems. We work hand-in-hand with your child’s teacher and school to find out what is happening in the school setting and set your child on the path to success. Contact owner Helen Panos at helen@dynamislearningacademy.com or at 770-282-9931 to schedule a free consultation about tutoring, goal-setting, SAT/ACT Prep, college admission essay writing, or any other area of concern.
Helen is an expert educator with over 25 years of experience. She believes in the importance of helping children reach their potential and become well-rounded, intelligent citizens with a positive influence and impact on society. Helen assists parents in accessing the best skills, strategies, tools, and resources to help children be successful and ultimately excel in the world.
Does your child struggle with finishing tests on time? Although you’ve tried many things to help, does your teen continue to experience test-anxiety? Do you wonder if your child might have a learning disability that’s affecting their test scores?
Test-taking is challenging at any age, but it can be especially stressful for those with underlying issues like anxiety or a learning disability. With younger kids, sometimes it’s hard for parents to know if their child has an issue until they get a little older and their grades begin to suffer. It’s important that parents recognize the signs and get ahead of any issues so that their kids have a level playing field when it comes to high-stakes tests.
For some kids, test-anxiety negatively affects their performance, causing them to not finish in time or get the grade they were hoping for. According to Enteromedics, researchers measured cortisol levels in students’ saliva and found that levels rose about 15 percent on average during the week when high-stakes standardized tests were given. Those students with the most dramatic changes in cortisol levels scored “significantly lower than expected on the exams when compared with other academic measures.” Further, the teachers that they interviewed revealed that 75 percent of their students who didn’t receive additional educational support were more stressed about standardized testing that year than they were the year prior.
Kids need test-taking strategies
Testing isn’t just about knowing the material that’s on the test, but it’s also about knowing how to strategize. One of the best ways to support your child with time-management during tests is to give them strategies to help them approach the material. For tests like the ACT and SAT that have strategies that are specific to them, it’s always a good idea to think about enrolling kids in a Dynamis Learning Academy Bootcamp or bringing an experienced tutor on board who can teach them the skills and strategies they’ll need for each exam. (Hint: those tests are more about strategy than recalling content).
To get started, here are some foundational strategies that can help kids of all ages succeed at test-taking, according to veteran teacher Jennifer Findley.
5 test-taking strategies:
- After reading all of the choices, mark off the ones that you know are wrong, and put a question mark by the ones you want to revisit. Choose the best answer from what remains.
- Underline, highlight, or circle key words or details in the questions.
- Before reading all of the choices, predict the answer. Choose the answer that is closest to the one you predicted.
- After reading all of the answer choices, plug in each one to see if it fits. Ask yourself if it makes sense.
- Don’t spend too much time on a question. Take your best educated guess and move on. Make a note of the questions that you’re unsure about, and revisit it if there’s time.
Does your child need a 504 plan?
For many students, issues with time-management during tests can be improved with strategies and better preparation. However, some kids need additional support to be successful. For instance, if a child struggles with a learning disability or anxiety, a 504 plan can provide accommodations like extended time, a quiet testing location, and modifications.
What I am finding is that parents are waiting too long to address time-management in terms of testing. Many of them don’t know where to turn for help. My suggestion would be to start with the teacher, school counselor, pediatrician, and, if appropriate, a psychologist and tutor. It’s important to get the ball rolling as soon as possible because it could take several weeks to get approval for an intervention plan (i.e.,504 plan). Keep in mind that it will need to be in place a few months before your child begins testing for standardized tests such as SAT/ACT.
A few years ago, I had a high school sophomore who came to us because she struggled with time-management during tests, resulting in low ACT scores. Her GPA was high, and she had a good handle on the material. Unfortunately, she could never finish the test because she ran out of time.
After giving her parents guidance on pursuing an intervention at the child’s school, eventually a 504 plan was put into place for extended time on tests. Additionally, the student worked with one of our tutors and got to the point where she was able to finish the test on time. She also raised her scores high enough to make her eligible for a scholarship for a substantial amount of aid.
We, at Dynamis Learning Academy, believe in helping find a solution to a child’s academic problems. We work hand-in-hand with your child’s teacher and school to find out what is happening in the school setting and set your child on the path to success. Contact owner Helen Panos at helen@dynamislearningacademy.com or at 770-282-9931 to schedule a free consultation about tutoring, goal-setting, SAT/ACT Prep, college admission essay writing, or any other area of concern.
Helen is an expert educator with over 25 years of experience. She believes in the importance of helping children reach their potential and become well-rounded, intelligent citizens with a positive influence and impact on society. Helen assists parents in accessing the best skills, strategies, tools, and resources to help children be successful and ultimately excel in the world.