5 Easy Test Prep Strategies You Can Use Today!

Test prep is not about teaching to the test. In fact, test prep is taking a proactive approach with research-based systems and processes. We will cover 5 painless test prep strategies you can use in the classroom starting today. Testing is a very hot topic for both educators and parents. But, when it is all said and done, testing is here to stay for the foreseeable future. We’ll delineate a proactive approach so that your test prep for success will help reduce your stress level and that of your students because they will feel prepared and confident.

Before we get started, download your FREE guide of 5 Steps to Crush any Test.

We have used these strategies in our classrooms for several years, and the return has been remarkable. We do not teach to the test. Instead, we create systems and processes throughout the year that we build upon to ensure our students get what they need to feel successful. For the past several years, our student’s scores on end-of-year testing have improved anywhere from 20-40% over the previous years’ scores.

Wanna know our secret sauce for a stress-free testing season? Yeah… we thought so!

Strategy #1:

Create a Routine

We create a routine (systems and processes). We put this into place on day one school and are consistent with it throughout the entire year. However, for those of you starting now, follow this same routine and instill those good test prep habits starting now.

Let’s talk about the test-taking environment. Intentionally create a very calming and distraction-free environment. This can be done by explicitly teaching students how the testing environment will look like and sound like. We have the students help create these “looks like” and “sounds like” lists. We have discovered that by having students participate in the creation, they are pretty honest in saying what they personally need in order to be able to concentrate distraction-free during a test. It is also a win-win because their contribution doubles as their willingness to be personally invested in carrying out these strategies. Here is a sample one that our students recently came up with:

If your students are anything like our students, they will try to push the limits to see how far they can get. It’s human nature in us all. But consistency will serve you well. After the first couple of testing periods, they will get the hint that you are serious. So take heart and have courage. By being consistent, you will be making your life SO MUCH EASIER, and your student’s testing experiences one that need not be feared. Trust us 😉. So, test prep tip #1 is to create a routine.

Strategy#2:

Teach Academic Language

We cannot stress how important it is to teach academic language in the classroom. Not only is it important because it is a best practice, but it also renders huge dividends during test prep season. These words are mostly tier 2 (high-frequency words with multiple meanings) sprinkled in with some tier 3 (content-specific) words that students will frequently encounter in general instructions. Teaching academic language gives students the tools they need to comprehend what is being asked, and thereby answering correctly. We have combed through the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Cross-Cutting Concepts, and the Common Core to find what words would give us the biggest bang for our buck. Here are 48 high used words that when students learn and understand what they mean, can unleash confidence untold when entering a test. So, test prep tip #2 is to teach academic language.

There is a wealth of research that talks about using academic language in the classroom, and we have gone to great lengths to incorporate it into our everyday classroom use. To do so, we have created some discussion prompt cards for students to use. We have these laminated and assembled with a ring clip at each table so they can be easily accessible to students. Not only does academic language vastly improve team discussions, but it also builds a student’s confidence and willingness to engage in team discussions. And we are all about building student confidence!

Strategy#3:

Focus on what you DO know

Regardless of what is on the test, you can prepare your students for success! Focus your attention on the skills and general knowledge base that your students will need to be successful on the test. Ask yourself the following: “What overarching concepts and /or scientific laws do students need to know to help them figure out a question prompt”? You can see your State Course Map here as a reference. For example, if students are asked to calculate how many days it takes a moon to go from a new moon to a full moon, or to complete an entire revolution, or to go from quarter to quarter — teach students that it takes 3.5 days from phase to phase. This is an example of a larger concept that can be used to figure out various test prep questions you have or those provided by your district.

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Cross-Cutting Concepts are your new best friends. By introducing and consistently referencing the Cross-Cutting Concepts in class, you are training students to see these Cross-Cutting Concepts in different phenomena, scenarios, and /or solutions as you teach the NGSS. Helping students to use Cross-Cutting Concepts is a natural way to bring academic language into the science classroom. Check out our 5E Model resources here and here to help you in teaching and using these concepts. If you are unfamiliar with the Cross-Cutting Concepts, here is a quick video we use in class to introduce them. You can find the complete Cross-Cutting Concepts bundle here.

So, test prep tip #3 is to focus on what you do know, and that is what is outlined in the NGSS and the Cross-Cutting Concepts. Further details for your particular state and how they are incorporating these can be found in the State Course Map.

Strategy #4:

Unpack Practice Test Questions

Most states will release past tests and will provide you with some practice test questions so both you and the students can get familiar with the testing interface. In addition to the NGSS and the Cross-Cutting Concepts, these questions will provide a roadmap of what basic concepts students will need to know and be comfortable with.

Here are some simple, low-prep strategies to unpacking a test question:

Point out vocabulary words in the question that students know.
Explicitly model how YOU would unpack the question by verbally stating your thought process. For example: Read the question through twice. Come up with the answer in your brain BEFORE you read the multiple-choice answers. Use the process of elimination when narrowing down the possible answer.
Provide a gradual release of responsibility: allow students time to unpack a question as a team, then with a partner, and finally on their own.
Have students teach each other how they came to the answer.
Clear up any misconceptions that may arise.

Test prep tip #4 is to unpack practice test questions with a gradual release of responsibility.

Strategy #5:

Be Realistic About Your Time

Time is in short order, especially at the end of the school year. Here are some ways you can incorporate test prep in a few minutes of class time each day (we usually chose to do this during bell-work time):

Once you have taught how to unpack a test question, give a different practice question for bell work.
Teach students how to brain dump their knowledge onto a piece of paper (see our in-depth post on brain dumps here). Most states allow one blank piece of paper to use on a test. Teach students how to take advantage of this accommodation. New to brain dumps? Yeah… we were too for a while. But we’ve got you! When it comes to test prep strategies, the best secret weapon of all time is the Brain Dump. Our method is standards-based, has high engagement that yields a HUGE return, is individualized, and only takes 5-10 min a day.

Make this your next click. It is seriously our best secret weapon of all time.

Ever wonder what to do with those extra 5-10 minutes at the end of class? Try incorporating these test prep strategies on the fly:

Have a stack of random practice questions printed (one per half sheet of paper). If students are done early, they can grab a sheet and practice unpacking the question.
Students practice their braindump.
Digital or Print Flashcards. We have several that are aligned to the NGSS. Digital versions can be found here. Digital AND print versions, along with 6 different ways to use the task cards in class can be found here.

Test prep tip #5 is to be realistic about your time and use those extra bits of time to your advantage by systematizing it with some easy test-prep practice.

In Summary…

Create a routine in your classroom. Begin with the testing environment. What does it look like and sound like in your room during a test? Be consistent with this testing environment throughout the school year. Explicitly teach academic language. Use it in your classroom when you teach and expect your students to use it in team discussions. Provide them with sentence starters as they get accustomed to using academic language. When it comes to testing, focus on what you DO know — the skills used in the NGSS, Cross-Cutting Concepts, and basic knowledge of concepts (see your State Course Map here). Model how to unpack a sample test question. Be realistic about your time and use simple strategies such as brain dumps, and digital or print task cards to keep information at the forefront of your student’s mind.