Six Ways For Your Child To Prepare For A Test

Presented By Jim Power 

Article By Dr. Raymond J Huntington, Co-Founder of Huntington Learning Center

Tests are an important part of a child’s education, but for many students, the preparation process induces feelings of fear and anxiety.
If test time always seems to overwhelm your child, Jim Power from the Huntington Learning Center of Newark, DE says the first thing to do is remind the child to keep things in perspective. “Parents should make clear to their children that tests are simply a measurement of their skills and knowledge,” says Mr. Power. “When students approach their study sessions with this simple fact in mind, it decreases their stress level, and puts them in the mindset to perform better.” In addition, Mr. Power says, there are a number of ways parents can help their children learn to study more effectively for exams. Here are six tips for students to make the most of study time and increase their chances for test success:

First, do the work. 

It goes without saying that all the study time in the world won’t be effective if your child doesn’t pay attention in class, do his or her homework and put in the effort required in school to learn. Stay in tune with your child and his or her teacher, and if academic struggles arise, make sure to address them immediately.

Review material regularly after it’s introduced. 

It’s always a good idea to study material as the teacher introduces it, so that study sessions prior to a test are more of a refresher of previously learned material than a cram session. In the weeks before a test, your child should look over class notes or other materials to re-familiarize him or herself with concepts covered.

Confirm what will be tested.

Teachers often share with students in advance of an exam what will be tested: sections of a book, a specific topic or a series of notes. This should be your child’s guide as he or she plans out all study sessions. If your child isn’t certain about the contents of an upcoming exam or missed a class and needs help understanding some material, encourage him or her to visit the teacher outside of class.

Organize study sessions.  
Armed with an outline of what the test will cover, have your child slice up that content into manageable portions. Then, your child should set aside time in his or her planner in the week or weeks leading up to the test—depending on the amount of information he or she needs to study—and stick to that study schedule.

Study smart.

Research proves that studying in short, intense bursts is more effective for many students than long sessions. If your child has an exam on Friday, five daily study sessions (Sunday through Thursday) of 45 minutes will help your child reinforce understanding and retain information much better than one late-night, four-hour session.

Use learning aids to help. 

Certain aids such as flashcards, charts, timelines and photos can help students memorize and understand information. Encourage your child to incorporate helpful tools into the study regimen, but remind them not to spend too much time creating them. In the end, the most efficient test prep approach is regular review of test topics followed by frequent checks for understanding.

If your child struggles with test preparation as well as test taking, call Huntington. Our tutors can pinpoint the specific areas that are causing your child the most trouble and develop an individualized plan to overcome them, so that study sessions are less stressful and more effective. Call 1-800-CAN LEARN today.

About Jim Power and Huntington Learning Centers 

Jim Power is the Executive Director of the Huntington Learning Center in Newark, DE. Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education possible.

Dr. Raymond J. Huntington is the co-founder of Huntington Learning Center, which has helped children achieve success in school for over 35 years. For more information about how Huntington can help your child, call 1-800-CAN-LEARN.