Academic Toolbox: Rocking the Big Test

Source: Alexandra Mayzler

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Tests are hard for students of any age, but tweens can have a really difficult time sitting down to prep for a big test. Between after-school activities and organizing notes, the thought of studying can be mind-boggling and even upsetting. As adults we sometimes forget how hard it is to study and that it takes years of practice to really figure out how to study. Tweens are the perfect age to start acquiring and adapting great study habits before they start getting bombarded by tests from every angle. Even without a whole lot of test-taking experience, your tween can rock a test with minimal anxiety and perhaps a lot of confidence.

The trick to rocking a test is the plan of attack. If a test creeps up on your tween, it is hard to prepare well at the last minute. Here are a few tips to ensure that the study process goes smoothly:

• Ask ahead of time. Talk with your tween about upcoming tests, and encourage your child to ask his or her teacher about what material is going to be tested, and what notes should be studied.
• Make a study schedule. Write a to-do list type schedule that let's your tween know what he or she is to study on a given day, not just "study."
• Prepare to study. Help your tween combine old study guides and type up old test questions. Often times, teachers will take information from old tests and put that on final exams. Also, make flashcards of math formulas, vocabulary words and important people and events, and quiz your tween over dinner and in the car. 
• Take breathing breaks. Encourage your tween to take breaks every 20-30 minutes to recharge his or her battery. There is no point in studying to one's breaking point because it is hard to stay focused once frustration kicks in. 
• Get help. If the material seems too confusing or your tween really just doesn't get it, have him or her talk to a teacher, meet with a tutor or get a study group together.
• The night before the big test, make sure your tween has time to relax. The final hours shouldn't be spent cramming; instead, opt for a brief review session and an early bedtime. Nothing relieves test anxiety like a good night's sleep.

Learning how to study for a big test takes practice, but the trick to preparing for any kind of exam is to leave plenty of time to study. By making a point to create a study schedule that includes not only study time, but organization time, your tween will be able to pace through the study process, leaving little to be anxious about and to be confident in approaching the test.

Alexandra Mayzler is the Founder and Director of Thinking Caps Tutoring, a comprehensive tutoring company dedicated to developing innovative and individualized approaches to teaching. She participates in the coordination of the New York Dyslexia Association's annual conference, is a curriculum consultant for independent and public schools, and the author of study skills book to be published in September 2010. Alexandra spends her free time thinking about how to make studying easier, more interesting, and potentially even enjoyable!