Tips to Help Your Child Prepare for Testing

Parents and families can help to create a positive test-taking experience and help students prepare for tests. Here are some ideas.

Throughout the Year

• Make sure your child gets enough sleep, eats properly, and gets to school on time. During test time, make this a special effort.
• Encourage your child to READ, READ, READ. No activity is linked to academic success as much as reading. Even the math portion on the state test uses word problems to test problem-solving ability.
• Write test dates on your home calendar. The state test schedule is online at www.ncpublicschools.org/ accountability.
• Talk with your child's teacher(s) often to see what you can do at home to support your child's work in school. Review all progress reports and report cards. Talk with your child's teacher if you have concerns.
• Review your child's previous year's test report.
• Encourage your child to participate in practice-test opportunities.
• If your child is having difficulty with a subject, call the school and ask if extra support in that subject is offered.
• Praise your children for working hard and for the things they do well.
• Set times each day for study and homework.
• Ask about homework every day, and check to see that it is completed.
• Give your child a quiet, well-lit, comfortable place to study.
• Help your child practice test questions. Review the test together so you will all get familiar with the expectations. Ask your child's teacher for copies of practice questions. 

The Day of the Test

• Make sure that your child is well rested and eats breakfast.
• See that your child arrives at school on time and relaxed.
• Comfort counts. Send a sweater if it's a cool day. Dress in layers for a warm day.
• Send along all the needed tools- sharpened pencils, pens, rulers, etc.
• Encourage your child to do the best work possible and to have a positive attitude.
• Encourage your child to listen/ read carefully to all test-taking directions and to ask questions if any directions are unclear.
• Remind your child not to get stuck on any one item.
• Encourage your child to check for accuracy if time permits.

After the Test

• Once you have received the results and reviewed them.
• Identify areas of strengths and weaknesses.  For example, were scores higher in math or English? Were your child's math skills stronger in computation or in solving word problems?  Your child's teacher can help you.
• Praise your child's testing strengths and make a plan to address identified weaknesses.
• If your child's score is not consistent with his or her grades, contact your child's teacher or counselor.
• A score of level 3 or 4 is considered proficient.  If your child scored at level 1 or level 2, ask your child's teacher about extra tutoring and developing a Personal Education Plan (PEP) for your child.  Encourage your child to take part in the academic support programs your school or district offers. If you have questions contact your child's teacher or Parent Partners at  1-800-962-6817.
• See your child's teacher if you need additional help to understand how your child did on the test. Remember – you are very important to your child's success in school and in life.  Your interest and support lets your child know you believe in him or her and that you value education. 
  
  We hope these suggestions help you help your child be successful in school and in life.