In simplest form, and their original intended use, tests given in schools are a way for teachers and educational administrators to measure how well a student understands the subjects he’s been taught. But, like many other things in life, tests have transformed to previously unthinkable levels. Who would have thought that your phone could give you turn-by-turn directions or that surgeries could be preformed with the beam of a laser? Now, so much is expected to be measured from filling in a few bubbles correctly.
Tests are no longer about reading chapters in a book and then answering questions about what you were supposed to have retained. Now tests measure student’s aptitude, their problem-solving abilities, the capability of the teachers to teach the subject, the effectiveness of the curriculum in the entire school district, and probably a dozen other things. That’s a lot of pressure to put on someone whose only tool is a number two pencil.
Even worse, tests are not meant to be simple or easy to understand. Anyone who has taken the SATs knows that the vocabulary section is full of words that are never used in conversation, or even in the New York Times for that matter.
However, one of the best defenses for a student hoping to excel on an upcoming standardized test is to understand the way that tests are made, explains Farhan Hussain, the owner and director of the San Antonio, Texas, branch of Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services. In a sense, all the answers on a multiple choice section are correct, he says. The way that these sections are created is by asking sample groups the question, and then using the most common answers. Sometimes there is only a slight difference in the wording of the answers or the steps taken to get to the answer that makes it right or wrong.
Another great way to pass state and national tests is to take practice tests. The exact questions on these mass produced tests are changed year to year, explains Hussain, but the basic concepts are going to generally stay the same. Many schools have logged past years of tests that they are happy to hand out or copy for students looking to study. Or, you can check online or in your local library as well. Then, have the student take the test and see how he does. Notice the wording that the test uses and the differences in the multiple choice answers. Observing the way the test is formed will help him become more comfortable when this year’s edition is handed out at test time.
Many parents looking to help their children get a higher score also solicit the help of a tutor. Besides reviewing information like grammar and math equations, the tutor also explains how to take the test. Learning to take tests is a subject in itself, explains Hussain. But, those who have met with a tutor show a lot of improvement in their scores. Students who had failed the test before, now easily pass, he adds. So if your child is having difficulty with standardized tests, try calling a tutor today.
