5 Standardized Test Tips for Parents
By GalTime .com. Posted on .
By GalTime College Coach, Suzanne Shaffer, for GalTime.com
getting your student ready for the big test(s)
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Yes, I said parents. Because let’s face it, standardized test prep and test taking will stress the entire household, even the parents.
Nancy Berk, author of “College Bound and Gagged” describes it like this:
“Standardized testing can turn your life upside down. In the college-bound process, standardized testing runs at the top when it comes to parent and student stress.”
It’s no secret among parents that the test causes most of us to shake in our boots. We shake because we know the importance that test scores will play in admissions and even scholarships.
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Knowing this, you can do some things to alleviate the stress and assure that both you and your student emerge from the process unscathed.
1. Know your student
Is your student a visual or auditory learner? Do they struggle with ADHD or ADD? Have they struggled with math, or are grammar and vocabulary difficult for them to master? Once you know these answers, you can guide them in pursuing the best test prep tailored to their learning styles; and guide them toward the right test (SAT or ACT).
2. Talk to your teen about the test and ascertain if they need some help
Most students will admit they need some sort of test prep tutoring. Ask them which type would work best for them: classes, individual tutoring, or online prep that can be tailored to their schedule.
3. Don’t nag or pressure
If you have an apathetic student, nagging and pressure won’t help. Actually, nagging and pressure rarely work with teens. Look for ways to help and encourage without nagging: such as helping them set aside some time daily to study, working with them on vocabulary or keeping a calendar to stay on top of test deadlines.
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4. Don’t take control
Purchasing every SAT test prep available, signing them up for test prep, and even sending them to the classes will have little effect if your student is not motivated to learn. SAT tutors all tell stories of the students who attend their sessions and were only there because their parents “forced” them to go.
5. When all else fails, look at test optional schools
