Online 4th Grade Math Test: Prep for the State-wide Test

Preparing for 4th Grade Math Tests

Finding Online Resources

States that conduct annual high-stakes testing typically provide resources to help parents get their students ready. To locate these resources, visit your state's department of education website. Most have tests from previous years available for download, along with answer keys.

It's also common for states to provide information about the length of the test and the supplementary items that students can use (calculators, rulers and so on). In addition, you're likely to find details about the number of questions that will be on the test, as well as the math topics that will be covered.

Typically, some topics are weighted more heavily than others. For example, number sense might comprise 40% of the test, while measurement might only comprise 5%. This information can inform what you should focus on during at-home study sessions.

Preparing a Study Plan

Once you've gathered information and practice tests from your state department of education's website, it's time to put them to good use. First, identify the specific concepts and skills that will be assessed. Typical skills that are tested at this level include identifying factors and multiples, performing the four operations with multi-digit numbers, comparing fractions and working with mixed numbers.

Once you're familiar with what your child should know, find out from his or her teacher what your child actually does know. For instance, the class may not have learned some of the skills that will be on the test, or perhaps your child struggled in certain areas.

After you've gotten a general idea of which areas your child needs extra help in, prioritize them based on their weighting on the test. For example, if you learn that your child is struggling with long division and probability, you might spend more time reviewing long division if that skill is more likely to appear on the test.

Once you've tutored your child and brought him or her up to speed, it's time to bring out the practice tests. Explain the testing specifics with your child, including the time limit and the instructions for the different sections (multiple choice, short answer and so on). You might also allow him or her to practice filling in the correct response bubbles, since this can be quite challenging for younger children.

You can also give your child some basic test-taking tips. Some states will provide tips that are specific to their tests, like whether or not it's in the test taker's best interest to skip questions he or she doesn't know the answers to. Usually, it's more advantageous to attempt every question.