5th Grade Study Guide and Test Prep Ideas

How Can I Help My 5th Grader Prepare for a Test?

In many states, 5th graders must take a standardized test on topics ranging from science and math to reading and vocabulary. Aside from these state tests, your 5th grader will also take classroom exams for every subject. If you want to help your child create a subject-specific study guide, begin by reviewing his or her textbook and notes. Then, use the following ideas as jumping off points.

Three 5th Grade Study Guide Ideas by Subject

Reading Comprehension Questions

Many reading tests include passages of text with questions, and the best way for your child to prepare for this is by practicing reading comprehension questions at home. Although there is no way to determine the exact topic or type of reading passage that will be used on test day, your child's main focus during a review session should be reading carefully and analyzing a text. To find practice passages for your son or daughter's study guide, you can search the Internet. Many practice test passages will be coupled with multiple-choice, short-answer and essay questions similar to those used on standardized tests.

Vocabulary Matching

The vocabulary matching exercise can be set up in a number of ways. First, you must decide what type of vocabulary your child needs to focus on. For example, it may simply be new terms for class, or you may want him or her to study synonyms, antonyms and homonyms. Then, you can choose whether your child will match the word with the definition or if he or she will select the appropriate word to go in a sentence. A vocabulary matching exercise can be useful for any test your child is studying for because every subject has specific vocabulary terms that your child must learn.

State Mapping

In 5th grade, students often learn more in-depth information about U.S. geography. For this exercise, you'll need a blank image of the state you live in. Ask him or her to pinpoint where the capital, major cities and other historical landmarks are located and then illustrate the map accordingly. If this is too easy, you can move on to other states besides your own.