How to Improve Test Scores

Tips to Improve Your Child's Test Scores

Create a Study Schedule

Once students learn new material, it's their responsibility to study it at home. Cramming information on the night before a major test can often lead to unwanted test anxiety and poor results. A better option is to have your child study frequently in advance. Establish a daily or weekly study schedule for your child to follow. Children generally do better on tests when they give themselves more time to learn the information before the actual test.

Check for Homework Completion

Homework assignments are often designed to help students apply the material they've learned in class. Homework helps them prepare for questions and problems that might appear on future exams. Completing these assignments will not only help them practice, but will also help students identify the areas they are struggling to master. Therefore, it's important to make sure your child is completing the homework assignments correctly.

Get Tutoring Assistance

Seek extra help from a tutor when your child is having problems understanding certain test-related material. Teachers often provide tutoring in the morning or afternoons. You can also see if your children can get help from other classmates. Additionally, you can hire a private tutor or look into after-school tutoring programs.

Use Practice Tests

Another way to increase test scores is by taking practice tests. Mock exams allow students to see the types of questions they'll encounter, so they can be prepared on the actual test day. Often, you can ask your child's teacher to provide you with practice tests, or you can search for them on the Internet.

Discuss Time Management

Even if a test isn't timed, there's often a limited amount of time allowed to finish it. Discuss with your child about managing his or her time wisely on tests. Spending a lot of time on one question can cause students to stress out about finishing. Test anxiety can ruin their concentration, which often leads to a low score. However, they also shouldn't answer too quickly because they might misread the question.

Avoid Second Guessing

On multiple-choice questions, the first answer is often the best answer. When students second guess their initial answers, they tend to over think the question. Often, this causes them to change a correct answer to an incorrect answer. To help your child avoid this mistake, teach him or her to trust the first answer.