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When children are given a second, third, or fourth chance to pass their first test, many of them are motivated to do just that. Unfortunately, some children are held back by a history of failure. For other children, however, nothing can be more frustrating than being given another chance only to fail. Whether it’s because of an earlier failure or just a new set of obstacles standing in their way, it’s frustrating for parents and students alike.
Fortunately, there are many resources that can help a student succeed on his or her next test. One of the most important factors that will affect a student’s success on a test is their ability to pay attention and learn. The longer they can concentrate on the material, the better their chances will be of passing the test. One way to help a child to pay attention is to provide visual images or pictures to reinforce what they are learning in class. This can take the form of a pop-up banner, a line chart, or even a hand-held flash card.
Another way to help prepare a child for a test is to ask them to draw something. It doesn’t have to be anything creative, but providing an image of what they think the answer will be making them focus on the concept. If they have difficulty answering the test question, drawing a different answer can lead them to explore the concept more fully. A parent can draw the question, or the question itself, and have their child re-read it in order to get a better understanding of it. Doing this not only gets their questions in the right sequence, but it gives them an opportunity to review what they learned.
Another way to help prepare a child for a test is to give them practice tests. There are a number of websites that offer free practice tests. Many times, these tests require the child to complete a short survey, answer a few questions, or answer a few trivia questions. Completing one of these tests before the real test gives them a good test-taking practice, as well as giving the parents a record of the progress their child has made since the last time they took the test.
It’s important to remember that a child’s IQ may not reflect their ability to take an actual test. In order for there to be a true IQ test, there would need to be a control group and a test group. This means that if your child failed a control test, they would still have an excellent score on another test. This doesn’t mean that a child cannot still have a good test performance, but it does show that the true test scores will likely differ from what is given to a student in a school setting.
If your child has a difficult time taking tests, don’t become discouraged. Your child is still a kid with lots of potential. Remember, they can only do so much at once. Don’t push them too hard, but always let them know that they’re doing the best they can, no matter how much trouble they may be making. By keeping the lines of communication open, you can help to ease any frustrations they may be having with taking tests.