How to Study for Tests:
A Home School Parent's Primer

By William J. Brown

How do you teach your child how to study for tests? That's an age-old question with a glorious history.

I don't think there's anyone who has totally answered it yet.

But you as a home school parent must teach your child how to study for quizzes and tests. That's a must. This is particularly challenging in home school setting.

Why?

Because a tendency exists for many home school parents to treat school as something other than school. This is a dangerous mistake. School isn't a time for your child to lounge around at home. It's a work session and should be handled that way all the time.

Someday your child will walk out into this old world and stand alone. What will happen when he or she approaches college or a job as if it were nothing more than lounging around at home?

Studying for tests looms as one of the most important concepts of home schooling. Without good testing skills your child won't succeed. After all, testing follows a person through life. College, vocational schools, even some jobs require taking tests of some sort.

So here are a few pointers to guide your child into good habits to help learn how to study for tests...

1. Get done what needs to be done.

Testing starts when the tests are handed out. On the other hand, studying for tests doesn't start the night before the exam. Part of knowing how to study for tests is completing all assignments on time and in full.

Here's another downfall found in many home school situations: the tendency to cut corners. Don't do that!

Make sure your child learns the lesson the first time around. This practice will make studying for tests much simpler. It's easier to refresh than cram.


2. Learn what is necessary.

This idea walks hand-in-hand with the last. Make sure your child has learned the key concepts embedded in that day's lesson. This includes memorization of important vocabulary, definitions and math and science formulas.

The more your child has committed to memory, the less he or she will have to try to cram. Long term study is a must if anyone wants to know how to study for tests.


3. Read, read, read!

You would think this would go without saying. But you'd be surprised at how many students only scan the required reading material. Don't let your child do this. It will make passing tests that much more difficult.

And have your child begin studying for tests the day of the lesson. This may seem like a strange requirement. But let's think about it for a moment...

What better time to refresh learned material than when it has just been learned. Have your child take ten to fifteen minutes at the end of the school day to review any notes, flash cards or memorization for that day. This "mini review" will help cement the concept in his or her mind.


4. An apple a day keeps the low scores away.

What I mean by this is you can't underestimate the impact of good health on testing results. The way your child feels that day will impact the final testing results.

So make sure your child has eaten nutrious, well-rounded meals. Reduce the sugar unless it's found in fruits and veggies. Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep the night before the test. No late-night studying. Sleep deprivation will result in low grades.

Also make sure to check your child's eyes at least once a year. If your daughter can't see the examples you write on the board how can she know them when she gets to the test. If your son has to put all his concentration into focusing on the words on the page he won't have enough concentration to logically think through the questions. Seeing is as much learning as hearing. Both will impact testing.


5. Watch out for testing anxiety.

I've seen students study for tests so well that they can recite every concept forwards, backwards and up and down. Then they bomb the test.

Why?

When they study, they study the material, not the pressure. It might be wise to give your child a "mock test" to see how he or she will do.

Give a written quiz, not an oral one. Many students can recite material orally but can't reproduce those results on paper. Practicing pressure will give your child a little experience in what to expect on the test.


6. Reviewing doesn't stop when the test starts.

In other words, studying for the test includes checking it over after completion. Encourage your child to not only study for the test but also study on the test.

If your daughter has used good study habits, she might find a mistake when she goes back through to review the completed test. This is one of the most important parts of test taking. Don't let your child short-cut this part! Studying for the test includes studying on the test as well.


Let's sum it all up.

Learning how to study for tests isn't an overwhelming task. It's simple as long as you and your child follows these helpful tips. I could sum up all these rules for how to study for tests in one pithy saying...

Don't shortcut!

That's the key. If you follow these six simple rules on how to study for tests your child will have no time (nor any reason) to shortcut. Just follow this advice...

Don't shortcut!

So keep up the great work, and...

Happy testing!

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