Math Monday: Test Taking Tricks

By the time students reach the standardize tests in high school, they’ve already put in hours of studying vocabulary, math formulas, and practice tests. But sometimes what makes the difference on test day isn’t knowledge alone—it’s strategy. A few test-taking tricks can help boost scores and lower stress.

If your child’s teacher (or you, as a homeschooler) has not addressed this issue, remedy the situation as soon as possible. If your child is in elementary or middle grades, you can begin practicing and sharing strategies as they do their homework. There are plenty of test taking strategies you can find for free with web searches, so there’s little need to pay expensive third party tutoring companies. If you are stuck on possibillities, message me.

One of the best tips is to use the process of elimination. Even if a student isn’t sure of the answer, narrowing it down to two choices greatly increases the odds of guessing correctly. Another tip is to be aware of the time, but not obsess over it—students should mark tough questions with a check mark or question mark, move on, and return if time allows.

When I tutor students for test-taking, I make note of their times on certain questions. If we’re not doing a timed test, I will remind them that they took 3 minutes to answer a question—with 30 or 40 questions in a test that could amount to 2 hours to take a 45 or 60 minute test. If you are helping your child with strategies, be gentle with this criticism because some children may give up and assume they will always fail the tests. Encourage them on the correct steps they took, and see if you and the child can analyze what made the questioon so difficult.

Bubble strategies also matter. It’s often more efficient to answer several questions at once and then fill in the bubbles, reducing the chance of misalignment. Remind students that every question is worth the same—don’t waste ten minutes on a single hard one when easier points are waiting.

Above all, a calm mindset is essential. A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and a steady pace make test day smoother. With preparation and smart strategies, the standardized tests becomes less intimidating—and more manageable.

Do you have strategies you’ve used to prep yourself or your child for test taking? Share with us in the comments.