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Standardized tests gauge student’s learning abilities and teacher’s or school’s performances. There is a misconception that the test only measures a school’s performance without evaluating individual students’ abilities. Contrary to this misconception, standardized tests play a significant role in your child’s education and may be used in grade promotion or graduation. As a parent, you must effectively prepare your child for the test.
By now, there isn’t a U.S. family with school-age children that haven’t experienced a standard examination, be it national analyses like the SAT-9, SAT-10, MAT-8, California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR), or New York State Testing Program (NYSTP), or state tests like the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR), as well as Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT).
What is a Standardized Test?
A standardized test is a testing system that follows a standard approach. Questions, test duration, and the answers’ evaluation process are the same for all students in these tests.
Why is Standardized Test Important?
OBJECTIVITY
Standard tests provide objective measures. Students under assessment are given the same questions, have similar testing conditions, and are graded by a blind reviewer or a machine. The tests facilitate unbiased and accurate information about the knowledge of a student. They also allow parents to know a school’s performance compared to other schools in the district and the state.
ALLOWS COMPARABILITY
Standardized tests make it possible to compare your child’s performance with their peers and state benchmarks. The tests further provide parents with information about the performance of a wide range of schools, making it easy for them to identify the best schools in their state.
HOLDS SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE
Standardized tests hold schools accountable for their student’s academic performance. By analyzing the test results, the government can identify schools that need intervention, reward, or closure. Without such tests, it would be impossible for policymakers to identify schools that deserve rewards or poorly performing ones requiring intervention.
How Do You Prepare Your Child for Standardized Tests?
KNOW THE PURPOSE OF THE TEST.
Seek information from the teachers about the purpose of the test. Know if the test is meant to gauge the school’s or your child’s performance. Also, ask the teachers how about the schedule of the tests for adequate preparation.
TALK WITH YOUR CHILD
Please discuss with your child how ready they are for the test. Find out their strengths and weakness, and intervene on their weaknesses. Identify previous mistakes and work on them before the exam. Remember, practice makes perfect.
BUILD UP YOUR CHILD’S MINDSET
Please help your child to build a positive mindset since it primarily affects test performance. A positive attitude will also improve your child’s confidence. Let them know that you are proud of them no matter how much they score on the test.
HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE TEST INSTRUCTIONS
Reviewing the test instructions thoroughly with your child will give them a clue of what to expect. Let them understand all the instructions before the test begins. Please encourage them to answer all questions through the application of critical thinking skills and confidence.
CREATE A HEALTHY ROUTINE
Healthy eating habits and a good night’s rest can significantly impact your child’s performance. Ensure that they sleep early for proper relaxation before the exam day. On the other hand, an adequate diet will improve their physical and mental well-being.
CREATE A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE BEFORE THE TEST DAY.
During the D-day, prepare a nutritious breakfast for your child to build their stamina. Avoid foods that could cause them fatigue or digestive issues. Encourage them with positive words, a hug, or anything else that will make them feel confident. Also, be relaxed and cheerful, and they will also feel the same.
AFTER THE TEST
Encourage them to speak out about their thoughts about the positive or negative test. Also, try and understand how they tackled some of the questions in the test. A test analysis will give them better insight for the next test.
Standardized Tests Table by State
| Name of the State | Name of the Test | Abbreviation |
| Alabama | Alabama Reading and Mathematics Tests | ARMY |
| Alaska | Terra Nova | SBA HSGQE |
| Arizona | Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards | AIMS |
| Arkansas | Arkansas’ Augmented Benchmark Exam | BABE |
| California | Standardized Testing and Reporting | STAR |
| Colorado | Colorado Student Assessment Program | CSAP |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Mastery Test Connecticut Academic Performance Test | CMT CAPT |
| Delaware | Delaware Student Testing Program | DSTP |
| Florida | Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test | F |
| Georgia | Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests | CRCT |
| Hawaii | Hawaii State Assessment | HSA |
| Idaho | Idaho State Achievement Tests | ISAT |
| Illinois | Illinois Standards Achievement Test | ISAT |
| Indiana | Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress | ISTEP+ |
| Iowa | Iowa Test of Basic Skills Iowa Tests of Educational Development | ITBS ITED |
| Kansas | Kansas State Assessment | KSA |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Core Content Tests | KCCT |
| Louisiana | LEAP Alternate Assessment | iLEAP |
| Maine | New England Common Assessment Program Maine Educational Assessment Maine High School Assessment | NECAP MEA MHSA |
| Maryland | Maryland School Assessment | MSA |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System | MCAS |
| Michigan | Michigan Educational Assessment Program | MAP |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments Series II | MCA II |
| Missouri | Missouri Assessment Program | MAP |
| Montana | Montana Comprehensive Assessment System | Monica’s |
| Nebraska | Nebraska State Accountability Assessments | NASA |
| Nevada | Nevada Proficiency Examination Program | NPEP |
| New Hampshire | New England Common Assessment Program | RECAP |
| New Jersey | Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers | PARCC |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Statewide Articulated Assessment Program | NMSBA |
| New York | New York State Testing Program | NYSTP |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Standardized Test | LOG |
| North Dakota | North Dakota’s State Assessment | NDSA |
| Ohio | Ohio Achievement Test | OAT |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests | OCT |
| Oregon | Oregon Statewide Assessment System | OAKS |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania System of School Assessment | PSSA |
| Rhode Island | New England Common Assessment Program | RECAP |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Statewide Assessment Program | SC PASS |
| South Dakota | Dakota State Test of Educational Progress | STEP |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program | TOP |
| Texas | State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness | STAAR |
| Utah | Utah Performance Assessment System for Students | U-PASS |
| Vermont | New England Common Assessment Program | RECAP |
| Virginia | Virginia Standards of Learning | SOL |
| Washington | Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program | WCAP |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Educational Standards Test | WEST |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Knowledge and Concept Evaluation | WKCE |
| Wyoming | Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students | PAWS |
What’s More?
For your child to perform better in standardized tests, they will require months or years of preparation. Always check on their school progress and homework progress as a prior preparation for the tests. Also, be there for them by providing them with the necessary learning tools and support. By so doing, you will improve your child’s academic and personal development.
PARENT’S POINT OF VIEW: Think Long-Term
If you want to change your child’s performance on standard examinations, do not over-focus on short-term test prep, as it only builds pressure which is typically counter-productive. The best service is to stay involved in your kid’s education and keep in mind that standard tests, while providing insight, are not the final say on just how much your kid is discovering or how well they will certainly do in life, even in academics.
At Kids on the Yard, we tutor for growth. Contact us for any query, support, or help concerning standardized tests and more.
It only takes a moment to find out more details by meeting one of our Educational Team using a Call or SMS: Toll-Free USA: 844 902 4242 or for International: +1 850 848 4242.
