Testing Tips for Parents

Encourage your child to eat a good breakfast before heading off to school.

See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed.

A little bit of test anxiety is normal; it can help students work harder and more efficiently. However, too much stress affects performance: encourage your child to do the best work he/she is capable of doing. Remind your child to relax and think positively!

Be sure your child has any materials he/she needs, such as a marked #2 pencils.

Tell your child to listen to what the teachers say about the tests, and to be careful with marking answers.

Talk to your child about the following testing hints:

• Read and pay careful attention to all directions
• Read every answer before choosing one
• Reread the passage if you need more information
• Don’t guess – try to get the correct answer by reasoning and eliminating
• Make sure to record the answer in the right place on the answer sheet
• Don’t change an answer unless you are certain the first answer you marked is wrong.
• Work as rapidly as you can with accuracy
• If you have time, check your answers.

Adapted from Tennessee Dept. of Education

 http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment/tsteststrategies.pdf

Dr. Kathleen A. Kimble

Principal