Our Test Prep Program Manager, Matt, discusses the importance of practice tests for students’ academic success.
“I’m a good student, I’m just not a good test-taker.” Any teacher who has had to administer a standardized to their students is likely familiar with this phrase. It is critical that we listen to students in these moments of self-doubt. Not only should we offer words of encouragement, but take this into account as educators as valuable information. The student, in this instance, is actually identifying a key distinction in education: content versus execution. As much as we can help a student internalize content, we also have a responsibility to help students develop the skill associated with said content. We need to help students develop practical test-taking skills through practice tests.
Many schools looking to improve students’ performance in standardized assessments emphasize standards-based curriculum in their classrooms. While standards-based education equips students with the knowledge necessary to perform well on exams, it does not automatically provide the skills-based education necessary to master the test. In order for students to improve their test performance, they need to practice the act of taking the test itself. Therefore, one of the most crucial aspects of test prep is the practice test.
Benefits of Taking Practice Tests:
They Reduce Test Anxiety
A 2018 study conducted by Heissel et al. found that students have “15% higher cortisol levels” in the class period right before a standardized test. Cortisol is a hormone associated with elevated stress levels. Test anxiety is a reality that students are facing at greater levels in recent years, and it is important that we as educators acknowledge this trend.
Not only should we have an open conversation with students about their test anxiety, but we should reduce anxiety through exposure. A 2023 study by Yang et al. determined that practice tests indeed reduce test anxiety to a statistically significant degree. Taking a practice test eliminates the mystery of the exam and makes it real for a student. Uncertainty about what an exam may be like can be stressful for students. The sense of accomplishment that comes from making it through a practice test, regardless of the result, can reduce test anxiety in students.
They Help Students Build Test-Taking Skills
Any athlete will tell you that the best way to improve your performance on the field is to either play more, or hit the gym. Test-taking is no different: the test itself is the big game, and your desk in the classroom or at home is your gym. Cognitive skills like the process of elimination, time management, and scanning problems to find the question first are all like muscles that will grow with repeated practice. Additionally, they build endurance for the test. Not all students may enter test prep with high endurance, but everyone can increase their endurance. A 2.5 hour exam may feel long at first, but with practice, it will feel much shorter.
They Prevent Problems on Test Day for Staff and Students Alike
Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from practice tests in schools. Test proctors gain experience, administrators learn of unexpected logistical needs, and technology issues are made known.
Proctors should be made aware of protocols that are necessary for testing security. For example, if an SAT proctor does not collect personal devices from all students, the students’ scores may be cancelled. Familiarizing proctors with testing protocols prevents security issues and ensures a smooth test.
Administrators also learn about whether a logistics plan works for their school. They can reserve more space for testing, or even learn they don’t need as much space as they thought.
Finally, your IT department will thank you. In the age of digital testing, a myriad of potential tech issues have been introduced to standardized testing. At Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, I was able to assist the IT department through conducting a Bluebook Practice SAT. Students computers were updated, they were able to log in to their College Board accounts, and very few encountered any tech issues.
Conclusion
In Lana Learn’s Test Prep Programs, we emphasize the importance of practice tests. We help students reduce test anxiety, build test-taking skills, and prevent test-day problems from arising. By providing students with practical test prep, you too can help students achieve academic success.
Interested in one of Lana Learn’s Test Prep Programs or Professional Development? Please contact us any time for a free consultation.
Works Cited
Heissel, Jennifer, et al. “Testing, stress, and performance: How students respond physiologically to high-stakes testing.” National Bureau of Economic Research, Nov. 2018, https://doi.org/10.3386/w25305.
Yang, Chunliang, et al. “Do practice tests (quizzes) reduce or provoke test anxiety? A meta-analytic review.” Educational Psychology Review, vol. 35, no. 3, 25 Aug. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09801-w.