The Best Ways to Prepare for a Test

It’s that time of the year again: finals season! We all know how nerve-wracking that can be for students, especially for those in grades 6 to 9.

You can also print the download of these study tips for your child.

Gone are the days of simple spelling tests and basic math problems. Now, your child is facing a mountain of memorization — from the translation of Rashi to important dates like WWII. Math is also getting more complicated, with formulas that challenge your child’s thinking and logic skills.

Auditory processing and visual processing need to work together in order for kids to retain and recall information — which is of course what needs to happen in order to do well on a test. The  following study tips and strategies will help to develop and connect your child’s auditory and visual processing, which is key for memorization, needed in nearly every school subject, as well as for problem-solving and logic, skills needed in subjects like math or Gemara.

If your teenager is currently preparing for a test and you want to help, show them these tips or print a downloadable version to leave on their desk. They don’t need to use all the strategies, just the ones they feel will work for them!

General Study & Memorization Skills 

Tip #1 – Underline or highlight key information

When it comes to memorizing terms like names, historical dates, or scientific concepts, it can be overwhelming to try to remember everything at once. To help retain all information, in your notes, underline or highlight the important terms you need to memorize. You may also use different colors to highlight concepts or categorize terms. 

This simple yet effective technique will help you quickly recall concepts and reinforce your understanding during review sessions.

Tip #2 – Use a whiteboard

Instead of just reading your notes over and over, grab a whiteboard and turn your studying into active practice. Writing out the names, dates, or other terms yourself enhances your memory retention, making it easier to recall the key information later on. 

You may also use different colored markers to categorize terms for better visual recall. For example, you can use blue for the names, green for the events, and red for the dates.

Tip #3- Make it interactive

It’s normal for your mind to start to wander when memorizing tons of information. A good way to keep yourself engaged while studying is to make your review session interactive. Create cutouts of diagrams and their corresponding terms. Once you have the cutouts, scatter them on your table and challenge yourself to match the diagrams with the terms.

For example, if you’re studying cell structure, make a cutout of the cell components and try to match it with what they are called. This will help you feel more focused on what you’re currently memorizing than just staring at your notes.

Tip #4 – Use index cards

If you want something handy that you can go over anytime you want and doesn’t take as much space as bringing your textbook, you can use index cards! Aside from simply writing your notes on it, you can also turn it into a memorization practice.

Write out one term or concept on each card, and then drill yourself by writing out the definition or explanation on the other side. This will help you focus on one thing at a time, breaking down the information into manageable chunks and actively testing your recall.

Tip #5 – Do word search puzzles

Feeling overwhelmed by all those words and concepts you need to memorize? A good way to enhance your memory in a fun way is by incorporating word search puzzles into your study routine. It’s a simple yet effective game to solidify your understanding of a term and make it easier to recall later.

You can also make your own puzzle whenever you need to remember a specific word for a subject. Just write them out, cut the letters apart, and then scramble them up. Putting the puzzle back together will help you enhance your memorization skills.

Tip #6 – Play Hangman

Another game that can significantly contribute to your memory drills is Hangman. It’s a classic game where you guess letters to unveil a hidden word. 

If you’re dealing with a specific list of names, dates, or phrases you need to remember, play Hangman using words from that list! Have a study partner choose an item from your study list as the hidden word or phrase, and guess the letters through hints or its actual definition. The activity of decoding the word, date or phrase will help you be able to recall that same information later. 

Logic, Problem-Solving & Computation

Tip #1 – Break down the steps

If you’re struggling to remember how to solve a specific problem using a formula, try to break it down into bite-sized chunks. 

Imagine the formula is a long recipe that you can break apart into its individual steps or sections. Each plus sign, division symbol, or parenthesis can mark the stop of one step and the beginning of the next.

To help you visualize it even more, cut out each step, rearrange them, and then see if you can put them back in order. Once you’ve mastered the breakdown, tackle the problem itself. This approach simplifies the complexity and strengthens your grasp of the process.

Tip #2 – Solve on graph paper

It can be easy to lose focus and make careless mistakes when you’re juggling numbers and complex formulas. So, instead of using plain scratch paper, try solving on graph paper. The grid will act as your visual guide, helping you organize your work and follow the logic of your solutions step-by-step. This reduces the chance of errors, especially on test days.

Tip #3 – Draw the word problem

Word problems can be extra challenging since they require a more abstract understanding. A good tip is to draw and make a visual representation of the problem. 

For example, if the problem involves calculating the area of a rectangle, you can draw the shape and then label out the given dimensions. This will make it easier for you to understand what information is already given and what you need to solve.

Exhausted all the study tips?

Is your child still struggling despite using these study strategies and trying multiple tutors? Don’t get discouraged!

There might be other factors affecting their learning. Visual and auditory processing disorders are common hurdles that can make it difficult for children to interpret information. These can show up as trouble understanding things they see, like pictures or diagrams, or things they hear, like instructions. 

If you suspect these challenges might be present, seeking professional help can be a game-changer. A qualified professional can assess your child’s individual needs and provide tailored support and guidance to help them succeed in school.

Do you want to print out these tips so your child can have it handy while deciding what might work for them? Download the student version PDF of these study tips here.

Happy Studying!