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Testing season is upon us and the stakes are high as state-mandated testing determines whether students are promoted to the next grade. Parents want their children to succeed; therefore the stakes are high for them as well. With knowledge of the purpose of the test and a few helpful tips on testing success, parents can rest assured that they have done their part in preparing their children for these important assessments.
North Carolina has been administering the End of Grade tests in grades 3 through 8 for many years. The tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals and objectives specified for each grade level in the NC Standard Course of Study. Therefore, the material on the test is a culmination of the curriculum taught each year. There is no way to “cram” for these tests. Teachers are responsible for presenting all material that students will be tested on throughout the course of the school year.
Students in grades 3-8 take Mathematics and Reading Comprehension tests. In addition to these, students in grades 5 and 8 are also tested on Science knowledge. The mathematics portion of the EOG is a multiple choice test administered in two parts in grades 3-7 (calculator active and calculator inactive). The calculator active portion of the test allows students the opportunity to use calculators as a tool to help them solve problems. The inactive portion is designed to measure student’s ability to process and compute numbers without the use of a calculator. Students in grade 8 are allowed to use the calculator throughout the mathematics test. The Reading Comprehension portion of the EOG test consists of a variety of written passages followed by multiple choice comprehension questions. The science test is also a multiple choice test in which students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of science principles learned, coupled with higher-order thinking.
Due to the lengthy nature of the tests—and their importance—many students become stressed as testing days approach. Parents play a vital role in helping students mentally prepare for testing. The first and most important thing to do is to be positive and remind your child that what they have been practicing all year is what they are being tested on. There are no trick questions and no new material on the EOG tests (except possible field test items which don’t count against them).
In the weeks prior to testing, parents can do the following:
- Allow your child to practice “endurance” reading. The reading portion of the EOG requires focus and stamina, as there are many passages and question to get through. If your child loves to read, he probably won’t be stressed by this portion of the test. However, for children that have a hard time sitting down to read for ten minutes, push them to read for longer periods of time.
- Ask your child questions about what they are reading. Try to get them to explain the plot and describe characters’ actions.
- Encourage calculator use and make sure that your child is using the calculator appropriately to solve math problems. The calculator is only helpful if it is used correctly.
- Review strategies for solving math problems. Pose a problem and see how many different ways your child can solve it. This encourages higher order thinking skills.
The week of testing, parents can:
- Be aware of the testing schedule and make sure that your child is at school on time on testing days.
- Make sure that your child has gone to bed on time the night before so they are well rested.
- Serve a healthy breakfast including protein so that your child is not hungry during the testing session.
- Encourage students to listen to and follow all directions given by the test administrator. If they have questions, they need to be addressed before testing begins.
High stakes testing can be taxing, but with positive reinforcement children will be inspired to do their best!
