Preparing Middle School Students for High Stakes Tests Public school districts throughout the nation have steadily increased their reliance on standardized testing as a means to measure student achievement. Standardized tests are yardsticks used to measure student abilities, knowledge, and achievement. These assessments meet strict statistical guidelines to guarantee they are valid and reliable measures of proficiency. Standardized tests allow educators to gauge students' performance against that of their peers. The information they provide is then used for a variety of purposes. Students who score below a norm-referenced proficiency level may be placed in remedial courses. Conversely, high-scoring students may be eligible for advanced placement classes. Some states have implemented annual proficiency tests for each core subject, while others test knowledge and skills for only certain grade levels and subject areas. In high school, the stakes become higher, and students must be prepared to at least meet minimum passing rates on certain standardized tests. For university-bound students, scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test or other entrance examinations are important determinants to college admission. Role of Middle School Educators Teachers of middle level students play an important part in training students for the "high stakes" tests they will inevitably take. Students who are well-versed in test content, familiar with the format of the assessment, and knowledgeable about test-taking strategies are more likely to do well in the testing environment. Emphasize Higher-Order Thinking Skills Along with Course Content Tests that measure proficiency levels are generally aligned with national and/or local content learning standards. In recent years, these standards have more rigorously emphasized higher-level thinking skills. Teach middle school students the meaning of process verbs. Analyze–to critically examine or compare the parts of something Infer–to draw a conclusion based on information provided Synthesize–to combine parts to make a new whole Evaluate–to make a judgment based on evidence Predict–to explain what will happen in the future based on past events Have students practice using these words by asking them to categorize test questions. Teach students to think about their own cognitive thought processes and emphasize reasoning skills. Help Students Become Familiar with Assessment Formats Providing students with many opportunities to practice standardized test formats will prepare them for future assessments. Students who feel comfortable with the test format will be less likely to suffer from test anxiety. Practice is the best way to ensure success with regard to standardized testing. Test Practice Ideas for the Middle School Classroom: Create teacher-made tests using standardized test formats. Use daily warm-ups that follow the test question designs. Take advantage of free practice materials that are already published. Give practice tests often and analyze the results with your students. Replicate the testing environment as closely as possible. Teach Test-Taking Strategies Standardized tests are a fact of life for American students. Middle school youth will soon be taking "high stakes" tests that may determine their academic future. Educators can help students become successful test-takers by including test-taking tips as part of the curriculum. Talk about tests with students - Be open and positive as you encourage students to take tests seriously. By discussing tests and teaching skills, you'll instill confidence in your students. Test-Taking Tips that Work Read test directions carefully and thoroughly. If the test includes multiple sections, be sure to read each set of directions. Read each question carefully to determine its meaning. Make sure you know what the question is asking before you begin to answer. Anticipate the answer before looking at the choices. If your answer is one of the choices, it is probably correct. Be sure to read through all the answer choices before marking one as correct. Look for synonyms in the answer choices that match words or phrases in the question. Most likely, the correct answer will include similar words. Use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. Analyze the meaning of unknown words by dividing them into prefix, root, and suffix and trying to define each part. Eliminate answers that don't make sense. Try to narrow the choices down to two when you are unsure of the correct answer. Circle questions you don't know and go back later. Sometimes a clue will be found in another test question. Guess intelligently by looking for opposite answers, one of which can be eliminated. When reading passages are involved, read the questions first to determine what you are looking for as you read the selection. For math problems, use scratch paper and double check to make sure you've copied the problem correctly. Line up place values neatly to avoid careless mistakes. Pace yourself to leave time for review at the end of the test. Don't spend too much time on difficult questions. Go back to questions you skipped after you've finished. Try to answer every question on the test. Change answers only when you were very unsure of your original choice. Encourage students to get plenty of rest the night before testing and eat a nutritious breakfast. Remind them that they have been well-prepared and that confident students make the best test-takers! This article was contributed by Tara Musslewhite, Social Studies Department Chair at Atascocita Middle School in Humble, Texas. She is also an instructor of Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities at Kingwood College.