8 Ways Students Can Improve Test Grades

July 20, 2022 byAllison Brubaker

A high school student in a white button down shirt typing on a computer

Taking tests may not be your child’s favorite part of school but evaluating student comprehension is important to the learning process. Some students dislike exams because they don’t do well on them. Your student may even experience test anxiety when they have upcoming exams, which can lead to trouble maintaining their test grades.

While getting a low score can be discouraging, it doesn’t mean that the student isn’t capable of academic success or that they don’t understand the material. Rather, it could mean that they don’t know how to properly prepare for the test. In fact, even top students struggle with exams sometimes.

If your student is looking for help on how to get better grades on tests, resources are available. Fortunately, there are practical strategies that students can use before and during a test to help them feel more confident on test day. Share these tips with your students to improve their study and test-taking skills.

Before the Test: How to Improve Your Study Skills

1. Take time to prepare.

Many students procrastinate, and waiting until the last minute to prepare for a test can be overwhelming and difficult. At least one week prior to the test, students should start studying and getting prepared by gathering their notes and study materials. This way, they can tackle a little bit of the material each day instead of cramming it all into their brain at once the night (or morning) before.

Students will also feel much more equipped and confident if they take their time to prepare well in advance of their exams. Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

2. Use all of the resources available.

Reviewing course notes is a good starting point, but there are many other tools your student can use to study. Make sure your child has all the appropriate resources needed for the test. Teachers often provide study guides and course reviews to help students prepare. Online study tools are also available to help students improve their test scores.

Many teachers at Connections Academy®-supported public schools conduct real-time online sessions specifically for test preparation. If your student is not sure about what resources to use, encourage them to reach out to the teacher for guidance.

3. Go through previous assignments and quizzes.

Revisiting old assignments and quizzes is a great way to prepare for an exam. Sometimes teachers even use them to develop their test questions.

Have your student spend some time figuring out the correct answers to questions they have previously answered incorrectly; you might get to witness an “aha” moment. Check each assignment and quiz for feedback from the teacher—this can be valuable for test preparation as well.

4. Create your own practice test.

Once your student is feeling ready to take the exam, consider creating a practice test using notes, assignments, and study guides. It doesn’t have to be long or detailed, but the effort will help your child feel confident.

You can also quiz your student verbally if you don’t have time to develop a test on paper. Have some fun with it by providing rewards such as a movie or game night for correct answers!

During the Test: How to Improve Your Test Scores

5. Read carefully.

Reading carefully is a practical skill to master when learning how to get better grades on tests. Remind your child to read through each question carefully before responding. Sometimes questions have several parts and requirements that can cause confusion. It’s often helpful for students to read each question out loud and number each task that they are being asked to complete. Unless the test is timed, there is no need to rush.

6. Make a checklist.

Having a checklist of test-taking tips handy during the test can allow students to self-monitor as they answer questions. It’s also a good way for students to build confidence and independence while still feeling supported. For example, if your student is working on an essay question, they can use a checklist with reminders, like:

• Answer all parts of the question
• Check for punctuation
• Restate the question
• Use as many details as possible

7. Look for clues.

If your child is unsure about a multiple-choice question, they can narrow down the correct answer by ruling out options that are obviously incorrect. Your student can then pick the answer that best matches his or her understanding.

8. Double-check each answer.

Sometimes students get so excited about being done with a test that they forget to go back and check their answers. It may seem redundant, but it’s important to double-check their work. This helps to ensure that each question has been answered completely and thoroughly, and that they haven’t made any simple mistakes.

Be sure that your child answers each question and doesn’t leave any answers blank. As long as wrong answers are not counted against their final score, an attempted answer is better than no answer—and the effort may earn partial credit.

Test taking can be a bit nerve-wracking for students, but with preparation and guidance, they can confidently conquer any exam!