Ditch the Old Habits and Embrace Effective Strategies for Success

When it comes to preparing for  those BIG math tests, many teachers fall into well-worn patterns that seem to work—but don't. Whether it's cramming the month before or overloading students with practice tests, some common test prep practices may not actually be helping students achieve the deep understanding needed to succeed. In fact, they may be reinforcing bad habits and bad feelings about testing, success, and failure. So what can we do differently? It's time to break away from these outdated strategies and embrace better practices that will lead to lasting success.

Let’s explore the common test prep practices and the more effective alternatives that will set students up for success.

Bad Test Prep Habits to Break

1. “Cramming” the Month Before the Test Cramming might seem like a quick fix to boost memory before a big test, but it only results in short-term recall, at best. Students might remember facts and procedures for the test, but forget them shortly after. That’s assuming they don’t remember them correctly or mix parts of one strategy up with parts of another. More importantly, cramming doesn't allow for real understanding of math concepts. 
2. Covering “All” the Standards Another common mistake when preparing students for tests is trying to cover every standard in the curriculum, hoping that reviewing everything will help. While it's important to address a broad range of topics, overloading students with too much material at once can overwhelm them and lead to surface-level understanding. You know, just in case!
3. Focusing More on the “Hardest” Standards It’s tempting to focus heavily on the toughest standards, thinking that the more they see the standard the better they will understand it. However, overemphasizing difficult standards before building a solid foundation can create frustration and confusion. Students may then give up and quit trying on the rest of the test prep work you have planned.
4.  Relying on Practice Tests Practice tests can be helpful to familiarize students with the test format, but they should not be the main focus of preparation. Simply taking practice tests over and over often leads to students memorizing test patterns rather than developing a deep understanding of math concepts. Also consider these questions.  How many tests have students already taken this year?  How many BIG tests have they already taken?  Is it possible by the time they get to the BIG test they will be test weary?  How will that affect their performance?  Do you really want to waste more instructional time with more “Mock Testing?”
5. “Going Over” Problems After the Test After a test, many teachers spend time reviewing incorrect answers, thinking this will help students learn from their mistakes. While reviewing mistakes is important, simply going over the problems is not effective, and in many cases, a counterproductive waste of time.  Students don’t benefit from the teacher telling them, “You did that wrong, do it this way.”  It goes in one ear (maybe) and out the other.  The student doesn’t have to do the thinking because the teacher does it for them.
6. Overusing the CUBES Strategy The CUBES strategy (Circle, Underline, Box, Evaluate, Solve) is a popular tool for tackling word problems, but many students become so reliant on it that they stop thinking critically about the problems themselves. This rote process can limit students’ creativity in problem-solving and hinder their ability to understand the full context of a word problem. We want students to engage with the problem more flexibly, thinking critically about each part of the problem instead of dissecting it without context to the situation.

Better Test Prep Habits to Embrace

It’s clear that traditional test prep habits do not produce the best results. So, what should we be doing instead? Here are some proven strategies that will help students prepare for math tests in a way that promotes understanding and long-term success… and better performance on that BIG test.

1. Strategic Spiral Review All Year Long Instead of waiting until the last month before the test to cram, implement regular spiral reviews throughout the year. This means revisiting key concepts periodically to reinforce what students have learned and keep information fresh. A consistent review approach helps students retain material over time, and by the time the test arrives, the content will feel more familiar and manageable.
2. Select Standards Strategically Rather than attempting to review every single standard right before a test, focus on those that will have the greatest impact on student success. Prioritize the most important concepts and those that are most foundational for future learning. When students have a deep understanding of core standards, they will be better equipped to tackle both familiar and unfamiliar problems on the test. Make sure you refer to your state testing blueprint and give enough attention to the standards that are more heavily tested at your grade level. 
3. Focus on Standards with the Greatest Learning Impact Not all standards are created equal when it comes to preparing for tests. Some standards have a bigger impact on future learning, while others may be less critical in the long run. By strategically selecting standards that build a strong foundation and provide the necessary skills for advanced math topics, you’re ensuring that students will be well-prepared not just for the test, but for the next step in their math journey.
4. Use Daily Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Exit Tickets To deepen understanding, incorporate daily Project-Based Learning (PBL) and use exit tickets. PBL allows students to apply their math knowledge in real-world scenarios, making learning more relevant and engaging. Exit tickets—quick reflections that students complete at the end of each lesson—serve as an excellent way to assess understanding and identify areas that need more attention. This ongoing, formative approach keeps learning on track and addresses gaps before they become issues. Your exit tickets can assess where students need to develop more skill and understanding.  Then use that information to select PBL activities to give students the support where and when they need it.
5. Encourage Collaboration and Math Discourse The ability to explain and discuss mathematical thinking is essential for understanding. Instead of having students work in isolation, encourage collaborative problem-solving and math discourse. When students work together, discuss their strategies, and explain their reasoning, they gain a deeper understanding of the concepts and learn new ways to approach problems. This collaborative learning environment strengthens students' ability to reason through problems and can help improve test performance.
6. Implement the 3 Reads Protocol The 3 Reads protocol is an excellent strategy for tackling word problems effectively. Let the CUBES go! The first read helps students understand the context of the problem, the second read highlights important information, and the third read clarifies what the problem is asking them to do. This approach encourages students to thoroughly understand each problem, how to represent it mathematically, and how to approach solving it. 

Final Thoughts: Shift the Focus from Test Prep to Real Learning

Test Prep should feel like just another business-as-usual day of learning.  It should be embedded naturally within your daily lessons.  It doesn’t need to be artificially hyped up. 

As we gear up for math tests, it’s important to recognize that effective test prep is not about cramming or focusing on endless practice tests. It’s about adopting strategies that build a deep, lasting understanding of math concepts and equip students to solve problems confidently and creatively. By emphasizing consistent spiral review, targeted practice, and active learning through collaboration and project-based activities, we can ensure that students not only perform well on their tests but develop the skills they need for success in math and beyond.  

So, let's leave behind the ineffective habits and embrace better strategies that will empower students for long-term success in their math journey!

Bye bye “Test Prep” and hello daily Strategic Spiral Review