I think differently! I’ve always had to.
And no different when I see any math student for the first time, as I know two for-sures: 1st this is a student who wants to do better and 2nd they and their parent are out of options on what to do next. So I am hired to fix the problem, come up with a solution, right the ship. Solutions are a dime a dozen, but the key is to find the solution that works for that student in front of me, which means I need to think differently. For test prep, I had to think differently as the present advice out there didn’t always work - do your review, ask questions.
So, here’s how I teach my student to study for a test.
Have a seat, soak it all up and try it … it works!
Four obvious points about tests … well they should be obvious.
Your teacher has a plan.
Here’s your test prep plan!
Students talk about studying for a test the night before or studying by doing a test review or cramming. Parents talk about ‘potential,’ ‘not reaching potential.’ Well, I thought I’d merge the two and bring this idea of ‘potential’ to each test rather than waiting till the end of the course.
Four obvious points about tests … well they should be obvious.
I’ll start with four obvious points about tests. Well, they should be obvious but …
A test is a summary of math questions taught plus homework assigned in a unit that students have to answer w/o the use of notes or assistance. Obvious!
Purpose of a test is to check how much you remember. Or, as one of my students said, "The teacher is trying to see how much we took in." And you'll also have to do some brain-storming and problem-solving when faced with challenging questions that weren't taught and were not in the homework. Possibly obvious!
Results of the test give
feedback on how well you prepared! And just as important is how much you will recall of that unit for the next unit. Those test prep actions taken now become part of your math knowledge needed for the next unit. It's not just about that test! Not obvious!
It's not just about that test!
When should you start studying for your test? You know the answer! You have an important event/competition/musical/race/audition/debate/concert coming up in four weeks (28 days); when do you start preparing for it? The night before, the day program handed out, two days before, three …? No! You start preparing the moment you know the date! For a math test, that’s the start of the unit! Not obvious!
You start studying for the math test the day the unit begins!
If preparation starts late, say the night before or two days before the event, potential will not be reached. And a prep that’s going through the motions guarantees a reaction of “didn’t try hard enough, not living up to their potential”. Sort of obvious!
Your teacher has a plan
#0 Their hope and assumption are that you will remember all the past math required for this unit. They will do a brief revision to remind you of the key past math concepts needed; it’s just that the odds are high they won’t reteach you.
#1 Teacher teaches math lesson.
#2 Homework assigned (on that math lesson)
#3 #1 and #2 repeated: More math lessons and more homework assigned until unit is complete.
#4 Teacher may assign a few quizzes to gage student’s progress.
#5 Unit complete. Test Review assigned, usually the day before the test.
#6 Test Day
That's the teacher's 6 steps. Next, you want to maximize what you get out of each step.
We're talking about hitting your potential, right?
Here’s your test prep plan!
I call it the 5:1 test prep ratio: For each lesson your teacher teaches you will ‘repeat’ it five times. The ‘5 times’ are below, followed by details on what those ‘5’ are all about.
1st Create a summary sheet on the first example - this is the foundation of the lesson.
2nd Next redo the first example w/o looking at lesson notes. This is the proof you remember it.
3rd Do homework.
4th Mid-unit review.
5th Test Review.
Details on the five steps
#0 Every math class is made up of about 30% new math and 70% past math, and that past math is used to explain the new math. Most teachers will not go back and reteach that past math. Why? Because they’ve taught it to you already - so you’re supposed to know it!
#1 When a lesson is taught, your job is to leave that class understanding at least 75% of it. 75% is you knowing all the past math taught (aka the 70%) and the new fundamentals taught. Fundamentals are the foundation of the new math that all examples will build on, so if you're unsure, ask your teacher or a classmate for help. Here’s how to understand your teacher.
Aim to understand at least 75% of each class.
#2 Homework is assigned! The purpose of doing homework is to remember it! Remembering helps as you’ll need it for the next day’s lesson, and the following day, all the way up to the test review, and of course, on the test.
#2.5 Try this first: See how much homework you can get on your own w/o getting help - which is what you’ll have to do on test day. This is a quick way to self-assess.
#3 More math lessons and more homework: If you’ve done the previous day’s homework well, you’re prepared for the new day’s lesson and homework. Yay!
What else?
#3.4 Mid-unit review
Some textbooks have this, or if your teacher does a mid-unit review, then tell them loudly, THANK YOU, TEACHERRRRRRRR! Use this review to go back and do a refresher on all you’ve done in the unit. If a mid-unit review is not in the textbook or not given by the teacher, then here’s what you do: quiz yourself on the foundation and redo a few questions from lesson notes and homework. You’re aiming to keep all math as fresh as possible!
Do whatever you can to keep the math fresh!
#4 If quizzes assigned, look at your marked quiz as feedback on how well you’re learning the math. A low mark may mean strategies need to be changed - e.g., you didn’t understand fundamentals or were not on top of homework. Strengthen those weaknesses right away. Or if it’s a mark you’re happy with, then bravo, pat yourself on the back, and keep doing what you’re doing.
#4.5 If no quizzes given, then keep quizzing yourself on fundamentals and redoing questions from lesson notes and homework. You are always in refresh and review mode!
Always be in refresh and review mode!
#5 Test review given: It’s the final rehearsal for the math test. You could write the test now and do okay, as you’re currently at 4:1 test prep ratio, but doing the test review now takes your preparation up another level. Here’s what you do: Write that unit review like a mock test - work on it for 30-45 minutes, and then check to see how you’ve done. This way, the ‘mock test’ results will tell you how well you’re doing w/o help.
#5.5 The 5:1 test prep ratio
The 5:1 test prep ratio - The“1” is the lesson taught by the teacher, and the “5” is you doing that math five times*. This repetition and repeating and reinforcement, (yeah I know lots of ‘re’s) happens in any other big event, so shouldn’t you do the same reps for math?
*The five times you’ll do that math taught:
1st Create a summary sheet on the first example - this is the foundation of the lesson.
2nd Next redo the first example w/o looking at lesson notes. This is the proof you remember it.
3rd Do homework.
Repeat 1 to 3 until you’re 50% through the unit.
4th Mid-unit review.
Repeat 1 to 3 until you’re 100% of unit completed.
5th Test Review.
Think of the 5:1 test prep ratio as a rule. Use it, to have a better test prep!
Important: The odds are you’re already doing the 3rd and 5th (homework and test review), but that means your test ratio is only 2:1. Now do the 1st, 2nd and 4th to take your test preparation to another level, to 5:1!
Start early. Never start late.
Early: The studying for the test starts the day the unit begins.
Late: Do not learn anything for the first time the day before the test - that’s cramming. It mocks the 5:1 learning ratio and shrinks it to 1:1, one unit to one night to make sense of it.
Recap
It’s a lot of small but consistent reps and steps spread out over the unit. And that 5:1 test prep ratio, one class ‘lesson’ to the five reps of that lesson, is a good way to show you what’s possible with your potential.
Your test prep is just a lot of small steps and reps.
Best with your test prep,
Edison
Edison Hopkinson (1-on-1 tutor for thousands of students, teacher, strategist, coach)
Learning strategist for math students
Strategies that make sure you ready for that test!
P.S. Summary of the 5:1 Test Prep Steps:
#0 When a lesson is taught, your job is to leave that class understanding at least 75% of it. Here’s how to understand your teacher.
#1 Create a summary sheet on the first example - this is the foundation of the lesson
#2 Next redo the first example w/o looking at lesson notes. This is the proof you remember it.
#3 Homework - The purpose of doing homework is to remember it!
Try this first: See how much homework you can get on your own w/o getting help.
#1 to #3 repeated for all lessons and more homework. Today’s homework prepares you for tomorrow’s lesson.
#4 Do a Mid-unit review – helps keep the math fresh.
#4.5 If quizzes assigned, look at your marked quiz as feedback. If no quizzes given, keep quizzing yourself on fundamentals and redoing questions.
#5 Test review given: It’s the final rehearsal. Write that unit review like a mock test - great test writing practice.
#5.5 And follow the 5:1 test prep ratio - The “1” is the lesson taught by the teacher, and the “5” is you doing that math five times.
Potential here I come!
P.P.S. Shorter summary of The 5:1 Test Prep Steps
#1 Understand the lesson taught - past math and fundamentals.
#2 Redo that first example w/o help.
#3 Do Homework and remember it!
Keep understanding lessons and homework.
#4 Do a Mid-unit review – helps keep the math fresh.
If no quizzes! Then quiz yourself.
#5 Test review given - treat it like a mock test, so you become a mock star!