So many bright and intelligent students do not always do well on tests.
Even after studying for hours and hours, many students can still FAIL a test!
Parents search for answers in many places. I know because many of my most popular articles are about test taking and test strategies.
Despite my abundant information on study skills, organization, note taking, or communication, my most read articles are all about TEST TAKING!
If you have found this article while searching for test taking tips, then you know exactly what I mean!
But what I want to tell you. . . No. What I need to tell you today is this:
The REAL reason your child is failing tests, may not have to do with the test!
Gasp! I know! It’s hard to believe, but the real reason your teen or student is still failing tests may not have to do with the test, but instead, may have to do with your student.
Many parents ask about test taking strategy as if there is some magical way for a smart student to do better on a test. And I’m sad to say, that this is not the case.
If your child or teen is continuously failing tests, then the issue is not that tests are hard for your child, but that your child may not have studied correctly.
Now you may be saying, “Wait a minute. I have seen my child study for 3 and 4 hours for each test, but they still fail”.
I get ya! I actually see this all the time!
The problem is that students do not know HOW to study.
What do I mean?
I have seen students sit down, spend a few hours reading a few chapters, then close their books and say “I studied”. When, in fact, they did not study, they just read.
And this is the difference that students simply do not know!
Why don’t they know the difference? Because neither their teachers nor their school system taught them HOW to study!
So the first step your child needs is to learn HOW to study!!
You might be saying, “But Rachael, my kid does know several study techniques that they use for each test, and they still fail.”
IF that is the case with your teen or student, then that means your child is not studying according to the way their brain works!
What does this mean? It means that your child may be studying using techniques for the wrong learning style .
For example, if they are using flashcards when they are an auditory learner, then flashcards will not work for them!
So the next step you can take is to help your teen discover their learning style so that they can learn the RIGHT study techniques to study according to the way their brain actually retains information. (Because any other study strategy is just a waste of time!)
To discover their learning styles, have them take the VARK Questionnaire! VARK stands for (V) Visual, (A) Auditory, (R) Read/Write, and (K) Kinesthetic.
So parents, there is no magic test strategy that you can find that will help your child do better on tests. There is only better study strategy and study techniques. By focusing on the learning and the studying, then your child will start doing better on tests.
Hey there! My name is Rachael and I have been a private tutor for over 10 years. I earned my undergraduate degree in 2 and a half years and earned my graduate degree by age 22. I have tutored dozens of high school students, college students, and graduate students. I offer support, encouragement, and resources to help parents learn how to best help their teen or child that is struggling in school.
