Soon students throughout Utah will begin taking end-of-year tests that show how much they have learned this year. Testing can sometimes be stressful and seem overwhelming. But did you know that these tests guide instruction by helping teachers know if educational goals are being met? They’re a sign of what’s working in the classroom and what can be done differently. Testing also gives parents an independent measure of their children’s learning, answering the question: Are my children making progress? We are encouraging students to take the tests seriously and appreciate the support of families in reinforcing that message at home. Below are some test-taking tips and answers to common questions. Please feel free to call the school with any questions.
What end-of-year tests are being administered?
Utah students in grades 3-8 take the RISE test, an acronym that stands for Readiness, Improvement, Success and Empowerment. Students in grades 9-10 take the Utah Aspire Plus test, which helps predict how they will perform on college-entrance exams such as, the ACT.
Why do we test?
Testing has always been part of education. Assessments guide instruction by helping teachers know if educational goals are being met. They’re a sign of what’s working in the classroom and what can be done differently. Testing also gives parents an independent measure of their child’s learning, answering the question: Is my child making progress?
How should students prepare?
Practice for the test is the instruction students receive throughout the school year—the skills and knowledge they acquire each day. There are a few things, however, families can do to prepare at home:
- Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast.
- Make the morning of testing as relaxing as possible by arriving to school on time.
- Encourage children to focus and pace themselves without rushing. It’s important to take your time, and read each question carefully.
- Remind children that if the test questions seem hard, that means they’re doing well. The RISE test is computer adaptive, which means it adapts to the examinee’s abilities by proposing harder questions when a student gets something correct, and easier questions when the student gives a wrong answer.
What about kids who have a history of test anxiety?
It’s important to strike a balance with children. You don’t want them to brush off the test. On the other hand, you don’t want to stress them out. How you approach the conversation will differ from child to child. But students should know that what matters is that they do their best. These tests will show how much they have grown since last year. They’ve worked hard all year in class. Now is their chance to show just how much they’ve learned. #JustDoYourBest
