H
olly King-Mand, widely known as
the nation’s favourite English
teacher, taught thousands of children
online during the pandemic. She’s an
expert on reading and writing and
loves creative writing, cool vocabulary
and trips to the library. Here she shares
the best ways to prepare for tests. Parents can find
out more about Holly’s Classroom on Instagram,
Facebook and at hollysclassroom.comHow to...
Prepare for school tests
23 April 2022 • The Week Junior 25
Looking for something else to do? Head to theweekjunior.co.uk/activityhub
1
Don’t overthink it
When you spend
too long thinking about
something, you can focus
too much on the wrong
thing. For example: what
happens if I fail? What happens if I miss the bus
that day? Remember that tests are intended to
give an accurate reflection of where you are in your
learning journey so that your teachers can work out
what to help you with next.2
Talk to your
teachers
Teachers will want you
to do your very best in
tests and will be ready to
answer any questions you
might have. Ask them why
you are taking the test and what the results will mean
for you. You might find out that the test result won’t
make much of a dramatic difference to you and that
it’s nothing to worry about.3
Check the details
Parents and teachers
can help explain what the
test will be like. If you are
still not clear about it, then
why not double-check?
Find out when the test will
be and how long it will last and if the teacher has
a system for the way you should write your answers
on the test paper. It’s always useful to check which
equipment you might need, too.4
Revise if you
want to
Some people like to revise
for tests, which means
to look over what you’ve
already learnt and try to
remember it in preparation
for the test. However, not everyone chooses to revise,
and that is ok, too. If you do want to revise, find a
quiet space and take regular breaks.5
Revision
techniques
There are different ways to
revise. You could:
Create flashcards to test
your recall memory of
facts and definitions.
Ask a friend to test you on what you’ve both learnt.
Explain what you’ve learnt to an adult and practise
your explaining skills.
Create a brainstorm, mind map, poster, quiz or
Venn diagram.6
The day itself
On the day of the
test, make sure you eat
a healthy breakfast and
allow plenty of time to
reach school. Pack your
bag the night before so
you feel organised and ready, and remember to
take a water bottle. Wish your friends good luck and
channel a positive mental attitude – you’ve got this!7
Own your
achievement
Everyone learns in
different ways and at
different paces. Tests
reflect what you can
do and what you have
learnt so far. The best thing about learning is that
it never ends. Use the feedback from your test to
understand your strengths and weaknesses and focus
on improving. Be proud of the hard work you’ve done
and the effort you’ve put in. Own your achievement!Good preparation
will calm your nerves.Holly
King-MandGE
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