How Parents Can Support Students Prepping for Standardized Tests at Home

While this year’s IB exams have been canceled due to COVID-19, there are other standardized tests that remain on the calendar for high schoolers—albeit with certain modifications. Some tests (the ACT) have been postponed, while others have pivoted to a digital format (like class finals, the SAT, and the APs). This means that thousands of students must now prepare for these tests entirely from home. 

Under normal circumstances, prepping for course finals and college admissions exams is an exhausting, stressful process for students. But now, with the closure of K-12 schools and many public spaces like libraries, the majority of high school students find themselves under another kind of stress—one caused by a lack of interaction. 

“During the teenage years, friend groups take on an increasingly important role in the life of your child,” says clinical psychologist Dr. Jeff Nalin. Socializing with other teens provides an outlet for your child to openly discuss personal problems and cultivate a sense of identity. When teenagers are unable to see friends regularly, they suffer psychologically. 

So, what can you do to support your college-bound child or children through these difficult times? You may have assumed that giving them space and silence to study was the extent of your abilities—and while these factors greatly facilitate the review process—there are also several other ways you can help: 

Be a study buddy

The last time you took the ACT or SAT was probably many years ago, and, for that reason, you might feel unqualified to help your child prep for either exam. But contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a subject matter expert in order to be an effective study buddy. Even without having content knowledge, you can assist your child with routine test-prep tasks, such as quizzing via flashcards and scoring with the help of an answer key.

Multiple studies confirm a positive correlation between parental involvement and student achievement. “Parent-child discussion” can be particularly powerful—maintaining an open line of communication with your child can positively affect their performance in school. In keeping with this finding, consider not telling, but instead ask, how you can be of help with your children’s test prep tasks. 

Proctor their practice tests

Taking full-length practice exams is a vital part of the review process. A good bar to aim for is three to five practice exams before test day. Practice exams are critical because they get students used to the pace and format of the real test. 

While answering practice exams in their entirety is the responsibility of your child, you can make the process feel more genuine by serving as a proctor. Learn what to say and do as proctor by browsing the official test manual, such as this ACT one or this SAT one.

The most important thing is to stay true to your role of proctor by being prompt and professional. Maintaining this image will have a two-fold benefit: it will show your support and familiarize your child with test-taking procedures. 

Stay positive

As you’ve almost certainly realized by now, young people are extremely sensitive—especially where their parents are concerned. They can quickly perceive when their parents are angry or anxious and, without realizing it, mirror these negative emotions. According to psychologist Dr. Florence Huang, “Children—younger ones, in particular—see their parents as role models and tend to imitate their behavior.” Dr. Huang also warns about how ongoing parental negativity can affect your student’s emotional and cognitive development for the worse.

It should come as no surprise that anxious and depressed students underperform as compared to their happier peers. According to child psychologists based out of Melbourne, Australia, anxiety inhibits memory, concentration, and efficiency, abilities that are key in almost all academic pursuits.

Parents should therefore take extra care to maintain a positive mindset at home. While that is certainly easier said than done given current events, staying positive is one of the simplest ways to ensure your child’s mental well-being, which in turn fosters academic success. 

There is no longer a need for parents to feel helpless about test prep, even as many of these exams switch to at-home formats. With these tips, you can assist your college-bound teen as they learn and study from home.

Tiffany Sorensen holds a Master of Science in Spanish-English Translation from New York University. She works remotely from sunny Mexico, where she gives English and Spanish classes, writes educational articles, and designs practice tests for the ACT.