It’s standardized testing season! Yearly testing is a necessary part of the education system, and as the administrator of the test, you want to be confident that you have everything pulled together when it’s test time. Here are 5 things you can do to get prepared.

1. Inventory Your Test Materials

To ensure that you have all of the key pieces when the big day comes, make a list of what you will need. Then, set aside time to check your invoice to be sure all items are included in your online testing center. If you’ve chosen paper tests, take time to go through your materials and check that you have everything your students need. This way you can rest easy on test day.

You can order all your standardized tests through Abeka. You have two options for online standardized testing, either the Iowa Tests or Stanford 10 tests. Both tests are recognized nationally and equally effective. Compare these tests and learn more here. If you have any issues with accessing your standardized tests after placing your order, please contact us as soon as possible. Our customer service team will be happy to help.

2. Maintain Test Security Before, During, and After Testing

Only test administrators or students taking the test should have access to the testing materials. Be sure to protect paper and online testing material from students until the test day. Test content, whether actual or similar, should not be used for discussion, demonstration, review, practice, or any other reason. Taking extra precautions to keep test materials secure will protect both you and your students from accidentally sharing confidential information.

3. Study the Administration Directions

The better you understand the directions, the more clearly you will be able to explain them to the class. Set aside enough time prior to the test to familiarize yourself with the directions, and prepare to answer any questions that may arise. And if you need help preparing for administrating the test, check out our helpful guides.

4. Add Some Fun to Testing Week

Your students probably don’t enjoy standardized testing any more than you do. So, why not give them a little something to look forward to? Before the test begins, give the students a word of encouragement. And at the end of the test, hand out a “you’re a smart cookie” cookie to each student as they complete the tests.

5. Pray

You know which of your students worry over tests. Take some time to lift them up in prayer. Pray that God will give you and your students alertness, patience, and wisdom, and ask that each student have a clear mind during their testing.

Once you’ve done everything on this list to prepare, the only thing left to do is administer the test. The most important thing for your students to know on the day of the big day is that these tests are an opportunity to show off what they’ve learned. They already have the knowledge in their brains—this is just a way for them to prove it. You can order all your standardized tests through Abeka. Learn more here.