Thursday 9 July 2015

Reading & Math Skills Practice Tests For Kids

Help students prepare for achievement examinations with practice test software and packets.


Reading and math skills practice tests are typically designed for specific grade levels and to coincide with state standardized test. The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires all school districts in America to conform to a streamlined set of academic goals and achievement targets. Both teachers and parents can access online practice test packets to increase reading and math proficiency.


Department of Education Resources


Free state department of education resources include downloadable practice tests in both reading and math for all grade levels tested. The packets typically include a scoring key, explanation of core goals and test pages. Although the questions are not identical to the actual tests the students will take during the annual testing session, they either mirror the official test or have been used in past years.


Online Practice Tests


Test preparation websites offering free online practice tests aid in preparing students for future assessments. Some online practice tests even include special sections for students with limited English proficiency (LEP) or are learning English as a second language. Online reading tests typically do not offer essay questions or writing sections but do routinely feature both short and long answer questions. Multiple-choice questions are also common on online reading and math practice examinations. The tests commonly center around a "read, think, explain" model to encourage comprehension skills as well.


College Entrance Test Practice


High school students can benefit from online and printed practice tests before taking the SAT test necessary for college entrance. The math section is often broken down into three separate segments designed to be completed in no more than 25 minutes each. The tests are scored online immediately after taking them so both students and teachers know where strengths and weaknesses exist. SAT printed practice tests can also be ordered through educational service centers, but typically require a per-test fee and sending off-site for scoring.


Educational Software


Educational software geared mostly to elementary grade levels can be used during classroom center activities to gauge student progress. Typically software programs come with a teacher guide and built-in options to record individual student progress and detail the number of questions answered correctly for each attempted skill. A printable grade card type sheet is commonly also offered with classroom practice test software programs. Computer software programs are routinely developed to be age-specific and include practice skills testing for preschool to high school grade levels. Schools can purchase a single software disc for use on one computer or opt for a site license and be able to use the program simultaneously on multiple classroom, lab or library computers.

Tags: grade levels, online practice, practice test, reading math, software programs