Factors Affecting Students’ Test Scores
If you’ve ever attended school, you know that every class or teacher has their own particular way of approaching things. You might like one class or teacher more than another, but based on your test scores, it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the teacher or the class itself. If you are the parent of a student going off to school, it is important that you understand how factors such as testing, teachers, and classes affect your child’s performance in school. Test scores can be affected by many factors. Understanding these factors will help you support your child in getting good grades and test scores. Here are some considerations when talking about students and test scores:
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Test scores down for the first time in years
It may seem like test scores have been increasing steadily for years, but in reality, test scores have been gradually falling for over a decade. Scientists and researchers don’t know exactly what causes test scores to fall, but there are a few theories. Researchers are looking into changes in the demographics of students, changes in the content of standardized tests, and changes in the way standardized tests are administered. With the COVID-19 pandemic as well there has been a lot of learning loss and we have seen that affect scores. The average ACT score dropped below 20 this last year for the first time. So overall we are just seeing a downturn in scores.
Factors Affecting Students’ Test Scores # 1
Learning loss Due to Covid
The covid 19 pandemic had students home at online school for 1 to 2 years in most places. Some kids thrived under this model but more really really struggled with it. Some kids did not attend their classes when left at home. Others were just not able to pay attention, flew under the radar, or really just needed human interaction in order to learn. This means that we came back to in-person classes with kids that were often 1 to 2 years below grade level and were acting emotionally like younger children as well. This meant that many teachers were set with having to go back in order to go forward and in many cases, there was not enough time to catch up. This meant that across the board students had lower test scores.
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Factors Affecting Students’ Test Scores # 2
Unrealistic expectations
This is perhaps one of the most common causes of test score anxiety. Students who feel that their parents or teachers have unreasonably high expectations for their performance are more likely to experience test anxiety and subsequently perform poorly on their tests. While it is important for parents and teachers to set high standards for children, it is equally important for them to understand that children’s progress will not always be consistent. There will be times when children struggle to meet expectations, and times when they rise above them. Parents and teachers can help children by being sensitive to the fact that they may be experiencing test anxiety. What’s more, a child who feels supported and encouraged by his or her parents and teachers may be less likely to experience test anxiety in the first place.
Likewise, many tests are written with high expectations in mind. I know that some of my students know the concepts that they should know but they don’t know the test. So they may understand how to do double-digit multiplication but they fail it on the test because they do not know the area model method or they are not able to explain their process in words. They may just not even be sure about what the test is asking them. Sometimes the test is written at a level that makes it hard for kids to understand what they are being asked to do. It may even ask them to think abstractly before their brain is ready for that. As such they do badly on the test more because it is a poorly written test than about what they actually know. This of course leads to lower test scores.
Factors Affecting Students’ Test Scores # 3
Lack of Preparation
When students are well rested, have eaten a healthy breakfast, have studied the relevant topics, have done practice problems, know what to expect on the test, and have a positive attitude, they are much more likely to do well on their tests. If a student is exhausted, hungry, or sick, they are less likely to get their best score. If a student feels that he or she is unprepared for a test, or doesn’t know what to expect on the exam, test anxiety can set in, which will make it even harder to perform well on the test. If a student is anxious about a test, he or she might be tempted to spend more time studying and less time sleeping, eating, and having fun. While it is important to prepare for tests and to spend time studying, students should recognize that they need a healthy amount of rest, nutrition, and fun in order to perform their best. If you are looking for SAT prep I have some amazing courses to help you with that. Click here to see the times.
Also, if they are trying to study last minute or didn’t even study for the test and just took it. This will mean that they are not familiar with the test and potentially the subjects that they will be asked about. Big tests like admission tests should be studied for at least a couple of months in order to get a good score and those that score best often study for a year or more. If students have not been studying then they will not do well on the test because they are not prepared. You can help your child prepare by setting up a study schedule. I have a free template for my subscribers to grab your copy click on the link below and receive it for free.
Conclusion
Students’ test scores depend greatly on factors such as student preparation, teacher expectations, and the quality of the curriculum. If you take these things into account, you may be able to help your child perform better in school, especially when it comes to standardized tests.
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