It’s test day! Thanks to Abeka’s Spiral Learning method, your child knows the material inside and out. But how do you ensure your child is successful on the test?

Testing is a valuable resource to assess your child’s education, yet it’s easy for us (and our children) to stress about testing. After all, it’s a lot of pressure! Here are some great testing tips you can implement for your child so that they can worry less and concentrate more on performing their very best on the test.

Our brains are all unique, and we all learn in different ways. For hands-on (also known as kinesthetic) learners, you may want to invest in a whiteboard your child can stand in front of and draw, write or map out concepts. Read/write learners might benefit from copying over their notes or writing and using flashcards. Aural and visual learners might study best by watching or listening to the lesson again. There are numerous tests online that will quickly identify your child’s learning style if you’re not yet familiar with it.

It is said that concepts are reinforced in your mind while you sleep. A quick recap of the information before bed could be helpful to solidify the knowledge while your child is catching some zzzs.

We all know how important sleep is to our health. To be at peak test-taking performance, make sure your child gets at least eight hours of good, restful sleep the night before.

Just like sleep, good nutrition is essential for brain performance. Skip sugary cereals in favor of a combination of ingredients with protein and brain-friendly fats like eggs and toast, a protein-packed smoothie, oatmeal and fruit or even peanut butter.

As a parent, the last thing you want is to have a loud interruption derail your child’s concentration during a test. Make sure they have a flat surface to work on (whether that’s a personal desk or kitchen table is up to you), and block outside sounds with noise-canceling headphones.

Our minds need a break—especially on test day! Try to plan ahead so your child doesn’t feel rushed to cram right before test time. Remember: With Spiral Learning, concepts are learned and retained, providing your child the confidence he or she needs when tested.

Remind your child to read the instructions several times. Multiple-choice questions may switch from “select the best answer” to “select the answer that does not apply,” so it’s essential that your child knows what to look for and how to spot clues within potential answers.

Remind your child to carefully go over answers before submitting or finishing any test. A stray pencil mark could make an answer difficult to grade, or a student may have accidentally selected the wrong answer. Reviewing the test can be the difference between gaining and losing points.

In almost every case, it’s best to at least try to answer a test question, especially multiple-choice questions. Remind your child that if four potential answers are presented and one can be eliminated, they have a one-in-three chance of getting it right!

You are your child’s greatest strength in their educational journey. Armed with Abeka’s curriculum, these test-taking tips and your support, your child is ready to take on any test that comes his or her way.