Preparing for end of year math exams can sometimes be stressful. There’s so much information that needs to be reviewed and it’s totally overwhelming for students and teachers too.
One of the ways I review math topics with my students is by using worksheets also known as practice tests. It’s the most traditional form of review or test prep and is very effective for most students.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when Preparing for End of Year Math Exams with Worksheets:
1. Know the Standards for Each Question
It’s always helpful if the math standard is listed on each question. That way, you can easily see what topics might need additional review before the end-of-year exam.
2. Worksheets Should Resemble Actual Exam
Use worksheets or practice tests that most resemble the end of year testing for your students. For example, if the test is multiple-choice, then make sure the worksheets or practice tests are also multiple-choice. This helps students practice their test-taking skills while reviewing the math topics. There is always such an emphasis on students showing their work on worksheets so it can sometimes be a challenge to find multiple-choice options.
3. Choose Resources that Cover Every Topic on the Exam
Select resources that cover ALL the math topics to make sure your students are fully prepared. We sometimes have a tendency to review the topics we enjoy teaching while neglecting the ones we don’t enjoy. I definitely have some favorite math topics (fractions, equations, and integers) and some less favorite topics (probability and geometry) so it was always a challenge to review the topics I didn’t enjoy teaching in the first place.
4. Use the Worksheets Individually
Use the worksheets in chunks as morning work, spiral review, or math centers so students don’t feel overwhelmed with ALL the questions at once. If the worksheets cover all the math topics, students would be answering 50 or more questions. Working on all of those in one sitting can be overwhelming at first so breaking it up into one page at a time makes it more manageable.
5. Digital and Printable Included
Having both digital and printable options included is helpful for students both in-class and learning from home. Some states are even moving to online testing so having your students practice answering the questions online is super helpful in preparing them for the end-of-year exam.
6. Answer Keys are a Must
Make sure the answer key is provided. Don’t waste your precious time having to create one. I can’t tell you how many resources I’ve used over the years that didn’t have one provided. It was such a struggle finding time to create one in the super busy days at the end of the school year. Plus, when you have an answer key, you can have your students self-grade the worksheets to learn from their mistakes.
In addition to having worksheets or practice tests, I also had my students work on their math facts throughout the year. I am a huge fan of using grill and drill in my math classes. When students know their basic math facts, it definitely makes test-taking so much easier for them.
Here are some 4th grade math, 5th grade math, and 6th grade math worksheets that might be helpful for your students for end-of-year review and testing.
