Tests help teachers to determine if their students are learning and what they are learning. They provide the feedback needed to determine whether something should be retaught or whether new material should be introduced. The greatest contributors to student report card and permanent record grades are test scores. Tests help to evaluate the school's curricula, the subject course objectives, and the classroom teachers' pedagogy. The emphasis in this article is teaching students how to take tests.
Most students have a limited understanding of test-taking strategies.
They have received little instruction in test taking. Although some teachers may argue that the advantages of being testwise are minimal, research and common sense support the idea that knowing and using test-taking strategies will help most students perform better on tests. If a student performs poorly on a test, the conscientious teacher will want to know why. All good teachers know that teaching mistakes happen, even to the best of teachers, and that these mistakes can negatively affect the outcome of students' test scores. Conscientious teachers willingly accept the blame when they are at fault.