The last few weeks of the academic year means that thousands of Wake County students are starting to take exams to demonstrate all they have learned this year. Parents play an important role in helping their students be prepared.

Teachers will spend time in class telling students what to expect on the test and offering strategies for success. Check in with your student about these strategies.

• Help your student keep a consistent sleep schedule for several nights before the test.
• Encourage consistent and healthy eating.
• Exercise with your student or play games to help relieve stress or pre-test jitters.
• Let your student know you believe in him/her and support him/her. Build his/her confidence by reviewing all he has learned this year.
• Review sample test items and strategies with your student. 

• Make sure your student gets a good breakfast the day of the test at home or at school. HGMS will have breakfast available to all students, free of charge, on testing days. The morning of the test, be calm. Allow plenty of time to get your student to school. Create a back-up plan in case he or she misses the bus or ride to school.
• Remind your student to check that each test section is complete before moving to the next section – students will not be permitted to go back to previous sections once they have moved on.
• Emphasize the importance of doing your best, but also remind your student that test results are only one measure of academic progress, and do not define their value or abilities.
• Remember that cell phones and other electronic devices are not allowed in the testing room.
• A gentle hug and positive statements from a parent can build your student’s confidence.

The HGMS testing schedule can be found at this link.

 

Your child’s teacher can provide more information on how to prepare for the appropriate subject and grade level exam. Additionally, families may view sample test questions on the N.C. Department of Public Instruction website.

 

This varies by grade level and subject. Most portions of exams are multiple choice. Some may require written responses. Your school can provide more information on the format, and whether the test will be administered as a paper-and-pencil exam, or online.

Students with testing accommodations will receive approved modifications as noted on their IEP, LEP, or 504 plans. By the time testing starts, students should already be familiar with the type of testing accommodations they will receive.

 

Some portions of exams require calculators. In most cases, these are provided by the school. If your child is responsible for providing his or her own calculator, the teacher will inform students well in advance of the test. Students bringing their own calculators should make sure the batteries are new. Students are not permitted to bring snacks or beverages, or electronic devices such as cell phones into the exam.

 

No one may enter the testing room after the exams have begun. Schools will make every effort to provide students who arrive late with an opportunity to take the test that day. However, this is not guaranteed; students who are significantly late to school will have to take the test on a make-up day.

 

It’s important for students to feel well rested the morning of the test. If your child is ill on the morning of the test, it is best to keep him or her home and arrange to take the test on a make-up day. If your child becomes ill during the test and is not able to complete the exam, he or she will be able to make up the exam.

 

Testing staff have been trained to handle emergencies that arise during testing.

 

Reports for End-of-Course and End-of-Grade exams will be available online this year. Parents will receive an email from WCPSS on May 24 that outlines the process for obtaining Individual Student Reports via PowerSchool. The email will also explain the process for requesting a paper copy from HGMS.