If another student asks me, “Is this going to be on the test?” I might just turn it into a test question.
When I first started teaching sixth grade, I thought test prep meant passing out a study guide and crossing my fingers. But after years in the classroom, I’ve learned that middle school test prep needs to go way beyond rote review and repetitive worksheets. The truth? Most traditional test prep strategies bore students and stress out teachers.
The good news? You don’t have to keep doing things the hard way. These test prep strategies for students are ones you probably haven’t tried yet—and they actually work. They’re creative, brain-friendly, and designed with real middle schoolers in mind.
Why Traditional Test Prep Doesn’t Cut It Anymore
Middle Schoolers Aren’t Wired for Worksheets
Middle schoolers are in a strange in-between space. They’re not little kids anymore, but they’re not quite ready to handle high school-level independence. Asking them to sit quietly and complete a packet just doesn’t cut it—especially when their brains crave novelty, movement, and engaging classroom activities.
I used to spend hours making colorful review packets, only to find them crumpled at the bottom of backpacks. That’s when I realized the problem wasn’t the content—it was the teaching strategy.
Review Burnout Is Real
If you’ve ever watched your students glaze over during review week, you’ve seen it: burnout. Over-prepping in the same format creates apathy. By the time the test rolls around, students are exhausted—and their performance reflects it.
That’s why we need assessment preparation methods that make review engaging, memorable, and, dare I say… fun.
Strategy #1: Test Prep Escape Rooms
Escape rooms bring together problem-solving, teamwork, and just the right amount of pressure. I started using them before big unit tests, and the results blew me away.
Create a series of clues based on test content (you can do this on paper or using tools like Google Forms). Lock the clues behind puzzles or riddles students must solve in groups. You can use printable lockboxes, hidden messages, or even QR codes. Kids are so focused on solving the puzzles, they forget they’re reviewing.
Pro tip: Make different versions for different ability levels so everyone can succeed.
Need something ready-made? Carson Dellosa Education has some excellent escape room resources, especially for middle school teaching in ELA and math.
Strategy #2: Confidence Mapping with Color
I call this “traffic light test prep.” Give students a topic list and have them mark each skill with a color:
🟥 Red = I don’t understand this at all
🟨 Yellow = I kind of get it
🟩 Green = I’ve got this!
You can do this with highlighters on paper or digitally using Google Docs or Jamboard. I like to hang a giant version on the wall and have students add sticky notes anonymously.
This lets me group students strategically for review. I can pull a small group for reteaching or pair up green/yellow students for peer tutoring. Plus, it teaches students how to reflect on their understanding—an essential study tip for students and part of self-directed learning.
Strategy #3: “Teach the Teacher” Lightning Lessons
This one’s a student favorite and super easy to prep. Break your class into pairs or small groups and assign each one a test topic or vocabulary word. Their job? Teach it to the class in under two minutes.
They can make posters, slide decks, skits—whatever fits their style. I’ve had kids rap about the water cycle and act out figurative language. Watching a student shout, “Hyperbole is like THE MOST DRAMATIC THING EVER!” will stay in your brain forever.
It’s silly, yes, but it’s also incredibly effective. Teaching content requires a much deeper level of understanding—and students take it seriously when they know their peers are watching.
Strategy #4: Retrieval Practice Rounds
Rereading notes isn’t nearly as effective as retrieving information from memory. I set up “retrieval rounds” with mini whiteboards or just blank paper. I ask a question, they write an answer, we review. Rinse and repeat with increasing difficulty.
We talk a lot about the “forgetting curve” in class—how our brains naturally lose information unless we revisit it regularly. This article by RetrievalPractice.org is a great teacher resource if you want to dig deeper into the science behind this.
You can even make it competitive, with table groups earning points for correct answers or fast retrieval. The key is frequency—short, spaced-out review beats cramming every time.
Strategy #5: Real-World Scenario Reviews
Connecting test material to real life is one of the easiest ways to help it stick. Turn your classroom review games into real-world problems:
- Math: Create a “grocery store budget” challenge.
- ELA: Match grammar skills to editing real student writing (anonymized, of course).
- Science: Design a mini-lab or household experiment.
Bonus: It’s cross-curricular! Many of my students struggled with fractions until I had them plan a pizza party. Suddenly, dividing and multiplying fractions had meaning.
You can also use IXL for standards-based practice aligned with these kinds of test prep strategies for students.
Strategy #6: “Brain Gym” and Test Stamina Training
Middle schoolers are not naturally built for long tests. But stamina can be taught.
In the weeks before major assessments, I incorporate “brain gym” blocks—15–20 minutes of focused practice, followed by a break. We build up to 30-, 45-, and 60-minute stretches. During this time, I coach students on test taking skills like pacing, process of elimination, and when to skip and come back.
Between practice rounds, we take movement breaks or mindfulness moments. ABCya’s mindfulness videos are surprisingly calming for sixth graders.
This helps students stay sharp on test day and reduces anxiety. (I’ve also seen a big difference in student engagement and behavior during testing!)
Strategy #7: Student-Created Practice Questions
Here’s a secret: students love to write test questions when they know they’ll be used. I assign small groups to create multiple-choice questions or short-answer prompts based on our study guide. They must include one right answer, three plausible distractors, and an explanation of why their answer is correct.
Then I compile the questions into a Kahoot, Quizizz, or paper review. The pride they feel seeing their question stump classmates? Priceless.
This strategy sharpens content understanding and gives you a peek into their thought process—perfect for assessment preparation.
Strategy #8: Gamified “Boss Battles” and Review Tournaments
Want to get students to review content with enthusiasm? Call it a boss battle.
I’ve created “levels” of review questions, where students must defeat mini-bosses (easier questions) to face the final boss (a cumulative challenge). Sometimes I do this with Google Slides, other times with task cards around the room.
Add a leaderboard, fun sound effects, and a few silly rewards, and you’ve got instant buy-in.
You can gamify this digitally with tools like Blooket, Gimkit, or Kahoot. These tools make test prep strategies for students more fun while giving you live data for formative assessment.
Final Thoughts: Prep Doesn’t Have to Be a Pain
Look, test prep strategies for students will probably never be your favorite thing. But they don’t have to be painful—for you or your students.
By mixing things up with games, movement, peer teaching, and confidence-building classroom activities, you can make test prep more effective and more enjoyable. These teaching strategies are flexible—you can adapt them for any subject with minimal prep.
I’ve seen shy students become group leaders, disengaged learners find confidence, and stressed-out classrooms grow calmer just by changing how we review.
Try just one of these strategies next week. Your students—and your sanity—will thank you.
