Spring Break just ended for many students, and before we know it, finals will be here.
It always sneaks up. Students know those big end-of-year tests are coming, but they often wait too long to start preparing. By the time “review week” arrives, there’s too much to go over and not enough time.
That’s why I like to start now, while there’s still room to plan and pace it out.
Here’s the simple 3-step method we use to help students study smarter and feel ready:
1. Find the dates and the details
Start by asking:
When is the test?
What’s going to be on it?
You can usually get this from a teacher, class website, or syllabus. Once you know the timeline and topics, you can build a better plan.
2. Gather the materials
Help your child collect anything that could be useful for review—notes, quizzes, homework, and past tests. Have them mark up anything they missed or don’t remember how to do. That’s where their study time should go first.
3. Build a weekly review plan
Break up the time between now and the test. Start with the weakest areas first and circle back to the strongest ones later. A little bit each week beats cramming every time.
👉 Looking for creative ways to make review time more enjoyable? Try these ideas from How to Help Your Child Review Math (Without the Boredom!).
Bonus: Teach your child how to study
Not all studying is created equal. Active review– like redoing missed problems, explaining concepts out loud, or creating practice tests, is far more effective than just rereading notes.
👉 For more ideas, check out 5 Ways to Help Your Student Prepare for Math Tests.
Want help getting started?
We made a printable review planner that mirrors what we use with our students:
We’d love to know if it helps your student! Feel free to reach out and tell us how it goes.
Start now, study smart, and your child will walk into finals ready and confident.
