Determine which subjects are assessed at the child's grade level. TAKS math tests are administered from third through eleventh grades. Reading is tested from third through ninth grades. Writing is assessed in fourth and seventh grades. English language arts tests are given in tenth and eleventh grades. Science is assessed in fifth, eighth, 10th and 11th grades. Social studies is evaluated in eighth, 10th and 11th grades. Eleventh grade tests are also known as exit exams.
Understand the alternate test forms available to special education students. There are three versions. TAKS-Accommodated alters the format with changes, such as larger font. TAKS-Modified (TAKS-M) is similar with the addition of modifications like fewer answer choices and a simpler vocabulary. TAKS-Alternate (TAKS-Alt) is reserved for students with cognitive disabilities. This third format is activity-based as opposed to the standard multiple-choice format. Teacher observation is required.
Meet with the child's Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee. The group includes a regular education teacher, a special education teacher, an administrator, the parent and child. ARD determines a student's accommodations and which TAKS test he will take. Possible accommodations vary and may even include extended time when an Accommodation Request Form (ARF) is completed (See References 4).
Determine the child's learning style. It can be visual, tactile or auditory. Jan Van Blarcum, founder of Dallas-based Creative Tutors, believes understanding how a child learns is essential to helping her retain information. She advises using a learning styles chart as the determining factor.
Incorporate TAKS vocabulary from the onset of the school year. Unlock some of the mystery by familiarizing students with terminology. For example, trigger words for multiplication could be times, product, of, area, factor.
Download study guides from the Texas Education Agency's website (See References). These guides are based on the objectives tested in each subject at various grade levels. They are designed so that students can use them alone or under the guidance of a parent. Break the practice sessions into manageable time frames. Detailed answer keys accompany the guides.
Discuss the TAKS exam with the student. Know exactly when each test will occur. Remain calm so that anxieties are not transferred to the child.