Students taking the CMT should get used to reading for extended periods of time. Reading practice can help students answer reading-based questions on the test, as well as improve performance in all areas. Students taking the CMT will be expected to sit and read questions for a long period of time. Fourth-graders take two 60-minute exam sessions; sixth-graders take three 60-minute sessions and eighth-graders take two 60-minute sessions and one 70-minute session. To prepare for this intense exam, encourage your student to read for at least an hour each day. He could read books of his choice, magazines or newspapers, so long as the material is at or near his reading level.
Extended reading time will also help students with the reading and writing sections of the test. Students will be expected to read selections of text and answer questions about the content; they will also be tested on their writing and proofreading skills. The more reading students are exposed to, the more practice they will have understanding content and analyzing correct usage and grammar.
Many Internet websites contain practice CMTs. You can also find practice books at many book retailers. Encourage your student to practice these exams. Do not simply throw your student into these tests; more than likely, she will feel as if she has enough homework to do without you adding more. Instead, walk through the tests with her. Help her understand how to answer multiple-choice questions, including eliminating the answers that are obviously wrong. Take note of what areas are more difficult for her to answer and where she excels.
This type of practice will get your student used to the format of the test and will provide her with overall test-taking skills that can aid her on the test. It will also provide you with an understanding of her strengths and weaknesses so you can help her focus her study efforts where they are really needed.
Even young students will understand the pressure of succeeding on the CMT exams. They will hear about it from the schools and their parents. Help your student make preparation fun. Has your student excelled on a practice exam, or has he been working exceptionally hard? Give him a reward to indicate that you are proud of his success.
When it comes to actual studying techniques, find games that will help him understand the concepts. If he is having trouble with basic math, play the "24" game with him: He can use any combination of addition, multiplication, division and subtraction to make four given numbers equal 24. Instead of a study technique, this will seem more like a game, and he will be more willing to study and less stressed about the outcome.