Although administrators and educators still debate the true value of exams and tests, testing has become an integral part the American education system.

Parents and students cannot ignore the reality of exams. academic successThe key to success is managing anxiety and properly preparing for exams. But that’s just one factor. Participating in class help and completing homework assignments are also important.

“Make sure your child completes homework assignments and class projects,”Richard Bavaria, Ph.D. is senior vice president of education outreach at Sylvan Learning.www.SylvanLearning.com “Because tests reflect overall achievement, the more effort your child puts into learning, the more likely he or she will do well on tests.”

These are other tips from Dr. Bavaria for students and parents:

* Know the target. It is important to understand the objective, what it is being evaluated (types of questions), and how it will all be graded.

* Use a study process. Exam preparation and studying should be ongoing. Ideal students should spend at least 15 minutes per night learning content from each school subject.

* Use strategies to manage test anxiety. Although test anxiety can be beneficial, it can also cause problems with test performance. To manage anxiety during test preparation, you should be prepared. You can also use visualization and breathing techniques to help you get through the process.

* Follow test instructions. Take the time to read and pay attention to all instructions. You can mark key words so that your answers or responses address every part of the question. If in doubt, ask your teacher for clarification.

* Use a process to organize schoolwork and a study area. Students will be able to find all the materials they need when they are organized. Students can focus better if they have a quiet and clean area to study in.

* Support learning preferences. Identify learning preferences. These preferences are important to keep in mind as you study to assist with difficult subjects.

* Use appropriate strategies to address different question types. It is important to know what type of questions students will face on the test. This helps you decide what and how much you should study. Prepare for the test by learning what types of questions will be asked, whether they are multiple-choice, short answer, true/false or matching.