15 ELA Test-Taking Strategies for Middle School | Research-Based Test Prep Grades 6–8
15 ELA Test-Taking Strategies for Middle School | Research-Based Test Prep Grades 6–8
Your Students Have Been Growing All Year. This Helps Them Show It.
15 research-backed ELA test-taking strategies — with the stats to prove they work — plus a cut-and-paste activity, encouragement cut-outs, and a teacher pep talk that reframes test week entirely.
Most Test Prep Resources Give Students More to Do. This One Gives Them Something Better.
The week before a state ELA assessment, students don't need more content to review. They need calm, structure, and a clear set of strategies that help them access everything they've already learned. That's the philosophy behind this resource — and it's backed by research.
Each of the 15 strategies includes a quick-reference explanation, ELA-specific application tips, a self-monitoring checklist, and a cited statistic showing exactly how much that strategy improves performance. Students who know why a strategy works are more likely to use it when it counts.
🌲 The Redwood Reminder — Included Inside
"Sometimes test prep feels like climbing a mountain — and you're not sure if you or your students have what it takes to reach the top."
"But here's the truth: even the tallest redwood started as a tiny seed. And like that seed, your students have been growing quietly all year — through every lesson, every passage, every writing task."
"This test is not a mountain to climb. It is a collection of seeds already planted. What your students need most right now is not more content. It is calm. Routine. Confidence. Encouragement."
— The Redwood Reminder, included in full inside the resource
Every Strategy Is Research-Backed — With the Citation to Prove It
Each strategy includes an explanation, ELA-specific tips, and a quick self-monitoring checklist. Two student versions are included — different layouts for different classroom styles.
Manage Your Time
+20% completion rate
Deep Breathing
−30% test anxiety
Process of Elimination
+25% accuracy
Keep Your Brain Sharp
+14% focus
Use Memory Tricks
+25% recall
Review Your Answers
Catch 15% of errors
Spot Key Words
+18% accuracy
Don't Be Afraid to Guess
Better than blank
Positive Visualization
−17% anxiety
Practice Test Formats
−12% stress
Take Mental Breaks
+13% focus
Get Enough Sleep
+10% performance
Answer Every Question
Never leave points blank
Stay Positive
+20% performance
Small Changes = Big Results
+15% with 3–5 strategies
14 Pages — Everything You Need for Test Prep Week
Two Student Versions
The full 15-strategy set in two different layouts — a wider arrow format and a compact zigzag format — so the resource fits your classroom style and your students' needs.
Cut & Paste Interactive Activity
Students interact with each strategy by building their own personalized reference guide for ELA notebooks, test folders, or interactive journals — a reference they'll actually use on test day.
Encouragement Cut-Outs
18 ready-to-cut motivational cards — "You Got This," "Be Fearless," "You Are Incredible," and more — for locker notes, desk tags, and hallway decorations during test week.
The Redwood Reminder
A one-page teacher pep talk that reframes the entire test prep conversation. Read it yourself, share it with your team, or post it somewhere you'll see it the week before testing.
Flexible Enough for Any Test Prep Approach
Product Details
| Grade Level | Grades 6–8 (Middle School ELA) |
| Standards | Common Core ELA · TEKS 6–8 · Aligned to state ELA assessments nationwide |
| Pages | 14 total |
| Student Versions | 2 included (different layouts) |
| Strategies | 15 research-backed ELA test-taking strategies with citations |
| Interactive Activity | Cut & paste strategy reference guide |
| Encouragement Cut-Outs | 18 motivational cards for lockers, desks, and hallways |
| Teacher Support | The Redwood Reminder pep talk + flexible implementation guide |
| Format | Printable PDF · Black-ink friendly · No prep required |
| Print Tip | Light blue for calm, green for growth, or purple for creativity |
Before You Download
Is this designed for the week before testing, or can I use it throughout the year?
Both. The one-strategy-per-day format works especially well during the week before testing, but the strategies themselves are useful any time students face a timed assessment. Many teachers introduce two or three strategies early in the year and revisit the full set before state testing.
Why are research citations included with each strategy?
Because students follow strategies they believe in. When a student reads that process of elimination improves accuracy by 25%, they're more likely to actually use it on test day. The citations also make this resource credible for teachers who need to justify test prep choices to administrators or parents.
My students have ADHD or test anxiety. Is this appropriate for them?
This resource was specifically designed with that in mind. The strategies include deep breathing, positive visualization, mental breaks, and hydration — the kind of whole-student support that reduces anxiety rather than adding to it. The cut-and-paste format and encouragement cut-outs also create physical, tactile engagement that helps students who struggle with traditional paper-based review.
Can I use this as a sub plan during test week?
Yes — it's one of the best uses for it. The resource is self-explanatory for students, the activities are structured enough to run without teacher facilitation, and the encouragement cut-outs give students something tangible to take away. No explanation needed for the substitute.
What is the Redwood Reminder?
It's a one-page teacher pep talk included inside the resource that reframes the test prep conversation. The core message: your students have been growing all year through every lesson and every passage — this test is not a mountain to climb, it's proof of the work already done. It's written for teachers, but many share it with their students or post it where their team can see it during test week.
15 Strategies. 14 Pages. Zero Prep. One Mindset Shift.
Your students don't need more content the week before testing. They need calm, structure, and strategies that help them show what they already know. This resource gives them all three — and gives you a Redwood Reminder to carry into test week yourself.
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