Get familiar.  Ask your child's teacher if the school gives, or can send home, practice tests similar in format to the test your child will be taking.  Knowing the format and seeing the types of questions that will be asked could help build your child's confidence.

Encourage, don't pressure.  Encourage your children to do their best, but avoid putting on the pressure.  Too much pressure can cause test anxiety and lead to worse, not better, scores.  Understand that standardized tests are just one way schools measure a child's ability.

Give them "brain food."  Give your children a healthy breakfast the morning of a big test - and remember that good nutrition fuels brains year-round.  Food high in fat or sugar doesn't provide the nutrients children need to do their best.

Put them to bed.  Sleepy children have a tough time succeeding academically.  It's particularly important for your children to get a good night's sleep the night before a big test.  For most elementary school children, 10 hours of sleep every night is best.

Help them prepare.  Make sure your children have the supplies they need for the test.  These could range from sharpened #2 pencils with erasers to calculators and dictionaries.  Help your children understand these very important tips:

• Pay attention.  Stress that they will need to listen to the testing instructions very closely and follow the written direction exactly.
• Don't rush to finish.  Make sure they use any extra time to check their answers and complete any questions they left blank.
• Keep track of the "bubbles."   Remind them that it's very important to make sure they're at the right place on their answer sheet.  It's easy for children to lose track, especially if they've skipped a question.   Suggest that they double-check every five or ten questions, making sure that the bubble they're filling in matches the number of the questions they're answering.
• Skipping is OK.  Remind them that they don't have to answer the questions in order.  If they're unsure about a question, tell them it's OK to come back to it later.
• Find the best answer.  It's tempting for children to choose the first answer that looks right.  Make sure they understand that several of the answers may seem right, but that they need to choose the one best answer.
• Aim high.  Encourage them to do their best and help them believe that they will do well.

Finally, when the test results are released, find out how the scores may affect your child's academic placement, or where he or she needs more work.  If there is a big difference between your child's usual classroom grades and his or her test scores, set up an appointment with the teacher to find out why.