May is officially here, which means we are deep in the trenches of testing season. The weather is warming up, attention spans are shrinking, and test anxiety is starting to bubble up for both teachers and students.
As educators, we know that reviewing for standardized tests is necessary. But let’s be honest: handing out massive review packets is a surefire way to drain whatever energy your classroom has left. If you want to keep your students focused and confident this time of year, you need math test prep activities that are rigorous, engaging, and genuinely fun.
Here is how you can ditch the “drill and kill” worksheets and make your end of year math review something your students actually look forward to.
When students stare down a 50-question review packet, cognitive overload sets in immediately. This often leads to careless mistakes, frustration, and a spike in test anxiety. Rote memorization and repetitive drills might cover a lot of ground quickly, but they rarely help students build the critical thinking skills required for tricky, multi-step word problems.
Instead of exhausting your students before the big day, try shifting your focus toward activities that disguise the learning process.
Instead of trying to review an entire year’s worth of fractions, geometry, and multiplication in one week, tackle just one or two specific skills a day. Focus on the heavy-hitter standards where your students need the most support. Bite-sized review sessions prevent cognitive fatigue and help students feel successful, building their confidence right before testing week.
If your students are antsy, use that energy to your advantage! Turn your review questions into a “room roam” or “scoot” activity by taping task cards around the classroom. Alternatively, let students work in pairs to solve complex word problems. Getting blood flowing to the brain improves focus, and talking through the steps with a peer helps solidify their understanding of tricky math concepts.
The absolute best way to lower test anxiety? Make them forget they are practicing for a test. When students are deeply invested in solving a puzzle, cracking a code, or completing a challenge, their guard comes down. They naturally slow down, read the questions more carefully, and double-check their work—exactly the test-taking strategies we want them to use!
If you want an engaging math review activity that requires zero prep on your end, Test Prep Math Mysteries are the perfect solution.
Instead of a boring worksheet, students are presented with a thrilling storyline and a list of suspects. To figure out who committed the crime, they have to solve a series of math clues. Because these mysteries naturally spiral multiple math concepts into a single activity, they are the ultimate tool for end of year math review.
Students are so highly motivated to find the clues and eliminate suspects that they actively practice critical test skills—like showing their work and reading instructions thoroughly—without any prodding from you.
Give yourself a break from direct instruction and give your students a review activity they will actually beg to finish!
Check out My Test-Prep Math Mystery ‘The Case of the Terrible Test Twist’ – which reviews so many skill in one fun pack. It’s a great way to quickly review a variety of skills and to also assess areas where your students may need more practice and review on. This particular math mystery pack is a special and unique one from my other traditional math mysteries, as it contains 8 clues instead of the usual 5. Currently available in edition packs from 1st – 6th, complete with a video hook and ending – check out the links below to see what skills are covered in each:
