HSAP Reminder for Students & Parents: Tips for Test-Taking

By: Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Assistant Principal for Instruction

Dutch Fork High School will administer the High School Assessment Program (HSAP) Exam to all students in their second year of high school on April 12-14, 2011. Additionally, any student who was unsuccessful on a previous administration will receive another opportunity to score proficient or advanced on this assessment. The schedule for HSAP testing is as follows: 

April 12 - ELA Day 1

April 13 - ELA Day 2 (NO DELAYED OPENING)

April 14 - Math

April 15, 25-29 - Make Up Exams

There are several steps parents can take to help maximize their child’s performance on the HSAP exam. Parents can make sure their student gets a good night’s rest, eats a healthy breakfast, and reports to school early on these dates. It is also important for parents to talk with their child about HSAP to help reduce test anxiety, praise their child when he or she performs well on HSAP, and encourage him or her to try harder and focus when they encounter difficult questions on the test.

Students can also take steps to help them perform better on test day, such as arrive early on test day, be comfortable but alert, and stay relaxed and confident. When nerves take over, students should remember to take several slow, deep breaths and relax. During the test, students should try to answer questions in a strategic order; that is, answer the easy questions first to build confidence and tackle the difficult questions last. A final step for students is to review their tests after completion, making sure they did not forget to answer any questions, miss-mark any answers, or made any other type of careless mistake.

These few simple steps could help Dutch Fork High School students earn proficient and advanced results on HSAP. For more information about testing you can contact Ms. Melissa Turner, Testing Coordinator at 476-3416 or Robert Jackson, Assistant Principal for Instruction @ 476-3353. Additionally, you can visit the South Carolina Department of Education website http://ed.sc.gov/agency/Accountability/Assessment/old/assessment/programs/hsap/.