The Importance of Test Preparation and How It Translates Beyond the Classroom

Standardized tests are a consistent part of life, from school assessments to professional certifications. Unlike intelligence or aptitude tests, these exams measure acquired skills, which can be improved through deliberate practice. As a result, test preparation is a powerful tool that not only raises test scores but also builds broader academic and personal skills. Effective test prep delivers targeted strategies, repeated exposure to test formats, and enhanced familiarity with content, which significantly boost a student’s confidence and performance.

One of the key benefits of test preparation is the development of executive function skills, such as time management, organization, and planning. These skills are not only crucial for academic performance but also highly transferable to other aspects of life, including college coursework and professional responsibilities. Test prep teaches students to build study plans, prioritize their weaknesses, and manage the stress and logistics of test day, all of which contribute to long-term success beyond the exam itself.

Test preparation also acts as a diagnostic tool, helping students identify their specific academic weaknesses and tailor their study efforts accordingly. By working through practice tests and receiving feedback, students can better understand their learning styles and adapt more effective study habits. This process of self-assessment not only improves performance on the specific standardized test but fosters deeper academic awareness and adaptability.

Perhaps most importantly, test preparation instills a growth mindset. As students face challenges, make mistakes, and improve through hard work, they develop resilience, discipline, and a sense of agency. The journey from feeling like a “bad tester” to seeing tangible results reinforces the belief that effort leads to achievement. This emotional growth, combined with academic skill-building, ensures that the impact of test prep extends well beyond test day and becomes a foundational part of a student’s personal development.

Academic Center Entrance Exam General Information

Applications for Academic Centers are currently open for registration through gocps.edu. Registration applies to current 6th graders seeking enrollment to Academic Centers for the 2025-2026 school year. Students will have the option to choose between several test dates from mid-January to early February.

Academic Centers are selective enrollment middle schools. Upon admittance, students are guaranteed enrollment into each affiliated high school. Academic Centers include the following seven schools: Kenwood, Morgan Park, Lane Tech, Taft, Lindblom, Brooks, and Whitney Young. The most competitive among these are Whitney Young and Lane Tech.

As the application process is highly competitive, students will be scored on a total of 600 points. 300 potential points will be based on a student’s fifth grade final grades in math, science, English, and social studies. An A in any given subject equates to 75 points, a B equates to 50 points, a C equates to 25 points, and a D/F equates to 0 points. The remaining 300 points will be based on their performance on the Academic Center Entrance Exam.

The Academic Center Entrance Exam is a 90-minute test composed of nine sections. The content on the exam is logic-based and requires the use of abstract thought. Each year nine out of ten potential sections are chosen which include the following: verbal classifications, sentence completion, verbal analogies, sentence arrangement, number series, figural series, figural analogies, number puzzles, matrices, and paper folding. Students will have ten minutes to complete each section.

Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266