5 Steps to Build Test Prep into Instruction with Study Island

Preparing your students for state assessments doesn’t have to mean teaching to the test. A strong test prep strategy integrates seamlessly into daily instruction, reinforcing essential skills, providing meaningful practice, and delivering data insights to help you target student needs efficiently. 

In the webinar, Ace the Test: Developing a Test Prep Strategy with Study Island, we explore how educators can build test preparation into everyday instruction—without overwhelming students or losing valuable teaching time. This article builds on those insights, offering practical strategies to incorporate Study Island into your instruction so that test prep becomes a natural extension of learning. 

How to Build Test Prep into Instruction Using Study Island, Step by Step 

Step 1: Identify Priority Standards 

With limited time before the test, prioritize the skills that will have the greatest impact on student success. A good place to start is by analyzing state blueprints and released tests to identify which standards are assessed most prominently. In most states, there are key standards or skills that are covered more than others − focus your efforts on the standards that correspond to the most questions on the test. 

Step 2: Assess Student Readiness  

Once you’ve identified your priority standards, determine each student’s level of mastery of those standards. If your students have been using Study Island throughout the school year, its performance data and Blue-Ribbon progress provides the insights you need. If not, use data from a recent assessment to determine where students stand. If you don’t have recent data, utilize Study Island’s full-length Benchmarks built from your state assessment, or use Test Builder to build a custom assessment from standards-based items.  
 
Another valuable source of insight into your students’ strengths and weaknesses is their state assessment data from the previous school year. Look for patterns that demonstrate gaps in student learning, and be sure to review last year’s scores from your previous students. Those results can help you diagnose blind spots in your instruction or locate areas on the assessment that students tend to struggle with. 

Step 3: Integrate Daily Practice 

Now that you have a clear picture of your students’ academic readiness, integrate Study Island into your daily instruction in a way that fits naturally with your lesson plan. Study Island provides multiple opportunities to incorporate consistent, low-stakes practice throughout the day. 

Bell Ringers and Warm-Ups

Starting class with a short check-in helps gauge student understanding and address misconceptions before diving into instruction. Use Group Sessions in Checkpoint Mode to ask targeted, state-aligned questions that provide immediate feedback to both teacher and student.

Guided and Independent Practice

Practice Sessions allow students to work at their own pace, reinforcing skills through repeated exposure to test-aligned questions. Scaffolded feedback helps them engage in self-correction and skill reinforcement. Turn on Game Mode to keep engagement high while students work toward mastery.

• Writing Prompts and Constructed Response: Help students develop evidence-based responses with standards-aligned writing prompts that reinforce key literacy and analytical skills.
• Skill-Building Flashcards: Assign digital flashcards to support vocabulary retention and concept reinforcement, particularly in math and science. 

Formative Assessment and Check-Ins

Custom quizzes offer a structured way to gauge mastery of priority standards, while Group Sessions in Race Mode turn quick checks into interactive, competitive experiences that provide immediate insight into student understanding. Challenge Mode can be used for reviewing key skills, increasing engagement as students compete for the highest score while reinforcing essential concepts. 

Exit Tickets and Reflection

A short Group Session in Checkpoint Mode or a targeted question set at the end of class helps reinforce learning and assess retention. These quick checks allow teachers to evaluate mastery, clarify misunderstandings, and adjust lesson pacing for the next day.  

Step 4: Monitor Progress and Adjust Instruction 

Effective instruction is about continually assessing, responding, and refining based on student performance. Study Island provides real-time data that allows teachers to adjust instruction immediately and strategically to maximize student growth before state assessments.  

The Sensei dashboard gives a clear, visual snapshot of student progress, making it easy to track mastery, identify gaps, and assign targeted practice. If a trend shows class-wide difficulty with a standard, a Group Session or targeted practice set can reinforce the skill. For individual students needing support, assigning self-paced practice or a custom quiz in Test Builder ensures focused reinforcement. 

Monitoring progress isn’t about more testing—it’s about making instruction responsive. Students who have mastered key skills move on, and students needing more practice receive scaffolded support.  

Step 5: Reinforce Learning Through Strategic Checkpoints 

With real-time progress monitoring in place, the next step is to use strategic checkpoints to reinforce learning and make final adjustments before test day. Use Test Builder to create focused assessments aligned to priority standards. A well-placed quiz or check-in will help determine if students need final reinforcement or are ready to move forward. These should be intentional and embedded naturally into instruction − an exit ticket, a set of review questions, or a small-group reteach based on recent performance data.  
 
Now that you’re ready to build test prep into your day-to-day instruction, it’s time to get started. See how Study Island can revolutionize how you help your students prepare for tests today! 
 
For more tips on preparing for assessments, check out our article, The Complete Test Day Success Guide.