Review Sessions Before Tests: How to Keep Students Engaged Instead of Sleeping
Transform boring test review sessions into engaging learning experiences. A math teacher shares game-based strategies, active review techniques, and proven methods that help students retain information and actually enjoy reviewing for exams.
Picture this: It's the day before the unit test. You've prepared a comprehensive review covering all the key concepts. You stand at the front, explaining important formulas while students take notes. Twenty minutes in, you notice: Marcus is asleep. Sophia is staring out the window. Three students in the back are passing notes. Half the class is physically present but mentally somewhere else entirely. This was my review session reality for years. I'd re-teach everything, students would passively listen (or not), and the next day's test scores would show that almost nothing stuck. Then I discovered something that transformed my review sessions from the most dreaded day of the unit to the one students actually look forward to. Here's how I turned review from boring recap into active, game-based learning that makes concepts stick.
The Problem with Traditional Review Sessions
Before I could fix review sessions, I had to understand why they weren't working. Traditional review follows a predictable pattern: teacher re-explains key concepts, students copy notes, work through a few example problems, ask if there are questions (silence), hand out practice worksheet. This approach has fatal flaws.
Why Students Zone Out
- •Repetition without novelty: They've heard this content before—hearing it again the same way doesn't create new neural pathways
- •Passive reception: Listening and copying doesn't engage the memory systems that testing will activate
- •Low stakes: There's no feedback loop telling them what they actually know versus what they think they know
- •Energy mismatch: Pre-test anxiety makes students either too stressed to focus or mentally checked out
- •One-size-fits-all: Students who need basic review and those who need extension are bored by the same content
Cognitive science shows that retrieving information strengthens memory more than re-studying it. Traditional review is re-studying; game-based review forces retrieval. Students who practice retrieving information before tests significantly outperform those who simply review notes.
The Active Review Revolution
I transformed my review sessions using one core principle: students learn by doing, not by watching. Every minute of review should have students actively retrieving, applying, or discussing concepts—not passively receiving information.
Game-Based Review Strategies That Work
Strategy 1: Quiz-Quiz-Trade
Students each get a flashcard with a review question. They find a partner, quiz each other, then trade cards and find new partners. The entire class is moving, talking about math, and practicing retrieval simultaneously.
Why it works: Every student answers every question at least once. Movement increases alertness. Social interaction boosts engagement. Students who don't know answers get immediate peer teaching.
Strategy 2: Trashketball
Teams solve problems; correct answers earn the chance to throw a paper ball into the trash can (or bucket) for bonus points. Simple, but incredibly effective. My middle schoolers will solve difficult equations just for the chance to shoot.
Implementation tips: Use tiered problems worth different points. Allow teams to collaborate on harder problems. The physical activity of throwing resets attention and creates memorable associations with the content.
Strategy 3: Jeopardy-Style Review
Create a game board with categories matching your test topics. Teams choose questions of varying difficulty for different point values. I use a free online Jeopardy template and prepare questions in advance.
Key modifications: Require written work before answering—no shouting out. Allow "phone a friend" for team collaboration. Include "Daily Double" questions for dramatic engagement. Add visual or word problems to vary the format.
Strategy 4: Station Rotation
Set up stations around the room, each focused on a different test topic. Students rotate every 8-10 minutes. Each station has different activity types: one might be individual practice, another partner games, another technology-based review.
| Station | Activity Type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Station 1 | Individual problems with answer key | Basic computation |
| Station 2 | Partner quiz cards | Word problems |
| Station 3 | Technology (Sorokid/Kahoot) | Mental math |
| Station 4 | Create your own problem | Application |
| Station 5 | Teacher support table | Struggling areas |
Strategy 5: "I Have, Who Has" Chain
Each student gets a card: "I have [answer to previous question]. Who has [new question]?" One student starts, reads their question, and whoever has that answer continues the chain. The goal is to complete the chain without breaking.
Benefits: Every student must pay attention because they might be next. Mistakes become teachable moments when the chain breaks. The time-challenge aspect adds excitement.
Strategy 6: Escape Room Review
Create a series of puzzles where solving one reveals the clue for the next. Teams "escape" by completing all challenges. This takes significant preparation but creates unforgettable review sessions.
Puzzle 1: Solve 5 problems, use answers to create a code. Puzzle 2: Use code to unlock a clue about the next topic. Puzzle 3: Word problems that reveal a hidden message. Final Puzzle: Apply all concepts to a real-world scenario.
Low-Prep Review Games
Not every review session can be an elaborate production. Here are games requiring minimal preparation.
Whiteboard Wars
Every student has a small whiteboard. You pose a problem; they solve and hold up answers simultaneously. Instant formative assessment, and students love the competitive element of trying to be first.
Around the World
Classic but effective. Two students stand, you give a problem, first to answer correctly moves to challenge the next student. Winner tries to make it "around the world" by beating everyone.
Four Corners</h3>
Post answers A, B, C, D in room corners. Read a question; students move to the corner with their chosen answer. Instant visual of who understands what. Great for multiple choice practice.
Silent Ball</h3>
Students silently pass a ball. When you call "stop," whoever has the ball answers a question. Correct answer means they stay in; wrong answer and they sit. Surprisingly effective for maintaining attention.
Technology-Enhanced Review
Technology can amplify engagement when used purposefully. Here are tools I use regularly.
- •Kahoot: Competitive quiz format that students love—great for fact recall
- •Quizizz: Self-paced alternative to Kahoot, better for varied ability levels
- •Blooket: Game modes that feel less repetitive than traditional quiz games
- •Gimkit: Students earn virtual currency, adding economic strategy to review
- •Sorokid: Visual math practice that builds speed and confidence
Technology review should supplement, not replace, written problem-solving practice. Tests are usually paper-based, so students need practice in that format too. I limit technology review to 15-20 minutes maximum per session.
Structuring a Balanced Review Session
Here's my typical 50-minute review session structure.
| Time | Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 0-5 min | Quick individual pre-assessment | Identify gaps |
| 5-20 min | Game-based review (main activity) | Retrieval practice |
| 20-30 min | Focused practice on identified weak areas | Targeted learning |
| 30-45 min | Second game or technology review | Sustained engagement |
| 45-50 min | Individual reflection and questions | Personal preparation |
Notice: I never spend 50 minutes on one activity. Variety maintains engagement. Each transition resets attention.
Addressing Different Learner Needs
One challenge of review sessions is the range of student readiness. Some need basic remediation; others need extension. Game-based review can accommodate this.
For Struggling Students
- •Station rotation with a teacher-support station
- •Tiered question cards (start with basics, work up)
- •Partner games where stronger students are paired with struggling ones
- •"Phone a friend" options that allow collaboration
For Advanced Students
- •Challenge problems worth bonus points
- •"Create your own question" stations
- •Leadership roles as team captains or peer tutors
- •Extension puzzles that go beyond test content
Measuring Review Session Effectiveness
How do you know your review actually worked? I track several indicators: exit ticket scores (can they answer questions now?), next-day test performance (did the review translate to results?), student feedback (did they feel prepared?), and engagement observation (were they actively participating?).
Since switching to active review methods, my students' test scores have improved by an average of 12%. More importantly, anxiety levels before tests have decreased. Students feel prepared because they've actually practiced retrieval in a low-stakes environment.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •All games, no substance: Games should review content, not replace practice
- •Competition that discourages: Balance competition with collaboration
- •Technology overwhelm: Don't use tech for tech's sake
- •Ignoring the quiet students: Active review should engage everyone, not just extroverts
- •No individual processing time: End with personal reflection, not group activity
A Sample Review Session Plan
Here's a specific example for a 5th-grade fractions unit review.
Minutes 0-5: Entry ticket with 3 fraction problems (identify starting level). Minutes 5-20: Trashketball with fraction computation problems (teams of 3). Minutes 20-30: Whiteboard practice on word problems (whole class). Minutes 30-40: Kahoot on fraction concepts (individual devices). Minutes 40-48: Partner quiz-quiz-trade with mixed problems. Minutes 48-50: Individual reflection ("What do I still need to study?").
Final Thoughts: Review as Learning, Not Just Recap
The shift that transformed my teaching was recognizing that review sessions are learning sessions. They're not just recapping what students should already know—they're actively strengthening neural pathways through retrieval practice. When students play a review game, they're not just having fun (though they are). They're doing the cognitive work that makes knowledge stick. The engagement isn't a bonus—it's the mechanism of learning.
If your review sessions have become exercises in staying awake, try one game from this article. Watch what happens when students are active participants rather than passive recipients. You might find that your most dreaded teaching day becomes one of the most effective.
Looking for engaging math review activities? Sorokid provides game-based practice that makes review fun—perfect for pre-test preparation that students actually enjoy.
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