Test Prep in the ELA Middle School Classroom, Make Test Prep Fun with Games and Escape Rooms

 Struggling to get your students to engage when it comes to test prep? You’re not alone! Your students may not cheer at the thought of test prep, but there’s good news: it doesn’t have to be a groan-inducing chore for students—or teachers. With the right approach, it can actually be fun!

Traditional test prep can feel monotonous and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. By incorporating games and escape rooms, you can turn test prep into an engaging and effective experience for everyone.

Why Test Prep Often Feels Overwhelming

Before diving into fun strategies, it’s important to understand why traditional test prep often falls flat. Memorization fatigue is something that your students might be struggling with along with difficulty applying abstract grammar or comprehension skills. These challenges can have a huge impact on performance and motivation. 

The Power of Using Games in Test Prep

It’s no surprise that students love playing games—they’re engaging, interactive, and rewarding! I have always loved using games in test prep because it increases participation and enthusiasm in a way that traditional methods just can’t. Games encourage teamwork and critical thinking as students solve problems together, taking the experience from high-pressure to relaxed and enjoyable.

For example, a game of Test Prep Jeopardy can really energize your classroom! Create categories like grammar rules, figurative language, and vocabulary to turn review sessions into exciting competitions that students look forward to. By presenting tasks as challenges rather than drills, you’ll reduce test anxiety and boost student confidence.

Using Escape Rooms for ELA Test Prep

Escape rooms are a classroom favorite for students and teachers alike. Students work independently or in teams to complete tasks and “escape the room.” These activities reinforce key ELA concepts, such as grammar, comprehension, and writing skills, in a highly interactive way.

Escape rooms promote collaboration and communication, building students’ confidence in applying ELA skills under pressure. The best part? They feel more like a reward than a chore.

I created these ELA Escape Rooms to make it easy and fun to implement these in your classroom. This resource includes 10 exciting escape room activities designed specifically for middle school students. The topics covered include:

- Grammar Common Errors

- Phrases and Clauses

- Figurative Language

- Homophones

- Parts of Speech

- Language Arts Test Prep

- Apostrophes

- Synonym and Antonyms

- Sentence Fragment or Run-On

- Critical Thinking

This bundle is a game changer for test prep. It saves teachers time with pre-made, standards-aligned activities while engaging students in fun, challenging ways that don’t feel like traditional test prep.

Tips for Using Games and Escape Rooms

When it comes to implementing games, start small by introducing them in short sessions. Create teams and encourage peer learning and support. Assign roles like ‘team leader,’ ‘clue master,’ or ‘recorder’ to ensure everyone contributes!

Use games as part of a reward system to incentivize participation. Don’t have any games ready to use? No problem! Here are some other pre-made, ready-to-use games for your ELA test prep:

Sentence Structure Trashketball Games

Question Trail Game

ELA Review Jeopardy

Don’t let test prep drain your students’ energy—or yours! These pre-made games and escape rooms will keep everyone engaged while saving you valuable prep time. With a little creativity, test prep can go from blah to brilliant!