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Math, Test Prep
April 25, 2025
The Math Test Prep Game That Turns Review Into Something Students Love
Tips for Using Math Test Prep Games in Your Upper Elementary Classroom
A behind-the-scenes look at how I use Jeopardy-style math test prep games to build confidence, teach through mistakes, and make review less stressful for upper elementary students.
Test prep season used to fill me (and my students) with dread. I wanted them to feel confident going into standardized tests—but endless worksheets and packets weren’t doing much besides burning everyone out. I needed something different. Something engaging. Something fun.
That’s when I started turning our math review into a Jeopardy-style math test prep game.
And let me tell you—it completely changed the vibe of our test prep. Students were suddenly excited to review fractions. They were eager to solve multi-step problems. And they were learning more from their mistakes than they ever had before.
Here’s exactly how I use math test prep games to make review something students look forward to—plus how you can use them in your upper elementary classroom too.
The Power of the Explanation Slides
Yes, the game format is fun. Yes, the competition keeps students on their toes. But the real learning magic? That happens after the question—on the explanation slides.
Every single math question in my Jeopardy-style math test prep games includes:
- A question slide (shows the problem)
- An answer slide (just the final answer—no steps yet)
- And then an explanation slide that visually walks through how to solve it
Some explanation slides are even animated, revealing one step at a time so students can follow along and discuss.
That separation is intentional. It gives students a chance to try again, reflect on their thinking, and talk through what went wrong. It turns mistakes into powerful teaching moments—and helps build math confidence in a way that checking an answer key never could.
This is such a great math review! I absolutely love how you not only have the question and answer slides, but you also have slides to explain how to arrive at the answer, and some of those explanations have a couple of different ways to reach the answer so that the kids can see multiple strategies! This is amazing!
- Miss Js Journey
How I Keep All Students Accountable
One of the best parts of using a math test prep game is how easy it is to keep every student involved—not just the team answering out loud.
Recording Sheets = Focus + Accountability
At the start of every game, I pass out a recording sheet. Students use it to write down their answers and show their work—even when it’s not their turn to answer.
Why this matters:
- Keeps all students engaged throughout the game
- Encourages independent thinking during team play
- Gives you a way to check for understanding or gather formative data
Bonus tip: Award bonus points to teams where every member shows their work. It’s a simple way to encourage full participation and neat, complete problem-solving.
Stealing Questions = Built-In Engagement
If a team answers incorrectly, I give other teams a chance to “steal” the question and earn the points—but they only have 10 seconds to share their answer.
This means teams have to be working during the original team’s turn if they want a shot at the points. No time to start solving after the fact!
This keeps the whole class actively engaged and adds a fun sense of urgency.
Teacher tip: You can even give small bonuses to teams who didn’t steal out loud but had the correct answer written on their recording sheet.
Using Games in Small Groups or One-on-One
Math test prep games aren’t just for whole-class review—I use them in small groups and tutoring, too.
In one-on-one sessions, I turn it into a personal challenge. The student tries to earn as many points as possible, and we pause after each question to review the explanation slide together. It’s way more effective (and fun!) than doing a worksheet.
One of my tutoring students would beg to do Jeopardy every session—just to try and beat their own high score.
Real Test-Like Questions Built Into Every Game
What makes these math test prep games different from others is the rigor. I didn’t just make up review questions—I designed them to reflect what students actually see on state tests.
To do that, I spent time reviewing practice tests and released questions from multiple state education websites—STAAR, MCAP, MCAS, CMAS, and more. I looked for:
- Common question formats
- Visual models like number lines and area models
- Multi-step problems that require reasoning—not guessing
The result? A math test prep game that’s fun, but still gives students authentic practice for high-stakes testing.
We used this resource to prepare our 4th graders for the state test. The questions were extremely helpful in reviewing the skills they learned this year. They aligned perfectly with the questions they get on the test.
- Georgeta S.
How I Play Math Test Prep Games in the Classroom
Here’s how I set up a math test prep game for whole-class play:
- Divide students into teams of 3–5.
- Let them choose fun team names and add them to the scoreboard.
- Set clear expectations: show your work, collaborate, and stay engaged.
- Hand out recording sheets to every student.
- Play in slideshow mode so the hyperlinks and scoreboard work.
- Review each explanation slide together to turn mistakes into teachable moments.
Never Played Jeopardy in Class Before? I’ve Got You.
If this is your first time using a Jeopardy-style game, don’t worry—I include a detailed teacher guide in the PDF for every math test prep game. It walks you through:
- How to set up your teams and scoreboard
- Gameplay rules and optional variations
- How to use the record sheet
- Navigation tips for PowerPoint and Google Slides
Whether you’re teaching 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade math, you’ll be set up for a smooth, engaging review day.
What Teachers Are Saying
"This was a game-changing resource for my EOY math review with my 5th grade students. It was engaging and fun and SO WELL CREATED—this is QUALITY—and I appreciated how answers AND explanations were embedded in the slides. It made it so easy and fun! Well worth the money to keep my sanity there at the end."
-Laura R. 5th Grade
"The students absolutely LOVED this resource and basically begged me to do it multiple times! Highly recommend."
-Teacher Brain Always On. 4th Grade
"This resource was AMAZING!!! We used this for review before the state test at the end of the year. It was engaging, helpful, and easy to use. My students had so much fun playing and learning. I was even able to post it on their Google Classrooms for additional review at home. Would 1000% recommend!!!"
-Courtney J. 5th Grade
Final Thoughts: Real Learning Through Review
These math test prep games aren’t just about review—they’re about teaching. They help students:
- Think critically
- Talk about math strategies
- Learn from their mistakes
With every explanation slide and every chance to steal a question, students are practicing real skills in a low-pressure, high-engagement environment.
And when they’re excited to prep for math tests? That’s a win in my book.
Ready to try a math test prep game with your students?
You can explore all of my math test prep games right here in my TPT store. I’ve got options for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade—plus seasonal themes, bundles, and topic-specific sets.
Let’s make math review fun and meaningful this year. You’ve got this!
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Hey, I'm Samantha
I’m a teacher, creator, designer, and lifelong learner passionate about developing engaging educational resources that save you time, lighten your workload, and inspire your students to think and learn in new ways.
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