I started test prep this week… and I knew I couldn’t do packets.

You know the feeling.
You give them a worksheet and they either rush through it or check out halfway.

I needed math test prep activities that would actually keep them thinking.

So I set up my classroom like a Boot Camp with stations.

And it worked.

Here is the Boot Camp in a nutshell.

If you’re looking for engaging math test prep activities, this is what worked for me. I set up stations using task cards, had students work in partners, and required them to complete a set number of problems before checking in. It gave them structure, kept them moving, and got them actually thinking instead of rushing through worksheets.

Here’s exactly what I did

The Setup

I kept this part really simple.

I laminated, cut, and hole-punched all of the task cards and put each station on a ring.
There are 20 stations total (240 task cards), so everything was ready to go.

I also set up buckets for each class period to collect tickets (this part matters later).

That’s it. Nothing fancy.

The Rules (I wrote these right on the board)

Before we started, I was very clear:

• Do NOT bend or write on the task cards
• Work with your partner (or alone)
• You must get 6 correct in each station to get tickets

And yes… I had to say the first one out loud this year. 🙃

But setting expectations upfront made everything run smoother.

How The Boot Camp Actually Ran

Students worked in partners.

Each pair could:

• go to any station
• complete any 6 problems in the station
• bring it to me to check

If they had 6 correct, they got a ticket.

Then they moved on to the next station.

Why I Only Required 6 Questions

This part was intentional.

In other years, I’ve done:

• 8 questions
• 10 questions
• sometimes all

But this year, I didn’t have a ton of time.

So instead of going deeper in one place, I wanted them to hit more topics.

Requiring only 6 meant:

• they moved faster
• they saw more standards
• no one got stuck too long

It kept the pace up and the energy high.

The Ticket System (this made a difference)

Every completed station = 6 tickets (or set amount of your choosing)

I also gave:

• bonus tickets for wearing camo or green (they were all in on this)

At the end of class:

• I pulled tickets
• winners picked a small prize or candy

Super simple, but it kept everyone working.

How Long I Ran the Review

I’m doing this for 3 days.

But you could easily stretch it to a full week if you:

• increase the number of questions
• assign stations
• or slow the pacing down

What I Noticed Right Away

Students weren’t just trying to get “an answer.”

They were:

• talking through problems
• checking each other
• actually slowing down to think

And I could step in and help in small moments instead of stopping the whole class.

Want to Try It?

If you want to see how this works in your own classroom, I put together a free sample station you can use right away.

It’s one complete station with:

• test-style questions
• a recording sheet
• answer key

Just print and try it.

Action Steps:

1. Try the Free Boot Camp Station with your class today! CLICK HERE
2. Check out all the Boot Camp for the whole year! CLICK HERE