Study & Test-Taking Skills IEP goals for middle school (grades 6 to 8)
41 of the study & test-taking skills templates in the library are written for middle school (grades 6 to 8). Each opens in the builder, where the grade band is a starting point and the baseline comes from your own assessment.
41 templates · 1 skill · 6–8 · How we write and review goals
Goals by skill
Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline.
Study & Test-Taking Skills Executive Function
Read the directions and do the sample item before starting a test
Following test directions
By the annual IEP review date, given a classroom test or quiz with written directions and a sample item, the student will complete the test-start routine using a test-start card, performing at least 4 of 5 steps independently, on 4 of 5 consecutive tests, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected each test or quiz.
Make flashcards from a study guide and quiz with them
Making and using flashcards
By the annual IEP review date, given a study guide or vocabulary list at least 3 days before a test, the student will complete the flashcard routine using a flashcard routine card, performing at least 5 of 6 steps independently, on 3 consecutive study sessions, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected each study session, at least weekly.
Take notes from a textbook section using the headings
Taking notes from a textbook
By the annual IEP review date, given a textbook section of 2 to 4 pages with headings and bold terms, the student will take notes on the section that meet the notes rubric independently, earning a score of at least 6 out of 8 on a 4-row textbook notes rubric scored 0 to 2 per row, on 3 of 4 consecutive note sets, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected weekly.
Take two-column notes during a lecture
Taking notes during a lecture
By the annual IEP review date, during a 20-minute lecture with a two-column notes page, the student will take two-column notes that meet the lecture notes rubric independently, earning a score of at least 6 out of 8 on a 4-row lecture notes rubric scored 0 to 2 per row, on 3 of 4 consecutive lectures, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected weekly.
Review and complete class notes within a day
Reviewing and fixing notes after class
By the annual IEP review date, within one school day of a lesson with notes, during a support period or at home, the student will reread the notes, fill in gaps from the slides or text, and mark anything still unclear with a question independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily and summarized weekly.
Complete the study guide before the test
Completing a study guide
By the annual IEP review date, given a teacher-made study guide at least 3 school days before a test, the student will complete the study guide items before the test day independently, completing at least 90% of assigned study guide items, on 3 consecutive study guides, as measured by work-sample analysis collected each study guide.
Middle school study & test-taking skills goals account for multiple teachers, changing classes, and more independent work. They often pair the skill with a strategy or tool, and the data can be collected across settings by different staff or by the student.
Matching data sheets
Each goal above links to the blank sheet built for its measure. These are the sheets this set of goals uses:
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 10 goals here
- Rubric trackerScores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.Used by 9 goals here
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 7 goals here
- Accuracy trackerNumber correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.Used by 15 goals here
Frequently asked questions
How are study & test-taking skills goals measured across several middle school classes?
By defining the task and the observation period so any teacher can use the same sheet, or by work samples collected from more than one class. Student self-monitoring with a weekly check is common.
Should middle school goals include study skills?
When assessment shows that organization, planning, or test preparation limits the student's progress, yes. Those goals are measured with task-analysis checklists and percent of assignments completed.
When does transition planning start?
The IEP in effect when the student turns 16 must include postsecondary goals and transition services, and many states start at 14. Middle school goals can build the self-advocacy and independence those plans rely on.
IEP Atlas Pro
Turn these goals into progress reports
Pro tracks every goal on your caseload and drafts the report for you. Free for 14 days.
Count trials, prompts, and minutes live in the session; the graph and trend line draw themselves; progress reports are drafted from your data.