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Motivation Matters: How MasteryPrep Keeps Students Engaged in Test Prep

  • February 6, 2025

In the world of standardized testing, engagement and motivation can mean the difference between students tuning out or unlocking their full potential.

At MasteryPrep, we understand that effective learning starts with engagement. Our CEO and Founder, Craig Gehring, recently shared insights on how we prioritize student engagement in all our test prep offerings and solutions—so that we can boost student confidence before test day and maximize outcomes.

Why does engagement matter in test prep, and how we make it a central focus in everything we do in the build-up to test day?

  • Why Engagement Matters in Test Prep

Engagement is the foundation of all learning. As Gehring says, “No learning can happen without engagement—without the learner’s mind connecting with the activity.” When students feel disconnected, they tend to check out. They might put a toe in the water, but if the experience is intimidating or uninspiring, they disengage completely.

That’s why MasteryPrep adopts an engagement-first approach when designing its live services and digital offerings. Every lesson, activity, and resource we create starts with the question: “How will this engage students?”

The answer lies in making content relatable, interactive, and designed for success.

  • Making Content Relatable and Relevant

One of the key strategies MasteryPrep employs is ensuring test prep material connects with students’ real-world experiences. If content feels unfamiliar or irrelevant, students tune out. “For example, if we talk about subways, only a percentage of students will relate. If we talk about the beach, some students have never been there,” Gehring says. “There’s a relatability component to it, and there’s a whole ton of universal experiences that teenagers may be interested in that relate to the topics at hand.”

A great example of this is seen in MasteryPrep’s biology course program. Instead of presenting cell structures and organs in isolation, we compare them to apps on a smartphone—something every student is familiar with. This kind of real-world analogy makes abstract concepts more tangible and easier to grasp.

  • Elevating Engagement by Answering "Why?"

A major factor in student motivation is understanding why test prep matters. Many students see standardized testing as just another hoop to jump through, or another hurdle to graduation. But when they understand the real-world benefits—such as scholarships, college admissions, and long-term economic value of a college degree, to name just a few—they become more invested.

“One of the most powerful ways to motivate students is to ask them, ‘What do you want to do after high school?’” Gehring says. “When they connect their future goals to the importance of these tests, they begin to see the value themselves.”

By emphasizing the impact a few extra points on a test can have—from increasing scholarship opportunities to opening doors to college—MasteryPrep helps students develop intrinsic motivation that keeps them engaged throughout the learning process. We also help teachers understand the importance of communicating these outcomes to students.

“No learning can happen without engagement—without the learner's mind connecting with the activity."

  • Creating a College-Going Culture
Engagement isn’t just about individual students—it’s about the entire school culture. Research shows that peer influence is one of the strongest motivators for high school students. If a school fosters a culture where test preparation and college readiness are celebrated, students are more likely to care.

MasteryPrep helps schools build this type of culture through practical, easy-to-implement strategies shared at our Professional Development sessions and through other resources. We may encourage schools to host college days where students wear college gear, sparking conversations about higher education.

“When we celebrate students who improve their ACT score by two points, rather than just those who score a 30 or higher, it creates a broader sense of achievement,” Gehring explains. “Because then you get a broader cross-section, and it goes across all the peer bubbles. Suddenly, the star football player is on the ACT scoreboard, and that has a totally different set of repercussions in the school to create that culture.”

These simple but effective strategies help create an environment where students are excited about learning and motivated to succeed.

  • Meeting Students Where They Are

Another critical aspect of engagement is making sure students feel capable of success. One of the biggest demotivators is feeling incompetent. Standardized tests are inherently challenging, and many students fear failure. If the material feels too difficult, they shut down.

To prevent this, MasteryPrep uses a scaffolding approach.

“We start with simpler concepts, building confidence along the way,” Gehring says. “Then we gradually increase the rigor until students are tackling full test-level questions with confidence.”

Additionally, we use data-driven insights to tailor instruction. Our diagnostic tools identify areas where students are ready to make the biggest gains, ensuring they focus on high-impact topics that boost scores and build confidence simultaneously.

  • The MasteryPrep Difference
At MasteryPrep, engagement isn’t an afterthought—it’s the foundation of everything we do. From making lessons relatable to creating a culture of achievement and using data to personalize learning, our goal is to keep students motivated and invested in their success.

By designing test prep solutions that prioritize engagement and motivation, we help schools and districts ensure that every student has the opportunity to perform their best on test day. When students are engaged, they don’t just learn—they thrive.

Upcoming Webinar: Explore Student Engagement in Test Prep

Join J. Kelly, MasteryPrep's VP of Instructional Operations, on Wednesday, February 26 at 11:30 AM CT/12:30 PM ET for a webinar where you’ll discover how effective student engagement in test prep can build your students’ confidence for standardized assessments like the ACT, SAT, and TSIA2.
Learn More

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Motivation Matters: How MasteryPrep Keeps Students Engaged in Test Prep

Why does engagement matter in test prep, and how we make it a central focus in everything we do in the build-up to test day?

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ACT® is the registered trademark of ACT, Inc. Some items in MasteryPrep programs are the copyrighted content of ACT, Inc. and are reproduced with permission. SAT® is a trademark of the College Board. MasteryPrep LLC has no affiliation with College Board MasteryPrep SAT programs are not approved or endorsed by College Board. The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) is an ACCUPLACER® exam, which is a trademark of College Board. MasteryPrep has no affiliation with College Board or the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), and the TSIA2 Mastery program is not approved or endorsed by College Board or the TSI. WorkKeys® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. The WorkKeys programs are not approved or endorsed by ACT, Inc.

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