Exam Day: Survival Tips

Test-Taking

Part 3

Identify key words.

This helps you focus on the main idea of challenging questions.

Rephrase difficult questions.

To understand questions better, rewrite them in your own words. Be careful not to change the meaning.

Organize your thoughts before you write.

Take your time to organize your responses to short-answer and essay questions. You’ll reduce the time you need to revise.

Write neatly.

Be sure you don’t lose points on answers the teacher can’t read.

Use all the time you’re given.

If you finish early, don’t leave. Use the extra time to proofread and review your answers.

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Exam Day: Survival Tips

Test-Taking

Part 2

During the Test

Read the Directions.

It’s important that you follow the instructions exactly. For example, some questions may have more than one correct answer.

Answer easy questions first.

Doing this you can jog your memory about useful facts. You may also come across information that can help you with other questions.

Answer every question.

Unless there is a penalty for wrong answers, try to answer every question, you may be able to get partial credit for those you begin but don’t complete correctly.

Ask questions.

If a question isn’t clear, talk to your teacher. If that’s not possible, explain your answer in the margin.

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Exam Day: Survival Tips

Test-Taking

Part 1

Essential Test-Taking Advice

Try out these strategies while you’re still in high school, and but the time you get to college, you’ll be a test-taking expert.

Before the Test

Eat well.

Studies show that you need good nutrition to concentrate and preform your best.

Bring the right supplies.

Bring your pencils, erasers, pens, rulers, compasses and calculators or whatever else you need on test day.

Review the whole test before you start.

See how many sections and what types of questions are on the test. Determine how much time to allow for completing each section.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT!!!

It’s Online, but Is It On Target?

Part 2

Research with Attitude

Conduct your research with the attitude of a skeptic. As you examine websites for clues that they’re trustworthy, ask these questions:

·       Who wrote the Web page? If you can’t identify the individual or organization responsible for the information, don’t use it.

·       What are the author’s qualifications for writing on the subject?

·       Has the article passed through an editorial process designed to ensure quality and accuracy?

·       What is the website’s purpose? Look for motives – like selling products or winning votes – that could result in biased or incomplete information.

·       Is the information accurate? Is it up to date?

·       Where did the author get the information?

 

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Take Control of Homework

So I Doesn’t Control You

Part 1

Although very few students love homework, it does serve a purpose. Homework helps you:

·        Reinforce what you’ve learned during the day.

·        Build study habits that are essential in college.

·        Prepare you for your classes.

·        Get a sense of progress.

Here are some tips to help you deal with homework more efficiently and effectively.

Set the Mood

Create a god study area with everything you need (for example, a calculator). If you don’t have a quiet place at home, try your school or local library.

Know Where to Begin

Make a list of everything you need to do, and note all deadlines. DEo the more difficult assignments first, so you don’t have to face them at the end.

Study at the Same Time Every Day

Even if you don’t have homework every night, use the time to review notes. If sitting down to work is part of your routine, you’ll approach it with less dread. Also, you’ll become a pro at using time productively.

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Note-Taking Strategies

Part 4

For Review

Once you’ve done all of the above, you’ll find you’ve created your own personalized study guide. Cover the main section of the page and use the key words and questions in the left margin as a quiz.

Stick to It

Review your notes the day you take them and all your notes once a week. That way, you won’t need to study as much when it’s test time. You’ve been doing all the work all along. Try out the Cornell system, but if it doesn’t work for you, experiment with your other methods. Ask your classmates how they take notes or ask a teacher for advice. Taking good notes requires practice, like any other skill. And the more you work at it now, the more prepared you’ll be to take notes in college.

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Note-Taking Strategies

Part 3

After Class

As soon as a class ends, review your notes and fill in any blanks. Underline, highlight and use symbols to sort through the information. If you don’t understand something, get help from your teacher or classmates.

After you’ve received all your notes from class, in the left-hand area of the page write down key words and questions your teacher might ask on a test.

At the bottom of each page, write a summary of the notes. This helps you digest what you’ve learned. It also improves your memory for the long term and for tests down the road.

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Note-Taking Strategies

Part 2

During Class

One approach that has been proven effective is called the Cornell Note-Taking System. Here are some of its methods.

Start by using the main section of your page to take down your notes during class. Be sure to leave space on the left side of the page and the bottom. Things to keep in mind:

1.    Get the speaker’s main points. Don’t write down every word you hear.

2.    Leave blanks in your notes to add explanations later.

3.    Organize as you write. Pay attention to cues such as repetition and emphasis.

4.    Indicate main and supporting points as you go.

5.    Jot down key vocabulary, important facts and formulas.

6.    Ask questions. If you’re confused, it’s better to ask while the material is still fresh in your mind.

 

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Note-Taking Strategies

Part 1

How to Get Your Class Notes into Shape

Getting the most out of high school and college means studying hard and using your time in class wisely. An effective note-taking strategy can help you do both. Here are the basics.

Stay Organized

It may seem obvious, but your class notes can only help you if you can find them. When you’re taking notes be sure to:

·       Keep all your notes in one place.

·       Date and number pages; keeping them in order makes it easier to understand them later.

 

Before Class

Review the materials assigned for that class period thoroughly. Bring a list of any questions you may have.

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Distance Education: Is a Virtual Classroom for You?

Part 4 of 4

Emphasis on the Written Word

Most of the communication, as well as the course work, in distance-learning classes is written. That’s a plus, because the focus on the written word gives you the opportunity to develop as a writer – and strong writing skills are essential to academic success. However, if writing is a serious weakness for you, virtual education may not be the best educational option until you improve your skills. Yes, most of distance education is the written word; therefore, you need to be a good reader, love to read, and love writing also. Most of your assignments will be written and submitted to the instructor in the written format. Your penmanship needs to be excellent, spelling great, sentence structure above average, vocabulary extraordinary. You need to have online access and have reliable equipment. If your Internet communication isn’t working, you can’t do online education from home and you need to go to someplace where you do have access to the Internet.

 

Decide Whether It’s Right for You

Distance education isn’t for everyone, but it just might be for you. You really should seek it out and give it a try. You never know until you try. You might even fall in love with distance education. While distance education might be the perfect alternative for some students, it’s not the right choice for everyone. So carefully consider your unique needs and interests and give distance education a try; then, decide if it’s right for you.

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Distance Education: Is a Virtual Classroom for You?

Part 4 of 4

Emphasis on the Written Word

Most of the communication, as well as the course work, in distance-learning classes is written. That’s a plus, because the focus on the written word gives you the opportunity to develop as a writer – and strong writing skills are essential to academic success. However, if writing is a serious weakness for you, virtual education may not be the best educational option until you improve your skills. Yes, most of distance education is the written word; therefore, you need to be a good reader, love to read, and love writing also. Most of your assignments will be written and submitted to the instructor in the written format. Your penmanship needs to be excellent, spelling great, sentence structure above average, vocabulary extraordinary. You need to have online access and have reliable equipment. If your Internet communication isn’t working, you can’t do online education from home and you need to go to someplace where you do have access to the Internet.

 

Decide Whether It’s Right for You

Distance education isn’t for everyone, but it just might be for you. You really should seek it out and give it a try. You never know until you try. You might even fall in love with distance education. While distance education might be the perfect alternative for some students, it’s not the right choice for everyone. So carefully consider your unique needs and interests and give distance education a try; then, decide if it’s right for you.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Balancing High School and Part-Time Work

Part 5

Additional Tips

Although working and going to school is challenging, it can be a rewarding experience if you use some foresight. These tips can help you handle the situation and make the most of your time:

·      Discuss your plans with your family. Balancing the demands of school and work is easier with their support.

·      Start slowly; don’t commit to working a lot of hours immediately.

·      Avoid time conflicts by planning your class and work schedules as far ahead of time as possible.

·      Use your time efficiently. You can use 10 minutes waiting in a line to go over a few passages of assigned reading. If your job has a lot of downtime and your boss has no objection, you can work along the way.

·      Be flexible and willing to make sacrifices. You may have to cut down on some other things you’d like to do because of your school and work commitments.

·      If you have too much on your plate, admit it. Then cut back as needed.

·      Schedule relaxation time. Everyone needs some downtime to stay happy and healthy.

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Balancing High School and Part- Time Work

Part 3

Brad MacGowan, of the Career Center at Newton North High School in Massachusetts, thinks that working can be a valuable part of a student’s life, if taken on responsibility. “You can derive a great deal from working, considerably more than just money,” he says. “In most cases, you can acquire a nice dose of discipline and a whole new set of skills and experience.” In addition, your supervisor may be willing to write a strong college recommendation for you.

School Comes First

Schoolwork, including homework and studying for tests, should always be your top priority. MacGowan cautions students who do decide to work, “If you are rushing through your assignments … or not studying enough for tests because of work, it’s time to cut back or quit and find a less time-consuming job.“

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Balancing High School Work and Part-Time Work

Part 1

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/45266.html

Like many high school students, you may want – or need – to work part-time. Working takes a lot of time and energy, though, so before getting a job, make sure that you think about your ability to handle both work and your education.

 

Important Considerations

You have to weigh a number of factors when deciding whether to take on a part-time job. It’s important to get as much information as possible, so you can figure out what choice makes the most sense for you.

Schedule a meeting with your school counselor to discuss the idea of working. Talk to your counselor about why you want to work and what type of position you’re seeking.

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Selecting Your Courses

Part 6

Success in AP can also help you in other ways. AP helps you stand out in the admissions process and offers the opportunity to learn from some of the most inspiring teachers in the world. Learn more about the AP Program.

For more Help in Choosing Courses

Use College Search to look up specific college’s academic requirements to be sure you are on track to attend the college of your choice.

If you have concerns about your class schedule or progress in school, set up a meeting with your school counselor, teacher, or adviser.

There are many resources to help you with this process and with achieving your personal, college and career goals. Without goals, you meander all sorts of directions. Goals give you purpose, direction, enthusiasm, and passion for that which you really desire. Define your goals deliberately, evaluate your goals often and make changes as necessary, work hardtop achieve your goals, and continue working hard until you actually do reach your goals.

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Selecting Your Courses

Part 5

The Arts

Research indicates that students that participate in the arts often do better in school and on standardized tests. The arts help you recognize patterns, discern differences and similarities, and exercise your mind in unique ways, often outside a traditional classroom setting.

Many colleges require or recommend one or two semesters in the arts. Good choices include studio art, dance, music and drama. Many students have talents and extraordinary abilities in the arts. Students should look within their own repertoire of talents and identify their artistic abilities and take college classes to develop their talents

 

Advanced Placement Programs* (AP*)

To be sure you are ready to take on college-level work, enroll in the most challenging courses you can in high school, such as honors or AP courses. Research consistently shows that students that score a 3.0 or higher on an AP Exam typically experience greater academic success and college graduation rates than students who don’t take AP.

Work hard in your righteous pursuits, and you will reap the benefits of self-fulfillment and job satisfaction. Don’t take shortcuts just to “get by,” instead, take challenging and difficult roads (courses) and reach higher mountain peaks of achievement.

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Selecting Your Courses

Part 4

Social Studies

You can better understand local and world events that are happening right now by studying the culture and history that has shaped them. Here is a suggested course plan:

·       U.S. history (two semesters)

·       U.S. government (one semester)

·       World history or geography (one semester)

·       One additional  semester in the above or other areas

 

Foreign Languages

Solid foreign language study shows colleges you’re willing to stretch beyond the basics. Many colleges require at least two years of study in the same foreign language, and some prefer more.

 

Learning a foreign language can be a challenge but is exciting. Repetition is the key to learning a language, and having conversations with others speaking the same language is the best way to learn this new language. Repetition in a fun way will build your skills thoroughly as you seek to master new languages.

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Selecting Your Courses

Part 3

Science

Science teaches you to think and apply theories to reality. Colleges want to see that you’ve taken at least three years of laboratory science classes. A good combination includes two semesters of each of the following sciences:

·       Biology

·       Chemistry or physics

·       Earth/space science

 

More competitive schools expect you to take four years of lab science courses. You can add two semesters in one of the following subjects:

·       Chemistry or physics (the science you didn’t already study)

·       Advanced biology

·       Advanced chemistry

·       Advanced physics

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The Power of Study Groups

http://www.collegeboard.com/students/plan/high-school/50432.html

Part 2

The Benefits of Study Groups

Group study offers other advantages in addition to gaining a deeper understanding of class material. These include the opportunity to;

Reinforce note taking. If your AP Biology notes are unclear, you can ask a member of your study group to help you fill in the gaps.

Share talents. Each person brings different strengths, such as organizational skills, the ability to stick to a task or a capacity for memorization.

Cover more ground. Group members may be able to solve a calculus problem together that none would have solved alone.

Benefit from a support system. Members often have common goals, such as good grades. Each person’s work affects the other members, which results in making members supportive of one another.

Socialize. It’s more fun to study with others; the give-and-take makes it more interesting. And because it’s more fun, you spend more time studying!

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How to Take on College Studying

Part 2

http://www.brainpop.com/

Choose Where to Study

W

here you should study depends on two factors: the environment in which you are best able to concentrate and the type of work you are planning to do.

·       The best places to study have good light, a comfortable temperature and enough desk space – usually your dorm room, your apartment or the library.

·       For completing problem sets or brainstorming possible test questions, you may want to study with a group or at least in a setting where fellow students are available for discussion.

·       When you are reading book chapters or working on a research paper, you are probably better off in a less social environment.

Improve Your Study Habits

H

ere are some simple steps you can take to help you get a handle on studying:

·       Have a Routine for when and where you study.

·       Choose reasonable and specific goals that you can accomplish for each study session.

·       Do things that are harder or require more intense thought at your most productive time of day.

·       Take breaks if you need them so you don’t waste time looking at material but not absorbing it.

·       Get to know students whom you respect and can study with or contact to ask questions.

·       Keep up with the workload and seek help when you need it.

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