How to study for a test

5 Tips To Create The Perfect Study Space

Being able to study from the comfort of your own home is one of the biggest advantages to studying online. And you might be tempted to curl up on the sofa or hijack the kitchen table.

But having a dedicated distraction-free space to work from can make your study sessions much more productive and effective.

So we’re sharing these five tips to help you create the perfect study space!

1) Keep it free from clutter

Keeping your study space organized and free from clutter can help you study more productively and efficiently.

And we’re not just making up facts to get you to keep your room tidy: there’s scientific evidence to back this up.

So keep your desk clear of scrap paper and empty coffee mugs, and use drawers and desk organizers to keep your space tidy. It’ll help you concentrate better!

2) Try to find a spot with natural light

Natural light can make us humans feel happier, more alert and more productive – so try and pick a spot for your study space with plenty of natural light!

If that’s not possible, then make sure your study space is well lit with artificial lights. Even if you have to buy a desk lamp (or two), it’ll be worth it to avoid straining your eyes by studying in the dark.

And pay attention to how your lamps are located. Make sure the light isn’t shining straight into your eyes (which is painful) or causing distracting reflections on your computer screen.

3) Make it positive and personal

Decorating your study space can help you stay motivated and make studying feel less stressful.

Try adding a small houseplant to your desk – there are studies showing having indoor plants in your work are can help you concentrate better and stay focused for longer.

Or put up a pinboard next to your desk and fill it with inspiring quotes and photos of friends or family. It’ll help you de-stress if deadlines have you feeling under pressure.

And consider adding a few pops of color to your desk! According to one study, red helps you feel more alert while blue can make you more creative. So choose wisely…

4) Make sure it’s comfortable

If your chair is uncomfortable and your desk is the wrong height, you’re not going to want to use your study space. No matter how cute it looks!

Plus, setting up your study space incorrectly is also bad for your body – it can lead to poor posture which causes aches and pains in your neck, shoulders and back.

So make sure that when you sit at your chair and put your hands on your desk, your wrists are in line with your elbows. And if you have a computer monitor on your table, make sure it’s at least an arms-length away from you.

That’ll stop you from feeling as stiff and sore as an 80 year old grandma every time you finish a study session!

5) Only sit there when you’re studying

Your study space is comfortable, clutter-free, full of natural light and cute decorations. You’re going to want to sit there all the time.

Don’t do it. Making your study space an area where you only go when you’re studying will teach your brain to associate it with learning. And that will make it easier for you to “get in the zone” and concentrate during your study sessions.

So unless you’re studying, stay out of your study space!

If you have any questions, schedule a consultation or give us a call on 540-680-4004. We’re always happy to help!

__________________________________________________________________________

CURRENT TESTING LANDSCAPE FOR THE ACT/SAT

  • Next SAT test date: August 29th. Registration is currently open - deadline is July 31st, 2020

  • The College Board has created a new September 2020 test date. There will now be a SAT on September 26th. College Board is adding a School Day administration on September 23. Schools that administer the SAT Suite of Assessments can order the September 23 SAT School Day administration. Schools can administer School Day on both September 23 and October 14.

  • College Board will also add a test date in January 2021 if there is demand for it.

  • The ACT has announced the addition of three new national test dates to its fall 2020 national testing schedule. Registration for all of these dates opens at the end of July. A total of eight test dates will be available for students for fall 2020 national testing.

  • The ACT is delaying section retesting, which is now set to start sometime in 2021.

ACT/SAT TESTING RECOMMENDATIONS

  • SAT: Current juniors (class of 2021) who want to take the SAT should plan to register for the August 29th test. This is especially important for any students who have not yet taken an official SAT. Students should also consider the September and October test dates. 

  • ACT: Current juniors (class of 2021) already prepping for the June ACT should consider registering for the July ACT. There may be limited testing sites in July, so students may want to sign up early. The registration deadline is June 19. The September and October ACT tests should also be considered. 

  • Students should prioritize taking an official ACT/SAT over the SAT Subject Tests. 

  • Those students who have not yet taken an official ACT/SAT should take a practice test soon, to establish a baseline score and map out a plan. Contact us for a free in-home ACT/SAT testing kit and a detailed nine-page diagnostic score report.

  • For students aiming to take the August SAT, it’s okay to take a break right now and plan to move forward with test prep in mid-June or early July.  

  • For students planning to take the June and/or July ACT, it’s best to continue test prep right up until the official test date.

Check out our current Test Prep web page to learn more about our program and view current offers.

__________________________________________________________________________

PURCHASE A TEST PREP PACKAGE AND SAVE 10%. PURCHASE A SUBJECT TUTORING OR COACHING PACKAGE AND SAVE 5%.

Package hours are good for one-year from date of purchase. Sessions can be held online or in-person at your home (weekdays or weekends). Offer expires 7/31/2020.

10 Essential Winter Study Tips

10 Essential Winter Study Tips

It’s cold outside, but winter can be a great time to get ahead with your studies. Think about it – you’re probably going out less and you’re not tempted by beautiful, beachy days on the weekend. If you’re dreading another chilly, confining season, winter is actually the perfect time to get cracking on your coursework. Read on about the skills, techniques and tips for optimizing your study routine over the winter months.

Best Study Techniques for Your Learning Style

Best Study Techniques for Your Learning Style

All students learn through a combination of seeing, hearing, and experiencing. However, for most students, one learning style stands out. Research has shown that students who study in a way that supports their learning style can perform better on tests and improve their grades/scores.

Tips for Academic Success

Finding the right routine:

Allowing enough time to get ready for class, study for an exam, or complete an assignment can be tricky.  The key is to always do what must be done first. This usually involves studying, reading, projects, and weekly homework assignments. Worry about what can be done later, after completing what needs to be done now. If you’re getting ready for a test, don’t check text messages, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, or start any Google internet searches. Enjoy the entertainment side of things after the task at hand is completed.  This strategy reduces a lot of stress that comes with doing things last minute: waiting to study the night before, starting your paper the week it’s due, working on your presentation the morning of, etc. 

Try to stick to a routine or tentative schedule.  This is because time management can be tough for some students. Mainly, because students overestimate the amount of time they have for a task and underestimate how much time it will take for them to do it. All of the student's professional meetings, such as counseling or tutoring, should be pre-arranged.  Most students do well with structure, so meeting at the same time and on the same day works best.

 

Staying focused:

SAT Mock Practice Test-ACT Mock Practice Test-Washington DC-Northern VA Tutoring.jpg

Students usually retain more information when they study in different locations. If possible, change the studying location from time to time. There are students that do better in a busy area – think of your local public library, the school’s library, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Barnes N Noble, worship center, community center, etc.  Then, there are other students that know they must have silence. These students may prefer a bedroom, basement, home office, private study room, even their home patio, or sun-room.  In case you didn't know, the best place to study is outside. So, try to change the study location when you can!  

You can put your phone across the room or in another room and leave it there.  If you want to check your messages from your friends, you have to get up and walk to it.  Students say that this significantly limits the amount of phone distractions.  If this is too hard for you, set the timer for 15  minutes, and work as hard as you can during that time.  When the timer goes off, get up, check your messages for one minute, and then get back to work.

Playing songs by your favorite artist is fine for routine assignments that do not require too much. However, music should not be played when intensely studying for a big exam. Playing music can negatively impact long-term retrieval.  

When students are having a tough time getting started with homework, it’s always a good idea to begin with an easy task, followed by a difficult one, and then an easy assignment again.  

 

Being organized:

One-To-One Subject Tutoring-VA-NC-In-Home.jpg

Record all school assignments on a calendar. You can use a tablet, laptop, smart phone, desktop, or a wall calendar. Record the final due date and then set incremental due dates and associated tasks to get it done on time. By week one, perhaps your topic and introduction should be completed. Then, going into the second week, start doing research on supporting points and arguments.  When large tasks, like a final paper or studying for a mid-term, are broken down into direct, manageable chunks, they are more likely to be completed on time. For instance, if a test is coming up on Friday, the student should record tasks like “complete 1-10 review problems on page 19” and “create flashcards for math steps,” etc. on Monday or Tuesday.  Being specific with your tasks can be far superior to simply jotting down a vague reminder like “study for my math test.”

Tasks that you record should be no more than 30-35 minutes.  When tasks end up taking longer, students are far more likely to procrastinate and avoid doing it altogether.  

Every student should schedule a “binder and backpack sweep” session to help stay organized. Set aside 30 minutes each week and conduct a clean out.  Sundays are perfect for doing this. This also lets the student plan ahead for the week – what’s due and when, starting a long-term assignment, and planning what to work on.  Enter the 30-minute clean sweep on your phone calendar, monthly planner, room calendar, or make sticky notes to remind yourself.

 

Reading and studying:

Active reading should be utilized when preparing for an exam.  Active reading includes writing notes in the margins and highlighting pertinent information.  As reading becomes more complex, these strategies help students to understand more advanced topics. 

Tips:
Read one section at a time.  After you’re done, go back and highlight the important information. The color of the highlighter does not matter at all. Yellow, blue, green, pink, or orange - just pick one!    

Use margin notes. Margin notes are another interactive way of studying. It’s better than just reading the information and moving along. In short phrases, summarize the main points in the margins of text books. Doing so, will help with retaining the information that was read.  

Engage in “self chat” at the end of each section.  The student should ask, “What did I just read here?” or “What’s the takeaway from this section?”  Self chat helps students comprehend what they are reading better.

If you are reading, try the SCAN strategy.  Simply put, before reading do the following:

S = Survey Headings and Turn Them into Questions
Find each heading, and change it into a question.
C = Capture the Captions and Visuals
Review pictures or charts and read the captions beside them.
A = Attack Boldface Words
Hone in on the terms in bold; read these words to gain an understanding of the main idea.
N = Note and Read the Chapter Questions
Check out the questions at the end of the chapter.

Looking for an Academic Coach? Contact us for in-home tutoring support!