Private Tutoring at Home – How to Study Tips

Yes, we all have more electronic gadgets than we can possible use in one day let alone at one time.  And there are very few of us that can’t navigate around a keyboard.  However, when you are trying to study and learn a new topic your handwritten notes and study sheets are going to help you more than anything that you’ve typed.

How to Study Tips - Write it downFor whatever reason, one of the best ways to learn how to study is by taking pen or pencil to paper and writing out anything and everything related to your coursework, text or exam.  There’s something about that “flow” as I call it that makes your brain absorb and store what you are working on as well as learning at the time.

So simply grab some paper, note cards, index cards and even sticky notes and use those to collect the main points or topics for whatever you are going to be writing or studying.  This extra effort even if your computer, phone or tablet are near at hand will benefit you more than you know and your grades will also reflect that as well.  And for those whose handwriting is tough, write it out once and then type it up into notes.  Or use a tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro  that comes with a stylus and can translate your handwriting into typed notes for you.  It’s a more expensive option but effective as well.

As we’ve said before, if you do this throughout the semester or year, you’ll be ready when exams or finals come around.  You won’t have to cram or stay up for all nighters (unless you want to of course…) trying to get prepped in time.

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How to Study – Tips and Tricks That Work

Sometimes it’s just the basics that you need to do if you want to learn how to study for exams or tests.  Nothing fancy, nothing special – just the basics.  And nothing is more basic than learning how to take good notes and creating note cards that have all the facts, details and specific information that you need for whatever the course may be.  This is really the ultimate way to study for anything to do with spelling or history!  It’s cheap, fast, easy and concise and most of all – it works!

How to Study - Make Study CardsWhat’s this special tip?  Note cards….Yes, note or index card studying. The best way to do this is throughout the semester as you study at night or at the end of a chapter as you prep for a test or exam.  I’ve seen some do it just for finals but it’s a mind numbing, exhausting and time consuming process if you have to crank out an entire semester’s worth of note cards for most courses.  And it takes longer then to do it than it would if you did it as you were going through the chapter initially.  So to save your brain cells for other things and to save time, create your note cards as you move through each topic, chapter, book or lesson.  You will be so glad that you did it that way!

Yes, there are fancier ways and more technologically advanced ways of accomplishing the same things.  However, I’ve yet to see one that is any faster, easier or less costly.  Nor is there one that I know of that is more effective.  You see this tip requires you to identify the fact, word or concept.  Then you have to write it down and check what you wrote.  So it’s THREE TIMES that you are going over that one point without even knowing that you are drilling it in that often already.

If you need further information on this or assistance, please let us know and check out our private tutors or in home tutors today!

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How to Study – Tips That Include a Study Break!

Want to learn how to study?  Well, we can’t study 24-7.  It’s just not gonna work no matter how last minute you are or how under the gun you might be.  After a certain point in time your body and your brain or going to say “Enough”!  And they’ll stop processing, shut down and you are likely to be in a worse place for your exams, homework or projects than you are right now.

 

Private Tutoring at Home TipsThat’s why learning how to study and studying well is important to figure out.  Unfortunately, not the same things work foreveryone but we’ve come up with a ton of ideas and how to study tips that ought to help you figure out the ones that will assist you in reaching your academic goals.  And these tips aren’t just for homework or a test.  You can use them for just about anything you study as well as exam and studying for entrance exams like the GRE, SAT, ACTs, GMATs and so much more.

So check out the different ideas we’ve come up with, use the ones you like, try a few others and let us know which work best.  Share your successes and ideas with us here and on Facebook or Twitter as well.

 

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How to Study – Easy Homework & Exam Tips

Learning how to study is a process and takes some time to figure out.  Once you understand how and when you study best, you’ll be amazed at how much better you do in school as being able to spend less time studying because you’ve actually got a system and setup in place that works.

 

How to StudyTips

An example of this is my son – He started at his school in middle school.  He was a decent student at his prior school and he applied himself in the exact same way he had previously.  Well, his grades were in the low C range.  I was not happy!  He then started to learn not only his subject matter but HOW to STUDY.  And that has made all the difference in the world!  What used to be a 2-4 hours p-a-i-n-f-u-l process is now down to 1-2 hours depending upon the time of year.  No moans, groans and delay tactics.  Oh, and the results?  Well after learning the best way to study and how to study that works for him, he’s made Honor Roll.  I don’t know about your child but for me, that’s definitely a marked improvement and a success story!

You Might Also Be Interested in: I Got A “C” In 9th Grade Math, Now What

So we’ve created some easy, short and simple tips compiled from sources all around the web to help you become the best student you can and to know how to study.  Test one, some or all and see which makes a difference in your studying!  We’d love to hear your results in the comments below or share your stories with us on Facebook or Twitter!

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Child Struggling in School? 7 Tips to Solve That Now!

There’s nothing worse for a parent than to watch your child struggling in school. No matter what the situation or subject, we would all love to be able to ease their burden and resolve any problem that comes along. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way and there are times when we simply have to step aside and let them work through it. Sometimes the effort is on their own and sometimes with the assistance of a private tutor or teacher.

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So what are some basic steps you can take to assist?

1 – Check in with the school or teachers that your child currently sees.

See if something is going on that they have noticed? Are there social issues? Or is it academic? Are new topics or studying methods being introduced? Like a detective, you want to see what has changed or is different that might be causing the impact on your child.

2 – Review grades and homework.

How consistent is the work and grades that you see for the last month or several months? If you notice any changes that you can pin point, now is the time to address them. Perhaps it is one course in which case certain topics might have been introduced that are not being fully understood by your son or daughter. If there’s a general downward trend then that takes additional digging to find out the cause of that issue. Are your child’s friends and acquaintances the same or have there been changes? Is there a change in free time usage? New sports, activities or work can have impacts as well.

Whatever the case, the burden falls on you to determine what has happened and what options exist.

3 – Talk, talk, talk

When dealing with teens this can become more difficult since they are not the most chatty of creatures but whatever age, it’s now time to start finding out from the source if there’s anything happening.

You might have to be subtle and wait for the best time to have this talk but it is critical if you want to help them to help themselves. Check in on what is going on, use any and all tactics to get them to share what is the latest with school and their classes.   Asking direct and specific questions can help you get the information out of them. Many times they are aware of what’s going on but at a loss as to what to do about it.

4 – Determine what are some options?

Once you have an idea of what is the root of the cause for the drop in grades you can start taking actions. It always feels better to take action! (At least I’ve found that to be true)

If it’s social pressures or other topics along that lines, you want to find the assistance to help cope with and resolve those types of issues.

If it’s academic, you can now create a game plan to help your child get back on the road to academic success.

5 – What assistance from your school is available?

Depending upon your perspective of your child’s school and district, you might want to again ask them for options and assistance. Many schools have tutoring or after school programs that can provide assistance to their students. Based upon what your child needs, this might be an avenue for exploration. Make sure that you check out these options in advance and see if there is a fit. You know your kid and what will work well for them.

6 – What outside tutoring or study skills assistance are there?

Depending upon what your child needs, you might want to explore private tutors or even private tutoring at home depending on the crazy schedules that we all are keeping these days! This option allows you to hone in on exactly what is needed and the tutor will provide focused programs designed to address exactly those areas.

Like PrivateTutoringAtHome.com offers, these types of tutors cover just about every subject you could think of from early education through graduate university studies. Best of all, you can find the right tutor in your area which makes it even more convenient.

Tutors provide individualized attention that fits a child’s learning style, and many tutors work to make the sessions “fun enough that the students actually want to be there,” says Fleming. The fun and games teach the student that learning can be a positive experience. Positive tutoring can help a child learn the material, get better grades, and even form a better attitude about school. Having a positive attitude about school and being interested in it really has a tremendous impact on the results that a child gets in school. Any assistance that you can provide will help insure your child is one of the students that thinks of their education in a positive light.

Studying lightbulb

7 – Implement and monitor

Just because you started a plan for your child doesn’t mean you can rest easy. Now is when you have to help your child stay on track. In addition, monitoring and seeing if there are positive results is critical.

If your child has fallen behind, there will be a catch up period that might include additional struggles. Playing catch up is never fun and it’s frustrating for you to watch as a parent and for the child to go through. However, both of you will make it out the other side with a little bit of time, patience and focus.

Getting through school successfully is frequently a group effort. Parents, children, schools and various other resources like tutors all combine to help make it a successful educational process. By initiating the first steps today, you can insure that your child will continue to grow, learn and flourish and with an education, be successful later in life as well. And, after all, isn’t that what we each want for our kids? I know that I do!

Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We’d love to hear your stories.

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Hiring a Private Tutor: Ask the Right Questions!

If you are considering hiring a private tutor for your child or if you need one, do not think that you are alone.  According to Dr. Sandi Ayaz, executive director of the National Tutoring Association, private tutoring in the U.S. alone has “exploded tenfold” over the past eight years. That is a tremendous growth increase!  The reasons for looking into private tutors are almost as many as there are kids.  Some parents hire tutors to help their children overcome academic obstacles, others contract with tutors to encourage and challenge their children in ways that might not be possible in a classroom setting, and still others are looking for tutors to fill in gaps or add to the knowledge their kids are getting in the classroom.

Whatever the objective of the tutoring may be, it’s important for parents and students to take the time to find and hire a tutor who will work well with the student’s learning style and personality.  Here are some great questions to help make sure that that you find a tutor that is right for you:

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Questions to Ask Private Tutors Before Starting:

 1. What is your teaching style?

Students learn in a variety of styles and at different paces, which is why it’s impossible for teachers in schools  to structure their classroom lessons to match each individual student’s preferred learning style. The right private tutor, however, can adapt lessons to cater to your child’s strengths whether he is an auditory learner (learns best by listening), visual learner (learns best through sight) or a kinesthetic learner (learns best through experience). Before you hire a tutor, make sure to find out if he can structure lessons in a format that works with your child’s preferred learning style.  And if you don’t know your child’s learning style, check in with his teachers and current school for an assessment or update on that information.  It will be a huge help for both you and any tutor you finally work with.

2. What is your tutoring plan for working with my child?

While this is a pretty open ended question and is difficult for someone who has not yet met your child or even seen examples of their school work, the response will reveal the tutor’s thought process for diagnosing your child’s needs and creating a plan to achieve the desired results. The right tutor will have a strategy, and may even have specific methods, for identifying problem areas and understanding the child’s learning behavior. An effective tutor recognizes the importance of working with the student (and in some cases, the parents) to establish performance improvement goals that are both measurable and attainable.  Bottom line – open ended questions like this show the tutor’s comfort level and confidence with respect to their ability to work with your child.  Finding that out early on is critical.

3. Why do you tutor?

Successful tutoring is really about developing a productive learning relationship between any private tutor and their students. Those tutors who are most effective are passionate about teaching and are able to derive value from seeing their students succeed. While many tutors provide lessons and tutoring as a primary or supplemental source of income, the ideal tutor to find will take a vested interest in your child’s progress and have the patience and willingness to do whatever it takes to help your child succeed.  And when you find a tutor like that, you will recognize the difference and the student will also notice the results are measurable as well.

4. Do you have any private tutoring references, or have you worked with students in a similar situation as my child?

Ideally you would find a tutor that is able to provide references and referrals for you to contact.  But they are hard to come by for several reasons.  Not the least of which is that some students or families would prefer to keep their tutoring requirements private.  That’s where an online tutoring source like PrivateTutoringAtHome.com compile lesson ratings and written reviews from actual students who have previously worked with tutors. That allows you to read third-party reviews from parents and students who have worked with a tutor.  It makes it much easier for you to determine what you can expect from a tutor in terms of subject proficiency and personality.  And if you need a tutor, you don’t want to waste time on someone that doesn’t know the material you need to learn or has a different teaching style than will work for your child.  If you choose to hire a tutor on your own rather than through a reputable marketplace, you still want to make sure to ask for references.  Do realize that the reference you receive that way may not be a completely impartial source.

5. How can you help my child become an independent learner?

The most effective and valuable tutoring relationships will help the student become a more engaged, independent learner.  After all, isn’t that what we would all want for our kids?  Memorizing and mastering very specific topics or skills may yield some results, but it is ultimately a short-term solution to the student’s broader educational needs. While certain lessons may focus on a particularly troublesome topic, learning to understand and appreciate the learning process, theory and logic behind concepts will help your child overcome subsequent obstacles, avoid future frustration and flourish as a student.  Looking for your private tutors via our network which includes more than 75,000 active private tutors nationwide in subjects that range from math and science to test preparation and music is sure to offer you a wide range of tutors to help in whatever subject and via any learning style that you may be looking for.

Private TutorsSo before you throw in the towel or continue to plow on alone, why not check out some of the private tutors at home that are available today?  You will be amazed at the results that you get!  And don’t forget to let us know how you do in the comments below.

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Recognize Signs Your Child May Need a Math Tutor – NJ Tutors

Math Tutor NJ | Private Tutors

It is the dream of every parent to see their children excel in their studies. However, for some kids it can be tougher than for others. As we all know, children have different attention spans, learning abilities and willpower to learn and discover things. There are children who will study and excel on their own. On the other hand, there are also some who need to be pushed or assistance so that they can be where you want them to be.

As many of you know, mathematics is considered to be one of the most difficult subjects to comprehend. This is why it is recommended that you closely monitor how your child is doing in this particular subject. Because with math, more than any other topic, if you start slipping and getting behind, it is very difficult to catch up. Everything builds on previous topics and it can be very hard to get back on track.

With that in mind, here are some signs that will tell you that your child needs a math tutor:

  • Slipping grades

This is most probably the easiest sign to spot. If you wish to figure out the math skills of your child, there is no better way to do it than looking at his report card. If your child has been getting straight C’s, D’s or worse, F, then it is about time that you think about hiring a tutor to guide and help him or her get back on track. For us, we’ve found that in our area, using a New Jersey math tutor has made sure that my son doesn’t slip any further. In fact, his grades are now moving upwards in math.

  • Lack of enthusiasm in math

Oftentimes, children love to discover and learn new things. Since most of the children do not have a negative perception of math, they may get excited in learning how to count money, how to tell the time, how to subtract and much more. In the event that your child is not getting enthusiastic over this subject, that may be a bad signal for you.

  • Increased frustration or anger on the topic

Oftentimes a child’s frustration and anger with the topic is just hiding the fact that they simply don’t understand what’s going on. So lashing out or saying things are “stupid” (how often have you heard that one?) is a cry for assistance and or showing that their learning in math has become derailed. For us a quick search for “math tutor NJ” gave us options that’s helped our 7th grader move from a C grade to an A- at the moment.

These are some of the simple signals that you must take into consideration. In the event that you wish to dig deeper, the best thing that you can do is to talk to your child’s teacher. By doing so, you will be able to understand your child’s behavior when dealing with math. Since you are not able to be with your child inside the classroom, talking with the teacher is the best way to know how he is performing in school.

Finding a Math Tutor in NJ:

In the event that your child is losing interest in math or is having some problems understanding math, a math tutor can surely help. Once you have spotted these very obvious signs, it is best that you figure out what is causing all these issues. That might take some talking to teachers as well as your child to find out more information.  Additionally, it is also time for you to look for a tutor in NJ who can provide your child the guidance he needs.

The best way to find New Jersey tutors is to do your research. You can ask your friends or family for recommendations. It is also helpful if you can check out the reviews of the math tutors in your area. Keep in mind that you should continue monitoring your child’s progress to know if he is improving or not even if you have a tutor. And a good tutor that knows their subject will also be able to let you know how your child is progressing within a couple of sessions.

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Easy Tips for Acing the NCLEX RN Exam

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Being a nursing student is already tough but being a registered nurse is an even a tougher battle to conquer. What makes the licensing exam a lot more difficult is the fact that it incorporates four years of nursing education into a set of test questions. Plus, passing or acing this test requires achieving an exceptionally high score.

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If your goal is to pass the NCLEX, you need more than the textbook basics. In fact, it is recommended that you cover several subjects in depth and with a variety of resource aids if you really want to get the score you need. To help you out, here are some simple, yet effective, ways you can get great help for passing the NCLEX.

  • Enroll in a Review Course

There are actually many review courses available today. Aspiring nurses get to choose between online courses or classroom review courses. These classes provide the exam taker with various educational resources that can be useful for him or her. Such resources include sample questions and guidebooks. Additionally, they also provide classroom teaching for those that choose that option which helps students to determine the rationale behind the answers to the test’s questions. If you have the time and interest, this might be a great starting place!

  • Hire A Private NCLEX Tutor

One of the best ways to prepare for this kind of exam is to seek help from the professionals. This is the reason why NCLEX tutoring has become quite popular nowadays. The best thing about working with a tutor is the fact that they can determine your weaknesses and help you turn those into your strengths. Finding an NCLEX tutor is recommended for those people who would prefer receiving individualized instruction.  In addition to the focused individualized attention, private NCLEX tutors also work on your timeframe and schedule which is really helpful if you are cramming last minute or have just identified an area that needs extra attention. You can opt for in home tutorial services, online or at learning centers.   Choose which of these options would be most effective for you.  For ease of use and less stress, having your own private tutor can make a world of difference!

NCLEX Tutor | Private Tutors

  • Find A Study Buddy

Studying alone can be quite boring. Plus, it can get really tedious as well. To combat such issues, the best thing that you can do is to find a study buddy. This is an inexpensive and a convenient way of preparing for the big test. If you have any friends who will be taking the exam too, study with them. You can help encourage and keep each other motivated throughout your review season.  Having someone else that is in the same boat is a way of being held accountable which can be a pretty strong motivator.

  • Make Sure to Have the Right Study and Training Resources

In exams like these, the more resources that you have, the better. Any and all study guides, books or training material that you have collected over the years can come in handy. Check with others that know this test and subject and ask for insight into tools they used to prepare for this exam. Everyone learns differently and making sure that you have what you need to prepare is critical for success.

As mentioned above, passing and acing the NCLEX is a tough job to tackle but it is not at all impossible.  Try a couple of the suggestions mentioned above and prepare to spend the time required and you may well be surprised at how well you do on this exam! Good luck on this last step in becoming a nurse!

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Looking for a Sacramento Tutor?

There has definitely been an increase in parents and students look for tutoring in Sacramento. It really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise with the increase in competition within schools in California and nationwide. After all, tutors can provide great assistance to children, high school students and even college students. These professionals are equipped with the knowledge and experience needed to teach the children the topics and lessons that they cannot comprehend at school. In addition to that, they are also well versed with the different types of teaching aids that will make learning a lot easier (and more fun) for kids.

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Here are some of the teaching tools that a Sacramento tutor would commonly use:

  • Books

Ok, yes this might sound obvious but this is the most commonly used teaching tool that tutors use nowadays. These resources are used in classrooms, seminars, trainings and many more. They are the best tool for private tutoring because the books used in class showcase what classroom teachers are looking for. The tutor may use the book that your child uses in school but there are times when they would bring their own references so that they can teach your children even better. Some of the books that your private tutor may use include tests and study plans that can help in enhancing the learning experience of the child.

  • Video-based teaching aids

These tools provide lots of benefits in the classroom setting. Video teaching aids are also used by tutors in making some lessons clearer and more comprehensible to children. After all, this is the video generation moving through schools now and it’s always easier for kids to learn when presented with material in the best format for their learning style. Movies and other programs are used to further discuss the different methodologies that surround several types of subjects such as science and mathematics. In addition to that, documentary videos are very useful in subject areas like history and social studies.

  • Flash cards

This type of teaching tools is actually more preferred by tutors who are teaching younger children and toddlers. You will find that flash cards are effective in teaching the alphabet, types of animals, vegetables and many more. Additionally, it is also a great tool for teaching basic mathematics including subtraction, addition, division and multiplication. These cards can be bought at bookstores or the tutors can do their own version of flash cards. Using flash cards makes the learning process more fun and also is a great way to keep track of where your child may be weak on any given topic.

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  • Course-specific tools

These types of tools include dissection kits, chemistry lab sheets and many more. There are also items that are useful in teaching anatomy such as skeletons, posters of muscular systems and many more. Globes and maps can be used to teach geography while there are also planetary study tools that can be useful in teaching earth science. While there are some course specific tools that might be geared towards younger age groups, you are most likely to find them being used for older kids study aids.

You Might Also Like: Simple Study Tips to Improve Your Grades

The Sacramento tutoring industry is starting to become bigger and bigger. All of the Sacramento tutors will employ various strategies and utilize the tools stated above. These professionals will choose the tools that they think will be best suited for the child. In this way, your child will have a fun and enjoyable time learning lessons that he or she once thought as hard to understand.

If you are looking for a private tutor, then check out the tutors at Private Tutoring at Home.com for some of the best in the industry!

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Easy ACT Test and SAT Test Prep Steps

If college is your goal, then your junior year of high school is going to be a critical one! This is THE year for getting prepped for review and then acceptance by colleges and universities nationwide.   Not only do you need to make sure that you have a plethora of great activities and other experiences to fill your application, you also have to complete the applications as well as take a battery of difference tests for admission. The two main tests for every college bound student are the ACTs and the SATs.

Private Tutor  SAT Test Prep
 

Interestingly enough there’s a rule of thumb that “the East and West coast schools value SAT scores more, while the Mid-West wants an ACT score.” While this generally holds true, here’s a break down on the similarities, differences and some other facts to help you determine whether you want to take both tests or not and how to do your ACT test and SAT test prep beforehand.

SUBJECTS TESTED

Like any student, a first question is usually, “What’s on the test?” The two test have similarities and some slight differences. The SAT only covers the three main subjects:

  • Reading
  • Math
  • Writing

All three of these topics are mandatory.

The ACT test, on the other hand, Mtests you in Math, English, Reading, Science and Writing (if you choose to do this one). And yes, you read that correctly – if you CHOOSE to do the writing test portion. But note, and this is a very important note, some colleges and universities require the writing portion of the test be taken. So before opting out, make sure you know which schools will be receiving these test scores and compare that with their requirements to make sure you are covered. If you haven’t come up with a final list of schools then it’s our recommendation that you take the writing portion as well to insure that you aren’t re-taking the entire again. Cover your bases and you’ll better off!

COST

No, these tests aren’t free there is a fee for each test and each time that you take the test.   The actual cost for the test is pretty close to identical so that shouldn’t weigh into your testing taking decision. If you know which one you schools are requiring you might be able to save some money and brain power by choosing one test over the other. And like we mentioned above, if you are still not sure exactly which schools you are applying to take both sets of tests. Yes, we realize what this means.

One note – there’s a fee for every school you send the test results to. So once your roster of schools is complete only choose one test per school based on their requirements. That way you pay the minimum amount needed for score submissions.

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TEST STYLE

This is probably the area where the two tests vary the most. The SAT test measures your verbal abilities and reasoning or aptitude skills. It doesn’t rely solely on what you’ve learned in school which can throw some people that take the test. The ACT measures what your knowledge is and what you’ve learned in school. Obviously you better have paid attention because this means you’ll see questions related to what you should have covered and learned by the time you take the test. The SAT may have article, charts or graphs on topics you never studied. But don’t worry, even if you haven’t studied the topic there is enough information presented to analyze and respond to the topics.

ACT and SAT Test Prep
 

TEST PENALTIES

One BIG difference between the two exams is that the SAT test does ding you for missed or wrong answers. Yup, you read that correctly. Each wrong answer costs you one quarter of one point. But questions that are not answered do not cost you anything. So, for an example, if you were to answer one question correctly and the following four wrong, you would have earned a score of 0 for that group of questions.

This makes many say that the ACT test is easier since that penalty doesn’t exist. And there are a lot of students that take both and says that as well. Part of the reasoning behind this is the fact that the topics covered on the ACT exam are questions on topics that you have covered in high school (or should have…..). So there’s a greater comfort level or ease in dealing with these question when compared to some on the SAT test. The SAT test on the other hand, will have some unfamiliar information and is wanting you to use your critical reasoning functions to determine the correct responses. Because of the unfamiliarity with this type of testing and information, more students are nervous and concerned about the SAT test.

Both the ACT test and the SAT test are rights of passage from high school to college. So worrying and stressing won’t change the situation. Finding the right test for schools you are interested and prepping and be prepared will make the difference that you need.

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