Best Your Test: Eight Techniques for Acing Any Test

January 1st, 2012 by Revolution Prep

Knowing how to take a test is a vital skill that all serious students must practice. There are many types of exams that you will be required take to over your academic career. The following guide can be applied to all types of tests, from everyday subject tests in school to those pesky standardized tests. Take notes on the methods that are summarized below and try out these techniques on your next exam.

Scan. When you open your test, start by familiarizing yourself with the material. Scan the entire test immediately and evaluate the importance of each section. Note the amount of points each section is worth and estimate how much time will be needed for each part.

Read. Slowly read the directions and underline key words. It can be agonizing to lose points when you knew the material, but misread the directions. If the directions ask for one concise paragraph for your answer, write exactly one paragraph! Occasionally directions will state that you should answer only some of the questions (“pick eight out of ten questions to answer”). Discovering this after answering all ten questions is not only irking, but also takes away precious time from other parts of the test.

Write. Write down helpful facts that you memorized for the test so you do not worry about forgetting them and can refer to them during the test.

Answer. Start by answering the shortest questions first. This gives you the experience of success and prepares your brain for the harder questions.

Increase recall. What happens if an important fact slips your mind? First try to think of something similar. Start from the general and move to the specific. If you are still floundering, try writing a brief mind map to stimulate your memory. (This should not take more than one or two minutes. If so, cut it loose and move on to the next question. You can always come back to it at the end if time permits.)

Leave extra space. Whether you are writing your answers in sentence form or crunching numbers, leave extra space between answers. You will often recall an additional fact while completing a different problem, prompting you to add to a previous answer. Moreover, your instructor will appreciate the extra space when grading your test.

Look for answers elsewhere. It is common for answers to show up in other test questions. A date, equation, or other fact that you cannot remember may appear in the test itself.

Use your gut. For quick-answer questions such as true/false or multiple-choice, pay attention to your instinct. Never change your answer unless you are absolutely confident in your second choice.

 

Blake H. is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

About Revolution Prep: Revolution Prep offers ACT and SAT test prep group courses,  a hybrid course which includes test prep tutoring,  SAT / ACT software, ACT / SAT test prep tutoring and academic tutoring for finals, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and more.  Revolution was named one of the fastest growing private companies nationwide on the Inc. 5000 list and was also recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the fastest growing private companies in Los Angeles.

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How to Use a Semicolon

December 31st, 2011 by Revolution Prep


The semicolon is an underutilized form of punctuation that can be a valuable tool for students who are uneasy about using it. It has two primary uses: its use as a soft period and its use a “super-coma” in a long list. Memorize these two simple rules and you will never question your semicolon use again.

1. Semicolon used as a soft period. The semicolon can be used to bring two separate but closely related statements together into one complete sentence. For example, “This could be one complete sentence; this could be another one.”

A common mistake is to put a comma where the semicolon is. This is called a comma splice and it is an error that all students must be able to recognize. SAT/ACT exams always have questions that test knowledge of the comma splice error. Students often get confused and put a comma instead of a semicolon because the second clause does not really look like a complete sentence. For example, “Fifty-two weeks are in one year; only eight remain.”

One exception to this rule is if there is a conjunction between the two clauses. If there is a conjunction such as “and” or “but,” a comma is used. For example, “this could be a complete sentence, and this could be another one.”

In each of these examples, a period could be used instead of a semicolon; however, a semicolon is preferred because it gives continuity between the independent clauses.

2. Semicolon used as a “super-comma” in a complicated list. A sentence containing a ton of commas can be really confusing. When writing a list or multiple clauses containing commas, use semicolons to separate each.

For example, “San Francisco, California; New York City, New York; and Boston, Massachusetts have the highest percentage of college degree holders of all American cities.”

The semicolons used above help the reader recognize the major groupings and bring clarity to the sentence overall.

 

That’s it! There are some other minor rules for using semicolons (which you should research on your own), but the two rules above will cover the majority of your semicolon use. Remember that punctuation is a powerful tool and slight changes can have a great impact on the meaning of your words. Understanding the basics of punctuation early in your academic career is important because it will make your future work clear and your readers happy!

Blake H. is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

 

About Revolution Prep: Revolution Prep offers ACT and SAT test prep group courses,  a hybrid course which includes test prep tutoring,  SAT / ACT software, ACT / SAT test prep tutoring and academic tutoring for finals, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and more.  Revolution was named one of the fastest growing private companies nationwide on the Inc. 5000 list and was also recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the fastest growing private companies in Los Angeles.

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Service-Learning

December 30th, 2011 by Revolution Prep

Benefits of Service-Learning

We are all familiar with the concept of volunteering. You have probably planted trees or picked up trash in your community as a volunteer for a day. But are you familiar with service-learning? In short, it is a “learn by doing” experience where students complete projects to help communities. Those receiving the service receive much needed help while those performing the service gain real-world experience and a deeper understanding of societal issues. If you are unfamiliar with service learning or are unsure if it is right for you, here are some reasons to give it a try.

There is a Chinese proverb that goes: “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand”. Service learning provides innumerable opportunities to explore your interests and help you grow as an individual, all by doing hands-on work. For example, students interested in bringing more trees into their community would not only organize the planting of trees, but also create a long-term plan to green the entire community. This is when volunteering becomes service-learning.

Service-learning allows you to work with new people, which can lead to new partnerships, job opportunities, etc.  These experiences also look great on a resume, demonstrating initiative, leadership skills, and ability to work hard.

For those interested in traveling, international service-learning projects are a great option. Students learn about new cultures, languages, and traditions through collaboration, and get a more well-rounded education than those who stay in the classroom.

Reflection

A major component of service-learning is reflection. Reflection time, whether it is keeping a journal or discussing your experiences with fellow students, is what distinguishes service-learning from community service.  Examples include:

Artistic Expression: Drawing, music, and theater are fun and useful outlets for reflection.

Reading and Writing: Reading a breadth of material with differing viewpoints on your area of focus will provide a solid foundation for journaling.

Journaling: Writing about your observations and how they relate to issues such as communication, privilege, and conflict is a helpful way to make conclusions and move forward in your studies.

Studies show that altruism is one of the largest contributors to overall happiness levels in people. If you have any interest in gaining life experience, helping others, and getting academic credit, get involved in a service-learning program soon!

Blake is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

 

About Revolution Prep: Revolution Prep offers ACT and SAT test prep group courses,  a hybrid course which includes test prep tutoring,  SAT / ACT software, ACT / SAT test prep tutoring and academic tutoring for finals, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and more.  Revolution was named one of the fastest growing private companies nationwide on the Inc. 5000 list and was also recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the fastest growing private companies in Los Angeles.

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Preparing for the Nov. 5th SAT? Get free help.

November 1st, 2011 by Revolution Prep

Join us on the Revolution Prep Facebook page for our SAT Office Hours Wednesday from 5-8pm PST and Thursday from 6-9pm PST to get your last minute SAT questions answered by a live instructor.

Our expert instructors are happy to help you with any questions that come up while you prep for the SAT. Simply log on to our Revolution Prep Facebook page, “Like” the page, and post your test prep question on our wall. An instructor will answer your questions for you right there on the page, absolutely free during Office Hours.

Don’t have a specific question in mind?  That’s OK — our instructors will be posting SAT and ACT questions of their own, and working through the solutions to help you prepare.

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Revolution Prep’s Next Test Prep Stars

September 27th, 2011 by Revolution Prep

SAT Test Prep

Whether you’re just starting high school, entering your senior year, or well beyond your high school years, everyone knows just how daunting the SAT test can be. You can be a straight-A student and still not necessarily perform as one would expect…not to mention the average student’s performance.

Revolution Prep gives students the tools and techniques they need to take on the SAT test with confidence. We created our Next Test Prep Star Challenge so you can follow real students through their SAT Class and/or SAT Tutoring as they prepare for the October 1 SAT test.

How it works

We chose 12 students from applications all over the country to take the challenge.  Each of these students started out by taking the SAT test on their own (with no preparation) at the beginning of the summer.  Then they started their one-on-one SAT prep tutoring, Hybrid Course (a combination of tutoring and the group course), Premium Instructor Online course (group course taught live online), or on-campus SAT Course with Revolution Prep (link to: www.revolutionprep.com )

Throughout the course of their study, they not only attended study sessions and completed personalized homework assignments, they also took practice tests to gauge how they were doing along the way.  They logged their progress via video posts (viewable at www.revolutionprep.com/star).  The progress that each of them has made is remarkable.  Follow their progress.

Pulling it all together

Each of our Next Test Prep Stars have learned various SAT prep strategies and tips for success from their SAT tutors (link to tutoring) as they have they have matriculated through the program.  As they continue to take the practice tests and increase their scores, they’re able to see how it all comes together.

The Big Day

We designated October 1st as the day that each student would take the official SAT test again.  As the day draws closer and closer, our Next Test Prep Stars are nervous but excited to see how their SAT test score has increased.

Balancing school and this rigorous course is no easy feat but these Stars have done well, and we’re confident that each of them will meet their ultimate goal.

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Free SAT help on Facebook to prep for October 1st SAT test

September 27th, 2011 by Revolution Prep

Join our instructors as they answer SAT test questions live on Facebook this week

Our expert instructors are happy to help you with any questions that come up while you prep for the SAT (or ACT). Simply log on to our Revolution Prep Facebook page and post your test prep question on our wall. An instructor will answer your questions for you right there on the page, absolutely free. Revolution will host “Office Hours” on Tuesday, September 27th from 6:30 – 9:30 PT and Wednesday and Thursday, September 28th and 29th, from  5pm – 8pm PT to help with any last-minute questions you may have before the October 1st SAT test day.

Don’t have a specific question in mind?  That’s OK – our instructors will be posting SAT and ACT questions of their own, and working through the solutions to help you prepare.

Test prep experts are also available at 1-877-738-7737 to answer any questions about the SAT or ACT process in general.

 

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How To Overcome Writer’s Block

August 23rd, 2011 by Revolution Prep

All students have problems with writer’s block at some point in their academic careers. There are innumerable causes, ranging from anxiety to lack of sleep to fear of not writing well. Fortunately there are strategies to help get back on track.

Get your pencil moving

The most difficult part of writing is the start. The worst thing to do is stare at the blank paper and do nothing. It is better to write a mediocre sentence than nothing at all, so turn your critical brain off when starting and get ideas down on the paper. There is always time to edit later.

Outline

Start by listing general ideas related to your topic. This short “brain purge” is meant to get all ideas on the page without being too critical or selective. Once you have a collection of content to work with, start marking up the page by circling, highlighting, and crossing out words. The goal of this is to draw draw parallels between ideas and brainstorm more specific examples. These details will be the essence of your writing.

Think out loud

For novice and expert writers alike, one of the most challenging aspects of writing is the process of  transferring thoughts to page. Record yourself speaking your thoughts, then play back the recording to find key themes.

Write don’t type

A cold, ominous computer screen can hinder your creativity.  Switch to pen and paper for a while and physically write out your ideas.

Get inspired

Take a break and read other material to get inspired. Read blogs, magazines, newspapers, or other enjoyable sources, and let your mind run free until you have gathered new ideas.

Sleep on it

Students often get stuck on an assignment because they are too tired to stay focused. If you find yourself in this situation, go to sleep and wake up early to write. Sleeping recharges the mind and elucidates previously confusing subject matter.

Mix it up

Prevent boredom by switching between multiple assignments. For example, if you are working on three assignments, devote one hour per day to each, rather than trying to complete them individually. This will prevent burnout and allow for your creative ideas to spill over to other projects.

 

Blake Hudelson is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

 

About Revolution Prep: Revolution Prep offers ACT and SAT test prep group courses,  a hybrid course which includes test prep tutoring,  SAT / ACT software, ACT / SAT test prep tutoring and academic tutoring for finals, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and more.  Revolution was named one of the fastest growing private companies nationwide on the 2010 Inc. 5000 list and was also recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the fastest growing private companies in Los Angeles.

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Building Self-Discipline

August 8th, 2011 by Revolution Prep

From a young age, we have been told about the virtues of self-discipline. “If you wait to eat that marshmallow you will get another one later!” But it is difficult to understand until later in life when you have been able test the benefits of hard work and delayed gratification. So what exactly is self-discipline and why is it important for students? Self-discipline is the ability to get yourself to take action regardless of your emotional state. It involves acting according to what you think instead of how you feel and often involves sacrificing the pleasure of the moment for the benefit of your future. The following are some tips to help improve your self-discipline.

Know yourself

Whether you want to increase your GPA, make the varsity soccer team, or just improve overall focus in class, you need to be aware of what you are doing and what you are not doing. If you are not aware that your behavior is undisciplined, how will you know to act otherwise? This process requires introspection and self-analysis, and is most effective when written. Start by writing out your goals and ambitions.

Set a routine

Rather than devoting a number of hours one day and none on other days to a certain activity, allocate a specific time period each day of the week for a task. Apply this technique to your homework and projects. For example, tell yourself that you will do your math homework every day from 4-5pm. The key is to start by completing tasks in small increments and not all at once. Once you develop a habit, it will do your work for you.

Write down tasks for each day

At the start of each day, spend a few minutes writing down the tasks that you want to accomplish for the day. Prioritize the list and immediately start working on the most important one. Try it for a few days to see if the routine works for you. When you have a clear idea as to what you want to achieve for the day at its start, it is likely that you will accomplish the tasks.

Tricks

One trick to help improve discipline is to associate a new habit with an old one. For example, if you drink a glass of orange juice every morning, use that same block of time in the morning to write out your tasks for the day. Another method is to track your progress. On your calendar or daily planner, check off days you successfully complete your tasks. If you break the routine, start over. See how many consecutive days you can follow through. Seeing this visually will help reinforce your hard work. Lastly, observe friends and colleagues that have good self-discipline habits and see how their habits help them accomplish their goals. Ask them for advice on what works, what does not.

Self-discipline is analogous to a muscle, the more you train it, the stronger you become. The less you train it, the weaker you become. It is just one of many of your personal development tools and it can be a powerful teammate when combined with other tools like passion, goal-setting, and planning.

Blake Hudelson is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

About Revolution Prep: Revolution Prep offers ACT and SAT test prep group courses,  a hybrid course which includes test prep tutoring,  SAT / ACT software, ACT / SAT test prep tutoring and academic tutoring for finals, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and more.  Revolution was named one of the fastest growing private companies nationwide on the 2010 Inc. 5000 list and was also recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the fastest growing private companies in Los Angeles.

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Revolution Prep helps beautify Jordan High School

July 29th, 2011 by Revolution Prep

Just a few weeks ago we had one of our favorite days — our company-wide service day where we go to a school in need and help beautify the campus before students come back to school.

Jordan High School, in Watts, CA and the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools welcomed our team of 150+ Revolutionaries from across the nation. Geared up in our orange shirts we spent the day painting, landscaping, organizing and cleaning up the campus. We also had special guests Joan Sullivan, Deputy Mayor of Education; Monica Garcia, LAUSD Board President; Marshall Tuck, CEO Partnership for LA Schools; and Sherri Williams, Jordan High School Principal.

The day was extremely special to us and we encourage other businesses to find a school they can help support. You can see what we did and how much fun we had in the video and photos below.

http://youtu.be/d_Efij8FbQ8

http://www.flickr.com//photos/revolutionprep/sets/72157627178038931/show/

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How To Be An Active Reader

July 27th, 2011 by Revolution Prep

One misconception commonly held by students is that reading is a passive activity. Unfortunately, passing your eyes over words on a page does not automatically store the material in your brain. You have to work for it – coax the information into your memory by asking questions and taking notes. These strategies fall into one general method called active reading. In short, it means that you do something while you read to help yourself remember. The more you involve your senses while you read, the more active you are and the more information you will retain.

Highlight

There are many ways to read actively. The simplest way is to highlight or underline important information as you read. Highlighting should only be reserved for parts of the text that should be reviewed in the future and not information that is already known. You want to be able to refer to the text later and highlighting is your best tool for this.

Write As You Read

Another common method of active reading is to take notes while reading, ideally in a notebook designated for reading notes only. Some students shy away from this strategy, thinking it is too time intensive; however, time is saved in the end because the material only has to be read once if read correctly the first time. If you write while the material is fresh in your mind, you have a helpful written record to review for tests and writing assignments. Be sure to write down page numbers with your notes to help you quickly locate key bits of information.

Don’t Get Bogged Down!

If you find yourself getting bogged down on text that is difficult to comprehend, write down the nature of the problem and move on. You can come back to it later if you have time. This strategy is particularly crucial to employ when taking timed tests such as the SAT or ACT where losing just one minute can be costly.

Keep Track of Details

Many successful students employ a hybrid of techniques that include highlighting, note-taking in a separate binder, and summarizing after pauses in the text. To ensure your success, you must develop a system that lets you quickly locate certain types of details. Writing key words in the margin of the page is one strategy. If studying from a library book, use Post-It notes to record details.

In summary, to read more effectively, identify what you want to learn from the material and use  active reading strategies to help you. It takes practice to develop your reading skills. The more you use these strategies, the more successful you will become.

Blake Hudelson is an instructor and tutor for Revolution Prep. Blake attended Cal Poly –SLO as an undergrad and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Architecture at California College of the Arts.

About Revolution Prep: Revolution Prep offers ACT and SAT test prep group courses,  a hybrid course which includes test prep tutoring,  SAT / ACT software, ACT / SAT test prep tutoring and academic tutoring for finals, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and more.  Revolution was named one of the fastest growing private companies nationwide on the 2010 Inc. 5000 list and was also recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the fastest growing private companies in Los Angeles.

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