Posts filed under 'Test Prep'
In college, finals time often is a caffeine-fueled, candy-hyped week, where students will wear anything, stay up all night, and study anywhere to get prepared for the end-of-the-semester exams.
We snapped shots of students attending the University of Georgia in Athens, from the start of finals week to the last night of tests this semester.
Studying at Starbucks
Athens has no shortage of coffeehouses, from chains like Starbucks to local ones, and they are packed during finals week because of the constant caffeine and cozy seats. It’s not surprising to see students coming in with PJs on, as they spread out with their laptops, textbooks, and other study materials, staying until the doors close.
In the Dorms
OK, so sometimes it’s easy for students to get lured from studying, even by making up games with a bag of party-sized M&Ms.
The mass of materials for just one class can be so much that some students need to spread it all out over their beds (but notice how they’re keeping organized, with red pens and green tabs so that crucial information is easy to access).
Study Rooms on Campus
During the height of finals week, on-campus study spaces are so crammed that classrooms are open to students
Sometimes working together with other students can help reduce the stress of tests. Prime places to study are glassed-in study rooms featuring huge wipeboards, Internet access, and doors to close off all the noise. Students can reserve them in some schools or get them on a first-come, first-serve basis, hunkering down in study rooms for hours.
Cramming on Floors and Hallways
It may seem uncomfortable, but for some students, the best spots are not cozy couches or seats, but the floors and wooden chairs where nothing else can distract them or make them think of sleep.
Goodbye to Finals Week
Look closely at this sign and you’ll see that the hangman phrase is written by students giddy that finals week is over. It says: No more studying!
–Lori Johnston
December 15th, 2011
When you’re on a campus tour, be sure to check out for yourself all the spots where college students spend time studying. Some stake their claim in spots for hours, preparing for big tests or writing major papers, while others grab theirs for just a few minutes to cram before a test.
Here are 11 spots where you’ll find college students studying – and you may be joining them soon!
1. Outside on the quad
On sunny days, students gravitate outside to soak up some rays while hopefully also soaking up some knowledge. Nice grassy spots on campus, at your school’s intramural fields, or at local parks or nature trails help you make an afternoon of studying. Bring along a picnic and a Frisbee for (hopefully short) study breaks.
2. Bars
Before the music gets blaring at bars and clubs near campus, some students chill out midday with a textbook or their laptops. Some are 18 and up; others are 21 and up. Beverages and food are available, and some students of legal age choose to study with a beer or glass of wine, too.
3. Libraries
At your college, you’ll quickly learn which libraries are most conducive for studying and which ones are best for socializing. At some schools, even certain floors of a library have no-talking zones, while others are open to groups who need to discuss class notes or information for class projects. If you need to get some intense studying done, look for the libraries where graduate students hang out, like a school’s law library, and see if they allow undergraduate students in.
4. Gyms
Working out can be a great stress reliever, and it’s common to see students on treadmills and elliptical machines with reading materials or homemade flash cards in hand. If you’re into weights, reading a few pages also is a way to take a break between sets.
5. On the job
Some jobs in college offer environments where, when there’s no customer or work assigned by your employer, you can hit the books. Maybe it’s working at the library, a movie theater, or checking IDs at a dining hall.
6. Coffee shops
You may already be doing this as a high school student, but coffee shops remain one of the most popular spots for studying while in college. The java keeps flowing while you learn, and there’s often free wireless Internet access. But beware – it can be costly choice for endless lattes or frozen coffee drinks, so think about your budget. Also, seating can be limited, especially near all-important outlets for laptops.
7. Student centers
Although some student centers are tempting environments, with movie theaters, eateries, and video game and pool rooms, they also offer plenty of seating and big tables for studying, as well as rooms you and your study partners can reserve. Some student centers are open 24 hours a day, particularly during finals week.
8. Your dorm room
Sometimes you just want to stay put. So close the dorm room door, get away from Facebook, don’t worry about finally cleaning or making the bed, and see how much you can get done. Your dorm also may have study rooms for you to get away, if your roommate is keeping you from focusing on school, but make sure it’s not a party scene in those rooms.
9. Vacant classrooms
Some buildings keep their classrooms open for studying, even after class is over. Just make sure you’re allowed to be in the rooms before setting up for studying.
10. Near your professor’s office
Especially a good idea if you need help on an assignment, park yourself outside your professor’s office or in a study room nearby, timed when the professor has office hours.
11. Memorial gardens
Some campuses have designated gardens, chapels, and cemeteries in memory of former students and faculty. Although it may seem morbid, the spaces are created for reflection. So the more quiet, reserved settings are spots where studying happens too, especially since there’s often benches or seating.
–Lori Johnston
November 10th, 2011
As a college-bound student, you might have heard some rumblings in the news or even amongst your own school administrators about the SAT and other standardized tests being biased against certain students, usually in reference to their socioeconomic status.
I once heard about one particular SAT that was criticized for using the word “regatta” as a vocab word on one of the vocab sections. Now, there’s nothing offensive about the word “regatta”–it means a boat race–but there is a catch: If you live in a land-locked area where there are no bodies of water to race on, boating might be foreign to you. And even if you do live in an area where there are docks, regattas usually involve expensive boats, including yachts–and depending on your economic status, “yacht” is simply not part of your vocabulary. Of course, it can be said that there are many things that we don’t know about simply because they’re not in our neck of the woods, and the way we can learn about them is through reading, but the College Board was criticized over the word “regatta” and even “chandelier” simply because they are not equal-opportunity words.
A recent SAT essay question was biased in a way that test takers and administrators alike didn’t see coming–it was biased against those who do not watch reality TV. While it didn’t require specific knowledge, like being able to keep up with the Kardashians or to define what a fist pump is, the essay prompt did assume that one knew the basic format of a reality television. Problem is, the kids who get perfect scores on the SAT aren’t watching any TV, let alone these sorry excuses for entertainment. (Apologies to Kim K and the fam, because I actually am a pretty big fan.)
It seems as though the effort on the part of the SAT writers “to be one of us” by asking a question they thought would appeal to teens backfired miserably. Some critics say it was an attempt to dumb the test down, but the fact that it instead freaked out many bright, non-TV-watching students has to make you wonder what exactly the Scholastic Assessment Test is really testing.
–Barbara Bellesi
March 21st, 2011
Your first college test may be happening soon, even this week. You may feel as if you didn’t get enough time to study, or you’re worried that the exam will be so completely different than anything you’ve taken. But if you’re acting chill leading up to text day because you think you learned in high school how to bluff your way to an A, think again.
Professors, especially those with tenure who have years of experience, can quickly spot a blunder or bluff.Check out the examples of these real test answers, which we were given permission to use from “College in a Nutskull” (2010, Workman Publishing) by Andres Henrikkson, chairman of the history department at West Virginia’s Shepherd University.
Literature
• Henry V is about a king named Richard III.
• The first major work by an American author is The Holy Bible.
American History
• President Lincoln was shot in his Ford
• The G.I. Bill required all veterans to take medical examinations.
Psychology
• Telepathy is a condition linked by scientists to excess cell phone use.
• Some people do not cope well. This copulation problem can lead to heroin or alcohol abuse. Alcoholism may involve drinking.
Music
• Mozart had to compose his Requiem posthumously.
Political Science
• Socialism is like when you go out with your friends
Geography
• Longitude is like latitude, only longer.
• The United Kingdom is located somewhere out there. It is made up of England, Scotland, and Northern Israel.
Whether you’re new to college or just starting your last year in high school, think about how you’re preparing for your exam. If you try to wing it, your lame guesses could end up in a book for others to read and have a laugh.
–Lori Johnston
August 25th, 2010
Happy New Year! I’m a big fan of reevaluating my current situation each year and setting new goals. Of course, some always fall by the wayside—like last year, when I resolved to hit the gym so that I would look like Heidi Klum in time for swimsuit season.
This year, I’ve decided to be less specific with my resolutions in favor of making more general changes that would benefit my life. First up: Have a better sense of humor. Don’t get me wrong—I already laugh a lot, but I think that humor is a great way to get through a lot of what life throws at us when we least expect it.
Take the SAT, for instance. We all know the test is no laughing matter, but when a study resource mentions the ages of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore (along with R. Kelly’s penchant for young girls and the size of Donald Trump’s ego), it’s quite alright to chuckle! Thanks to The Laugh Out Loud Guide: Ace the SAT* Exam without Boring Yourself to Sleep by Charles Horn, PhD., there can be a whole new SAT you in 2010….
You in 2009: Being bored to death by word problems
You in 2010: Doing word problems while chuckling about juicy celebrity fodder:
1 – Fourteen years ago, Ashton Kutcher was exactly half the age of his wife Demi Moore. The sum of their ages today is 76. How old will Ashton be in 20 years when he leaves Demi for her first-born daughter?
a) 30
b) 48
c) 50
d) 52
e) 53
You in 2009: Memorizing vocabulary words, blah blah, blah…
You in 2010: Working on sentence completion examples that crack you up:
2 – Yo Momma so ____________, when you mail her a letter, you need two zip codes.
a) diaphanous
b) luminous
c) ravenous
d) grisly
e) corpulent
You in 2009: Muddling through boring critical reading passages
You in 2010: Speeding through passages like this:
3 – Microsoft, the world’s largest software maker, warned consumers today about a critical flaw in their Windows operating system, the operating system used in the computers of virtually every business and person on the planet not smart enough to buy a Mac…
If only the real SAT were as cool as this! Even though you might snicker through your study sessions, this book will still help you immensely when it comes to honing your math, writing, and critical reading skills.
(The answers to 1 and 2, btw, are C and E. Oh, and the * in the book title indicates that the College Board was not involved in the publication, probably because the people on the College Board do not know how to laugh.)
~Barbara Bellesi
January 4th, 2010
Let’s play a new game called “Are You Smarter Than an SAT Workbook?”
Okay, so it’s not really a game, but it is a real scenario for students who bought Mastering the SAT Math. According to Jeffrey Newman, a math tutor, there are around 36 errors in the book that is published by Wiley—a company that normally enjoys a legacy of producing excellent educational resources. Newman’s concern for students—and their SAT scores– prompted him to inform FOX News in New York and help spread the word to those who are using this book.
This is not the first time in publishing history that a book has ever had mistakes in it, but we’re not talking about one or two glitches here: 36 mistakes means getting an entire section wrong on the SAT! Errors were also found in the SAT Math Workbook by Barron’s (yet another publishing titan), as well as in The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd Edition by the College Board. Yes, the College Board—you know, the people who CREATED the SAT. Hmm.
Of course, there WOULD have to be problems with math. If you are anything like me, a gal who was waiting to declare English as her college major since the day she was born, trust me—we need all the help we can get when it comes to numbers.
Without a doubt, more test prep errors will pop up, which shows that to err is certainly human, although that is not much help to college-bound students. Barron’s is offering a free replacement for the book, Wiley says you can return theirs, and College Board will probably do something similar. But all that does is leave you unsure of which book to pick up next—and as you know, studying for the SAT must go on.
Remember the student who sued her college when she couldn’t get a job? Time will only tell if students will begin to sue publishing companies when they don’t get into college.
–Barbara Bellesi
November 19th, 2009
If you took the SAT this past Saturday, you are probably feeling something between a mixture of relief that it’s over and anxiety as you wait for the scores to arrive. As you wait for the moment of truth, you might feel the urge to sign up for the SAT next month, if you haven’t already. But should you go ahead and take it?
College-bound students—and their parents—often feel that more is better when it comes to taking the SAT. “How many times should I take the SAT?” is a question on most high school students’ minds. While it is certainly advisable to take the SAT more than once if you didn’t achieve your score goal the first time, that score won’t miraculously rise on its own unless you study harder in between exams and focus on what needs to be improved. So before you sign up for the SAT for the third, fourth, or tenth time, consider these options instead:
Take the ACT. It is entirely possible that you are caught in an SAT rut and need to try a test with a different format. Enter the ACT. While it is still a standardized test, there are several major differences between the ACT and the SAT, including no penalty for guessing, no surprise experimental section, and no mandatory essay—you only write if the colleges to which you are applying require it. Many students are intimidated by the science section on the ACT, but don’t worry—the section asks you to analyze and make inferences based on given data, not on how well you have memorized the Periodic Table.
Take a subject test. Like its name, the subject test allows you to concentrate on one subject at a time, and for many students, the single focus takes away a lot of the pressure. Let’s say you are an A student in English, but struggle in math. Your stress over the math sections on the SAT may cause your verbal score to suffer, but this won’t happen when you take the English subject test. You’ll be free to concentrate on what you do best, your score will reflect it, and colleges will notice.
Take a break. Years ago, the SAT was not offered as many times as it is now, and students benefited from the longer breaks in between tests. Most students only took the test twice, interspersed by a subject test. Now, it seems that students are taking the SAT upwards of five times, simply because they can, and as a result, they are burning themselves out. It’s understandable that a senior who is trying to meet application deadlines wants to squeeze in one last score, but if you are a junior, aim for quality more than quality—take some time to formulate a game plan to improve on your weaknesses rather than taking test after test. Also, keep in mind that the more you progress through school, the more you will learn, which will make the SAT a bit easier—that’s why students take it during both junior and senior year.
On the other hand, if you are a senior, you might even be able to submit a new set of SAT scores after the application deadline has passed, provided that you have already submitted a complete application with at least one set of scores—check with the college admissions office to see if this is acceptable.
You’ve heard it time and again from admissions counselors, but the SAT is indeed just one portion of your entire application. Your GPA, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and your essay all work together to provide a clearer snapshot of you as a future college student, so be sure to focus on the big picture.
–Barbara Bellesi
November 9th, 2009
If you are a college-bound student, the big question on your mind isn’t “Will you take the SAT?” but, “How many times you will take the SAT?” 
I’ll make this easy. The answer is three. Three times is the charm for most things, but when it comes down to a big, bad standardized test like the SAT, it actually makes a lot of sense to cap yourself at three tries. Here’s why:
Take it once. No matter how many hours you put into studying for the SAT, nothing can quite prepare you for the actual day of the test. From the sneezing and sniffling student sitting behind you to the grunts of the football team as they practice right outside your window (that one happened to me), be prepared for a host of distractions. In fact, the only thing you can really be certain of the day of the test is that you will need a #2 pencil. In short—cut yourself a break. The SAT is a loooong test, and you don’t realize just how long it is until you sit down to take it.
Consider the first time you take the SAT to be a dress rehearsal for your second SAT. Give it your very best shot, but understand that you will have another opportunity to eat a better breakfast, get a better night’s sleep, and yes, get a better handle on all those vocab words.
Take it twice. Unless you are one of those lucky few who score 800s across the board on your first try, you’ll take the SAT again. (And if you do get a perfect score, please don’t be tempted to go for a repeat performance. This is not the Olympics—pat yourself on the back and sleep in instead.) This second time around, you’ll have a better idea of how to pace yourself during the long stretch—you might have taken several practice tests already, but sitting in the comfort of your own home is not the same as sitting in a hard chair in a packed, overheated (or ice-cold) classroom.
What can you do differently this second time? Pull out a few of the test-taking strategies that you know and try them out. You might be tempted to fill in a circle for every single question, so experiment with leaving some of the hard questions out this time around. After all, you are penalized a 1/4 of a point for a wrong answer on the SAT, and it is possible to still get a very high score by skipping a couple of questions.
Remember that most schools will take the higher of two scores that are reported for an entrance exam, so if you pulled up your score for the second test, you might want to consider yourself retired from taking the SAT. But if you are still not happy with your score…
Take it three times. This time, your test-taking stamina should be your main concern. The SAT is not at all like your favorite movie that you can watch over and over again—a third try on the SAT requires you to give yourself a serious pep talk to get you through that last question, let alone yet another timed essay. But it’s not all bad—by the third time, you are a seasoned test-taker and know what it’s like to sit in a room for four hours straight. You bring your granola bars. You remember to layer your clothes. You might even hand out tissues to those who are inclined to sneeze. In short, you know what to expect and have learned to roll with the punches…and hopefully roll with a high score, too.
Good luck to all of you taking the SAT tomorrow! Check back to see Monday’s blog on what’s next for you after the SAT.
–Barbara Bellesi
November 6th, 2009
Who says you have to shell out top dollar or leave your home state in order to receive an Ivy-League caliber education? Thanks to the power of the Internet, dozens of colleges and universities from across the country have made it possible for students to download and view lectures from some of their top professors and courses.
The best thing about these online lecture sites? They’re free! Check out a few below:
Who? Academic Earth
Where? www.academicearth.org
What? Features video lectures from the following universities: UC Berkely, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, UCLA, Yale.
Sample subjects? Physics III: Vibrations and Waves, Computational Science and Engineering I, and Aircraft Systems Engineering.
Who? Open Culture
Where? www.openculture.com
What? MP3s and videos of lecture from such schools as Columbia University, CUNY, UC Berkely, MIT, and Oxford University.
Sample subjects? Existentialism in Literature & Film, Astrobiology and Space Exploration, and Information, Law and Policy.
Who? WGBH Forum Network
Where? http://forum.wgbh.org/
What? Speeches and video lectures from professors and other movers, shakers, and top minds from around the nation.
Sample subjects? Lightness of Being: Mass, Ether, and the Unification of Forces with Prof. Frank Wilczek, Poetry and Perception with Susan Stewart, and Cultural Humanist with Joss Whedon.
And if you need to pump up on your math and science skills for upcoming SATs, make sure to check out the Khan Academy, which we first covered back last December. The founder, Salman Khan, is a Harvard MBA and has taped dozens upon dozens of YouTube videos detailing everything from the basics of algebra to the nitty-gritty of physics.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
>> Thanks to CollegeCandy for their recent coverage of Academic Earth and Open Culture.
August 26th, 2009
Used to using YouTube for quick comedic clips, moving music videos, and film from family and friends? Well, it looks like you’ll have to reevaluate your view of the site from now on. While colleges and universities have been uploading clips of their courses and professors for quite some time, April marked the formal introduction of YouTube EDU, a YouTube landing page that puts you in touch with educational videos from schools all over the nation.
While the page looks a bit chaotic at first, it does boast a directory that will link you to the school channel you’re interested in. So far this list includes such top names as Harvard University, Stanford University, and Virginia Tech, with videos covering everything from physics to cooking lessons. It’s definitely worth checking out whether you’re already in college or just starting to consider the possibilities.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
April 6th, 2009
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