Exams are done. School is out. Time for long, lazy summer days. Or the Family Vacation. Yes, it is important to unwind from the school year and enjoy the Summer.
Summer is also a great time for many students to catch up and get ready for that Standardized Test or that difficult class next school year. Even just a few hours a week can make a large difference in helping the student stay in touch with school material or ease the student into a more rigorous Test Prep mode when school reopens.
There are several reasons why this is important. Completely disengaging from any academic work over the summer break means it will be harder to get back into study mode when school reopens. That does not mean that the student should study all summer and not have any fun at all. Just a few hours every week can keep academic chops alive and in shape, so you don't have to start from scratch.
By starting now, over summer, it gives the student a relaxed and easy schedule to start with and build confidence with the course material or the Standardized Test. Even as few as 2-4 hours a week over the summer can contribute to that higher grade or higher Test score.
Summer is also a good time for remedial work. Students can catch up, or prepare to retake a course or class or just simply review a course they did not do so well in that may be a building block to a more difficult course next school year. Reading, Writing, Study Skills, Organizational skills - all these can be practised and improved over summer, so you are ready to hit the ground running!
To your Academic Success
Roger Narayan
Academic Director
Excellent Tutoring
caring | inspiring | effective
(310) 424 5015
18 June 2008
29 May 2008
How to pick a Standardized Test Prep place
Dear Parents/Students:
Standardized Tests have become necessary as a measure of aptitude and preparation for admission into all levels of education - starting from the ISEE for School Admissions, the PSAT for the National Merit Scholarship, the SAT for College Admissions and then the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT or the DAT for admission into Graduate School or Professional Programs.
Here are some things to remember when selecting a Test Prep Company to work with:
1. Standardized Test Prep has to include a comprehensive program that not just ensures Subject Matter Expertise but also an organized approach to Test Taking Techniques and Strategies that save time, utilize short-cuts and improve the Final Test Scores.
2. When selecting a program for Standardized Test Prep it is critical to ensure that the Prep is tailored to your specific needs and identify areas of strength and weakness so the focus can be on putting your strengths to good use in the actual Test and remedying any areas of difficulty.
3. There should be enough flexibility in the Curriculum for review. Most large test prep companies use a cookie-cutter curriculum that is force-fed on a very tight set schedule without any time for review of specific topics or a general review to tie everything together.
4. It is critical to have regular feedback on a session by session basis which creates a progress report over time. It provides feedback on how a tutor's teaching style is working for the student.
5. The teaching strategy should be flexible enough to provide for repetition of topics of difficulty and not be so rigid that it stresses all involved with time deadlines to finish a curriculum.
6. Beware of Test Score guarantees that companies give. It is unethical on their part to tempt students into thinking that they will get their fee back if they don't increase their scores by 200 or 300 points. You are better off picking a company that emphasizes hard work, application and dedication to the preparation. There are no easy ways out on this one, that's the bitter truth.
The above tips will guide you in selecting a good Test Prep Company to ensure you have an effective Test Prep curriculum and high Standardized Test scores.
Wishing you Academic Success
Roger Narayan
Academic Director
Excellent Tutoring
caring | inspiring | effective
(310) 424 5015
Standardized Tests have become necessary as a measure of aptitude and preparation for admission into all levels of education - starting from the ISEE for School Admissions, the PSAT for the National Merit Scholarship, the SAT for College Admissions and then the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT or the DAT for admission into Graduate School or Professional Programs.
Here are some things to remember when selecting a Test Prep Company to work with:
1. Standardized Test Prep has to include a comprehensive program that not just ensures Subject Matter Expertise but also an organized approach to Test Taking Techniques and Strategies that save time, utilize short-cuts and improve the Final Test Scores.
2. When selecting a program for Standardized Test Prep it is critical to ensure that the Prep is tailored to your specific needs and identify areas of strength and weakness so the focus can be on putting your strengths to good use in the actual Test and remedying any areas of difficulty.
3. There should be enough flexibility in the Curriculum for review. Most large test prep companies use a cookie-cutter curriculum that is force-fed on a very tight set schedule without any time for review of specific topics or a general review to tie everything together.
4. It is critical to have regular feedback on a session by session basis which creates a progress report over time. It provides feedback on how a tutor's teaching style is working for the student.
5. The teaching strategy should be flexible enough to provide for repetition of topics of difficulty and not be so rigid that it stresses all involved with time deadlines to finish a curriculum.
6. Beware of Test Score guarantees that companies give. It is unethical on their part to tempt students into thinking that they will get their fee back if they don't increase their scores by 200 or 300 points. You are better off picking a company that emphasizes hard work, application and dedication to the preparation. There are no easy ways out on this one, that's the bitter truth.
The above tips will guide you in selecting a good Test Prep Company to ensure you have an effective Test Prep curriculum and high Standardized Test scores.
Wishing you Academic Success
Roger Narayan
Academic Director
Excellent Tutoring
caring | inspiring | effective
(310) 424 5015
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