Rachel's Tutoring Blog

In addition to the usual suggestions of getting a good night's sleep, and eating a good breakfast the day of the test, I suggest the following:

1. I have my students go to the test site prior to the test, especially in high-stakes situations such as the GRE. I recommend they do this from one to four weeks ahead of time. They check out the route and the parking situation, and mentally picture themselves going in and coming out of the test site door with a happy and confident disposition. If the student has not yet done this, that is still a good idea to do about 48 hours prior to the test.
2...

I see increasing numbers of students returning to college and vocational schools, to obtain more education and be competitive in this economy. There is a great need for tutors to help with essay writing and test preparation for the entrance tests like SAT and ACT and also the GRE for those seeking a graduate education.

The student's investment in time and money does pay off. Student loans are available at 7% and 9%, which is much less than the amount of increase in salary which a degree makes possible. However, that said, it is important that the student do some research on the future of various...

I am promoting the idea of students working daily to increase vocabulary skills! I primarily tutor students who are writing essays, applying to universities, and/or preparing for the GRE. A rich vocabulary is a necessary foundation for life. In test situations, students cannot count on "looking it up on Google". I have my students use a 3x5 index card as they are reading any book, write down any unfamiliar words that they come across during the reading session, and then look them up in a dictionary at the end of the reading session. They then write the definitions on the index card. At the end...