Carl's Tutoring Blog

One way you can be very well prepared to tackle your exam is by taking practice tests. You probably already knew this. However, here is something you might not have known. The best way to do the practice tests is to replicate real testing conditions as much as possible. In other words, wherever you take a practice test, try to make that space feel like the testing environment. This is very much the same philosophy as the "train as you fight" theory used by the military. it does them no good to practice their combat techniques in ideal conditions because they will not have those ideal conditions...

One key to success when you are preparing for your standardized test - or any test, for that matter - is to use visualization exercises. This may seem unscientific, and perhaps it is, but it is a techniques used by athletes, business professionals and successful test takers the world over. Many of my students have benefited from this type of exercise, saying it helped them settle their minds and focus on the test.

The technique is to imagine how good it will feel after the test, knowing that you did your very best. Think about walking out of the test center, your head held high, with the knowledge...

When you are preparing for the SAT, remember three key elements that will help you achieve your success:

1. Know the material. Okay, this is obvious. It helps to know the material to answer the questions accurately. However, even with limited knowledge of the material you can...

2. Go in with a strategy. Yes, these are supposedly standardized tests, but they are not perfect. They are laid out and designed in a systematic way that allows you to game the tests and develop a strategy for which questions to answer, and even how many questions to answer. One way you can develop a strategy ahead...