During the fall, it seems every week we encounter a new ISEE, SAT or ACT registration deadline or administration date.  Most of the major standardized tests fall into certain periods of concentration.  This is true for state and independent school exams, like the ISEE, SSAT, and the SHSAT, to college admissions exams like the SAT and ACT, as well as graduate school entrance exams like the GRE, GMAT and LSAT.  We are about to enter a period of such clustering from mid-October through mid-December.  There is also a concentration in the spring from mid-April through mid-June.

It is important to realize that test preparation cannot merely begin at the registration deadline, which is usually less than a month prior to the test date.  To ensure a confident, level-headed approach on test day, the material must be examined and taken seriously well in advance.  Standardized tests are not measures of any innate intelligence or ability; in a sense, performance on these exams is just an indicator of how well you perform on these exams. (more…)

1) Do what your teacher asks you to do. Complete all assignments to the teacher’s exact specifications.  Come prepared to class.  You know you need a writing tool no matter what.  How about some paper?  And of course, your completed homework does no good sitting on your desk at home.

2) Show you care about the class even if you don’t. Sit near the front, avoid distracting classmates, sit up straight, and make eye contact.  Listen for verbal clues, and watch for non-verbal clues.  For those less engaging classes, make sure you get enough sleep; nodding off is a big no-no. (more…)