10 tips for a high score on the October ACT

10 tips for a high score on the October ACT If youre taking the ACT on October 26, here are a few quick pointers to maximize your score on test day:1)   Get everything ready the night before, and eat a good breakfast on test day.   Dont scramble the morning of the test to find everything you need.   By Friday night, you should have printed out your admission ticket and gotten together your photo ID, calculator, number 2 pencils, water and snacks, and anything else you want to bring with you.   And eat a good breakfast you need energy to make it through 4 hours of test-taking!2)   Remember your calculator.   Youre allowed to use a calculator on the ACT math section.   Most scientific and graphing calculators are acceptable.   Your math work will be much quicker and more accurate with a calculator and make sure you check your batteries!3)   Be at the test center by 8:00 am.   You normally need to be at your testing site by 8:00 am.   Know how to get there and plan to leave on time.   Youll minimize your stress if youre not run ning late.4)   On the English section: look for short answers.   Economy (saying what you need to say with a minimum of words) is prized on the ACT English section.   Start with the shortest answer and see if that works.   Its rare that a wordy answer will be correct in ACT English.5)   On the math section: work carefully, use your calculator, and get as many points as possible from the early questions.   Accuracy is the name of the game in ACT math.   Read carefully, write out your work, and use your calculator for the best results.   ACT math questions start off easy and become very difficult by the end, so try to maximize your points on the early questions!6)   On the reading section: work quickly and focus on the details.   The big challenge of ACT reading is speed.   You only have 35 minutes to read 4 passages and answer 40 questions.   If you do the math, thats less than one minute per question, including your reading time.   So you must work quickly to do well on ACT reading!   Take just a couple minutes to read the passage and then move on to the questions.   Focus on key words in each question to help you find the answer in the passage.7)   On the science section: dont use outside knowledge and look for patterns.   Contrary to popular belief, you dont need to know much about science to do well on the ACT science section.   All the information you need is in the passages.   As youre studying tables and graphs in an ACT science passage, observe any patterns and take note of the relationship of one variable to another.   For instance, as altitude increases, how does the temperature change?8)   On the essay: brainstorm, write as much as possible, and use counterarguments.   Take a few minutes to plan your essay so its well-organized and coherent.   Use as much of the supplied 4 pages as possible.   And finally, address counterarguments to strengthen your own argument.9)   Answer all questions, even if you run out of time.   Unlike the SAT, theres no guess ing penalty on the ACT.   Save a minute at the end of each section to bubble in answers for any questions you didnt have time to do.10)   Bubble in your answers cleanly and carefully.   Except for the essay section, your answers on the ACT are machine-graded.   If you change an answer, erase completely.   And make sure youre bubbling in the correct section and not skipping any questions!Good luck this weekend!Want more ACT test-taking tips and techniques?   Email AJ Tutoring at info@ajtutoring.com for more information.

4 Tips for Personal Finance in College - TutorNerds

4 Tips for Personal Finance in College - TutorNerds 4 Tips for Personal Finance in College from a Costa Mesa College Tutor Most college students dont know that much about money and probably wont learn about it in the classroom unless theyre studying economics, finance, or business. This is a time in life where students need a lot of money to pay for tuition and expenses but dont yet have a lot of professional skills to command a high salary and pay back loans. It’s harder these days to qualify for student loans, and many students struggle to start making payments when the time comes. Although paying for college has always been an issue, there are several things students can educate themselves about to put themselves in the very best financial situation possible our private Costa Mesa college tutors are here to help. 1. Interest rates When students take out loans to pay for tuition or additional expenses they need to look at interest rates. They should compare different rates from different lending institutions and think about the amount of money they’ll have to pay back and how much time theyll have to do it. Students also need to think about interest rates if they are using a credit card to pay for anything. Its very tempting to pay the minimum on a credit card, but that can add significantly to student debt upon graduation. Students with good credit will be more likely to be able to rent an apartment or lease a car, which will be essential elements of starting out in their career field. 2. Working while you learn Another great way to stay above water when it comes to personal finances in college is to finance education by working partially. Every 4-year college campus has a ton of different student jobs within a short walking distance of dorms and classrooms. All of these employers work around a students schedule and will often provide time off during midterms and finals week without penalty. Students might work in food service or retail, or they might end up applying for positions such as a TA or research assistant if they are in grad school. If students can pay part of their living expenses from their wages, their post-graduation life will be a lot easier. 3. Living expenses and options In addition to tuition and fees, students need to think about their living expenses. Many students will live in the dorm the first year of college, but this option is not as popular as it used to be, especially for students going back to school or starting their education a few years after high school. Larger schools have multiple student living options, some of which are suitable for an older student. The cost of living will also vary significantly based on where a student studies, something they should consider when they choose which college to attend (Tips from a San Diego Economics Tutor: 4 Reasons to Pay Attention in Economics Class). 4. Preparing for what comes after graduation Its also essential for students to be prepared to deal with post-graduation financial issues. Initial student loan payments will come due, students will need to move off campus and arrange for housing, and they will have some upstart costs at their new job. Some students will have a full-time entry-level position open to them before they graduate but most students will need to investigate their options the summer after senior year. Its essential for students to have some work lined up even if its something they dont want to do forever. Students should have a plan A, something they can work towards but is still realistic. But, they should also have a plan B and plan C, options that are temporary and help students get by while theyre focusing their career trajectory. From study tips to help on your next big exam, our in-home Costa Mesa college tutors are here to help you succeed in your college courses. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.