Preparing for exams could be stressful especially in the final days of a semester. Searching through many tips on how to prepare for the upcoming exams, we came across an excellent article from the Simon Fraser University.  We especially like the strategy that targets how to avoid/deal with exam anxiety and will be sharing it here.

To minimize exam anxiety try to practice as if you are in the exam room. Here’s how to do that:

• Try to  create the same conditions of the exam-writing situation as much as possible
• Solve prior tests and quizzes then check the right answers, and make mental notes on where you made mistakes
• Find or make-up practice questions that are of the type that will be on the exam
• Put your books away (unless it is an open book exam)
• Work under similar time conditions while you complete the practice questions.
• You may even want to visit the examination room to get comfortable in the space.

Here are a few ways you can find or create practice questions:

• Answer chapter review questions in your textbook
• Turn the headings in your readings and class notes into questions
• Use questions from the textbook study guide or your class notes
• Participate in a study group and ask each other questions based on the material
• Make flashcards with a question on one side and the answer on the other, then quiz yourself
• Write outlines for any sample essay questions provided by the professor
• Make “Cornell notes”: Draw a line down your page about one-third of the way from the left edge; write questions in the left column of your page; write the answers to your questions directly across in the right column; cover up the answers and quiz yourself.

For the full article click here. We hope that you will find these strategies, and tips helpful. We wish you the best of luck with your exams!

To get the most out of your study time we suggest that you:

Customize Your Notes

Note-taking is an excellent studying method for high school and university students. It helps to retain information in an organized way. Here are a few tips to make your notes look amazing:

• Read your textbook or lecture notes
• Summarize the important information you find
• Write what you gather from the read text in your own words
• Make sure to include visuals when needed
• Engage with the materials by answering questions
• Choose between typing and writing according to your preference

Realize that asking for help can be hard

People in general, and students in particular shy away from asking for help. They fear that their peers, and teachers will look at it as a weakness. As a matter of fact, the opposite is true. Asking for help when needed is actually a STRENGTH.
Asking for help from a tutor is the next best thing to asking your teacher in your class. On one hand, a tutor is a qualified person to answer your questions, and reteach you the missed lessons. On the other hand, you don’t need to worry about peer pressure.

Make a Plan

• Take notes during class, and ask any relevant questions. Remember, there is no stupid question!
• Practice on your new learned materials at home and review old material. Don’t procrastinate!
• Check your understanding by answering questions after finishing off a chapter or a unit
• Get organized, and stay on top of your assignments, tests, and due dates
• Stay positive about your learning experience. Remember all hard labour must bear its fruits!

In a typical school year, report cards come home every nine weeks or so. The purpose of report cards is to
communicate about a child’s progress across subject areas. Most report cards also include a Work Habits,
Social Skills, or similar section.

Some kids, especially those having difficulty in school, dread report card time. Here are some suggestions
for making report card time a little less scary and a little more productive.
• Become familiar with the grading system in your district and at your grade. Many schools
use a different report card for K-2 than they use for 3-5. Are letter grades used? A numerical
score from 1-3? Other letters such as O, G, S, N?
• Make sure you understand the different competencies on the report card. Many use vague
descriptors such as “Uses time constructively.” If something is not clear to you, ask your
child’s teacher.
• As you look at your child’s report card, RESIST THE IMPULSE to jump directly to an area
with a lower score. Find an area with a good grade or score and focus on that first. “You did
a great job in _____! You must be so proud of all your hard work.”
• Once you’ve focused on the positive, talk about areas in which your child’s grade was lower.
“Tell me how things have been going in science lately.” Start a safe, open dialogue with your
child about the difficulty he or she might be having with the subject matter.
• Together, develop strategies to help in subject areas that are difficult for your child. Is there
a textbook that needs to come home more frequently? Is there a website that can help with
math fact drills? If you’re not sure how to best help your child, call the teacher to set up a
conference.
• Last, let your child know that she is more than just a report card. Remind her of all the
things that make her special and important in your family. Too much of a focus on grades
can only increase the amount of stress your child feels.
Report cards should not contain any huge surprises about how your child is doing. Most teachers work to
talk with parents if a child is having particular difficulty, whether it’s through interims or informal phone
calls. If that is not the case with your child and his report card, call the teacher to talk about that. An
open, ongoing conversation is the best way to manage everyone’s expectations.
See also this post from our blog Sound It Out: I’d give this report card comment an N (for needs
improvement)

(Credits: This is a shared article from Reading Rockets, Colorín Colorado and LD OnLine)

Over the years, people have started considering math as a complex subject. Math has always been an exciting subject, but people are no longer keen to learn or understand this subject with the change of time.

Most students who are in high school try to avoid taking lectures on Math at school, but with the right amount of attention and a suitable teaching method by good tutors like “Math plus Tutoring Services,” can help a student in need. Our tutoring services are made for every student and every type of subject.

While there are many reasons students struggle with math but you should learn a few common reasons that you can keep an eye on if someone is struggling around you.

• Lack of Clarity with Basic Concepts

Many students struggle with subjects like math and science because of the lack of clarity of basic concepts. Math needs a good foundation to understand it better and to move forward. If the concept is not clear, a student tries to lose interest and eventually starts skipping classes in school; this is where you can think about hiring a math tutoring service in Sarnia from “Math plus Tutoring Services” for your child.

• Teaching Method

Like every subject, not every student is the same, and every student requires a different teaching method. Some students comprehend better with real-life examples, while others require a different approach. Some teachers try to explain concepts with real-life applications, which many students can easily understand. A student might be more comfortable with one teaching method than the other. 

• Less Practice 

Even when the student clearly understands the concept but without practice, a student might struggle to solve the problems. Many students are not interested in particular subjects, which is another reason students don’t spend enough time practicing. That’s why the best science tutor and math tutor try to encourage their students to practice more often to help the student understand the concepts.

• Require Special Attention 

Many students struggle with attention deficient disorder, which can be one of the reasons why a student struggle with certain subjects. This could be easily noticeable if the student is facing difficulty paying attention to the teacher’s instructions. 

Students with ADHD require special attention and different techniques of teaching. At “Math plus Tutoring Services,” we offer you our team of the best High school physics and math tutors in Sarnia, specializing in tutoring students with learning difficulties.