Today is the last day of teacher appreciation week. I’m sure that you can think of at least a few people who shaped your life so emphatically that you wouldn’t be the person you are without their influence. We spend over 20% of our lives in the education system, and it’s no wonder that those who have a positive experience with school, and their educators, end up achieving higher.

Because this relationship is so pivotal, we make it a huge part of our tutoring programs. Each student has one of our top 1% tutors personally selected for them by our education team. We base our decisions on students’ test scores, their academic profiles, and their honest feelings about how they learn best. The partnerships formed in our one-on-one private tutoring sessions produce some of the highest score increases in the country, and reinforce study skills that will resonate through the rest of our students’ learning experiences.

At Top Test Prep, our goal is to make sure that you get the best education possible, for which our tutoring programs are the foundation and the launching point. We want our students to get into top schools and have access to incredible teachers, enlightening classes, and character-forming experiences. Doing well on a test will sometimes be the performance that will change the rest of your life. Having the right guide can make all the difference.

For more info on private tutoring and test prep, call us at (800) 501-7737.

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It’s 8:00 AM. Saturday. The day you have been both waiting for and dreading over the past few months. ACT Test day.

Although you will certainly be feeling the pressure, remember that today is the day you get to show what you know. It isn’t the time to cram the formula for volume of a cylinder at the breakfast table, or frantically try to learn the exact definition of “superfluous.” Today you have to relax and be confident that you are ready to show this test who is boss! Make sure to stay confident, and facilitate your test day experience by using the following tips:

1. Make sure that you pack a bag with the following items the night before your test: a printed copy of your admission ticket, your ID (issued by your school or the government), a calculator (make sure you check and make sure your calculator is permitted here: http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html TI-89 calculators, for example, are not!), several No. 2 sharpened pencils…not mechanical pencils!, snacks and Gatorade or water for breaks, a sweatshirt or light jacket in case you get cold, and a watch so that you can keep track of your timing.

2. GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP ON THE NIGHTS LEADING UP TO THE TEST. This is absolutely key! Don’t sleep 4 hours on the Thursday night and then 12 hours on the Friday night before your test. Stay consistent, and know how much sleep you need and what works best by taking your diagnostics under real conditions. This means figuring out if you perform better with 8 hours of sleep or 10 hours of sleep.

3. Eat a good dinner the night before (think carbo-loading with whole grain pastas and other foods that will keep your energy up the next morning), making sure to drink lots of water the night before, and try to eat a protein-rich breakfast that morning. Go easy on the caffeine (but have a little if you typically drink coffee or tea in the mornings), and don’t drink too many liquids the morning of the test.

4. Get up early. Don’t rush through breakfast. Give yourself time to have a relaxed morning so that you don’t have a huge adrenaline rush before the test even begins.

5. Review a few of your notes or vocabulary to get yourself in the “testing mindset.” This doesn’t mean learn all that last minute information, but rather remind yourself of what you already know.

6. Dress in comfortable clothing that won’t distract you. This is not the correct or appropriate venue for those tight jeans or a scratchy wool sweater.

7. Don’t be late. Check in at your test center BEFORE 8 AM. Make sure that you go to the appropriate test center (check your registration).

8. Choosing your seat: sit somewhere you won’t be distracted. In general, stay away from doors that people will enter and exit to go to the bathroom or drafty windows. It is often best to choose a seat where you cannot see any other students, such as in the front row.

Now sit back, relax and have a great test! You’ll do fantastic.

***

If you’re looking for any test prep or private tutoring, feel free to get in touch directly at (800) 501-7737.
Thank you Beryl Manning-Geist for writing this post and helping students prepare for the SAT, ACT and more!

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Here are some helpful tips for high school freshmen:

You have just entered high school and you’re overwhelmed by the number of students, all of those course options, and more clubs than you could have imagined. Settle down a little and after you’ve found your feet, it’s time to start preparing for the future. An important part of the future is college if you want to reach your full potential and enjoy the opportunities which are out there. What pre-college steps can you take as you transition into your freshman year.

Take Your Academic Work Seriously
As your academic work load increases, it is important that you stay on top of it and meet those deadlines. Reach out to your teachers to talk over an assignment or discuss a lecture. Seeking help when material isn’t clear is a sign of maturity.

Join Clubs
Explore extra-curricular activities. You can take your interests to a new level and discover new ones by attending club meetings. With time you will identify a couple of clubs that you want to devote your time to.

Begin Your Community Service, earlier than later..
Share your skills with the community. If you’re into environmentalism, you could formulate ideas for making your school more environmentally efficient. If you’re an athlete, offer your knowledge to disadvantaged or disabled young people.

Create A Four Year Academic Plan
Identify mandatory and optional high school courses with your counselor and family. Ensure that you are on the rights track for those Advanced Placement math or English courses you want to take during your final two years.

Enjoy Your High School Years
This is a challenging period, but you can make it an intellectually gratifying one with great friendships and the opportunity to contribute to your community if you choose. The path to college and a successful and productive life begins now.

David Dickson is a academic counselor and admissions counselor with Top Test Prep whose admissions and testing experts can assist you with test preparation and gaining admission to your top private schools, colleges and grad schools. To learn more about TTP’s private tutoring and admissions programs, simply call (800) 501-7737.

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The following is some great information for students preparing to take the SSAT exam. Top Test Prep’s SSAT Prep can help you master these sections.

Feel free to print these SSAT tips and share them with your family and friends.

Here’s how to prepare for the SSAT:

Before the test-

(1.) Have a light breakfast with fruits and something healthy to drink.
(2.) Remember to mark your current grade level, not the grade you will enter next year, on your answer sheet.
(3.) Don’t forget your #2 pencils with erasers (mandatory), watch (non-digital), and your SSAT admission ticket.

During the SSAT test-

(4.) One question → one answer, so don’t mark more than one for any question.
(5.) Make sure that you answer each question in the test answer sheet, not just in the test booklet!
(6.) Avoid mental mistakes such as second guessing yourself.
(7.) There is a guessing penalty…so, if you can eliminate at least two of the answers, then you can guess. If you have zero idea what the answer is, just skip the question and move on.
(8.) If you don’t know a word, don’t panic- instead break it down looking for its root and any other similar words you have heard before.
(9.) Don’t waste time reading instructions, you already know what to do. (If not, see below for SSAT test structure)
(10.) Writing Sample – Remember to organize your essay, (Intro, Body paragraphs, Conclusion, and to also indent all of your new paragraphs.

The SSAT Test Format…

The SSAT has five sections

Writing Sample – 25 minutes
Reading Section – 40 minutes
Math (2 Sections) – 30 minutes each
Synonyms – 30 minutes
Analogies – 30 minutes

**********************

Top Test Prep’s SSAT and ISEE Prep – (800) 501-Prep

Top Test Prep SSAT Prep | ISEE Tutoring

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Top Test Prep’s summer SAT and ACT prep programs have started. If you’re preparing for the SAT or ACT this summer and need help, our test prep programs can help you improve your scores. Summer test prep doesn’t have to be difficult.

If you need help with the SAT and/or ACT exams, give us a call today at (800) 501-Prep or fill out our contact form.

This is the time to improve your test scores so that you can apply to the best colleges and universities.

Top Test Prep’s private tutoring and test prep programs continue to lead the field. Be part of the best program.

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For those students taking the May 1st SAT exam, we want to give you some SAT tips to help you get ready. These SAT tips will hopefully reduce your test anxiety and improve your SAT scores.

First, remember that the SAT is a time intensive examination. You must manage your time wisely. If you get caught on one problem, which you can’t answer quickly, keep moving! For the SAT math section, know that the order of difficulty increases as you move through the math section. So try to get through the easier math problems first, and then keep plugging until you complete the section. For the SAT verbal (Reading and Writing), the order of difficulty does not increase as you move through the sections. Keep this in mind as you’re completing the sections.

Second, make sure to get tons of rest before test day. If you mess up your sleep pattern before the exam, you’re likely to come to the SAT test disheveled and unprepared.

Lastly, remember when you’re writing your SAT essay to be organized and write your argument with cogent examples that make sense. The more examples you use without quoting the actual SAT essay prompt, the better. To write an essay that goes from good to great, you need to have structure, and a great argument based on real-life examples.

If you need help with SAT prep or SAT private tutoring, give us a call at (800) 501-Prep, or fill out or quick contact form for more information on Top Test Prep’s SAT programs.

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For the students out there taking SAT Exam, I would like to give a few key tips to prepare for this standardized test.  As you probably know, the SAT exam is broken down into three parts: Writing, Math, and Reading.

In preparing for this exam, I’ll suggest one simple thing you can do for each section to get prepared.  Though there are many strategies which we use at Top Test Prep to help students, these will give you some quick tips to share with your friends.

For the SAT Writing sections:  Consider reading through the “sentence error” sections of the SAT writing and looking at the whole sentence instead of the sentence in parts.  Instead of stopping each time you read an “incorrect” error in a passage, read the entire sentence first and then assess the answer choices for the right answer.  Often times students taking the SAT exam fail to consider the sentence on the whole and instead fragment it into parts.  Our natural speech pattern recognizes errors, assuming a basic understanding of the English language.  If you do have a basic understanding on nouns, adjectives, possessives, conjunctions, articles, adverbs, etc, you will be able to read a sentence and hear it for its whole part – hopefully hearing what sounded best between the answer choices.

For the SAT Critical Reading sections: Consider looking for the author’s attitude and tone when analyzing and preparing to answer SAT critical reading questions.  Once you have read a reading passage in the SAT, go back through the passage and circle words that suggest how the author feels about a certain thing or issue.  Often times students read SAT critical reading sections and forget to look for the big picture.  Remember:  the SAT writers aren’t trying to test you on your ability to remember minute details, rather they want to make sure you can read a passage and understand the tone, rhetoric (argument), and outline of the main body.

For the SAT Math sections:  If you only have a couple weeks left to prepare for the SAT, spend time on only two key main subjects within the SAT math section like solid Geometry or coordinate Geometry and any algebra that is required to answer these SAT math/geometry questions.  Or if you have more time to prepare for the SAT, take the all-inclusive SAT math formula box, and try to develop your own questions that are applicable for the SAT math section.  After all, they say the way you know a problem or issue best is if you can explain it to others.  Try these questions which you have developed, on your friends and see if your answers and methodology make sense.

I hope these SAT preparation tips help you in preparing for the SAT Exam.  At Top Test Prep, we pride ourselves in provides excellent SAT tutoring and test prep for students.  Top Test Prep also has an excellent ACT prep program as well if you are taking the ACT exam.

My best wishes for you and get in touch if you need more help improving your test scores.

Ross Blankenship

Education Expert, and Chairman

Top Test Prep

(800) 501-PREP

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Top Test Prep is proud to offer private tutoring in Washington DC, including tutoring for Georgetown, GWU, Catholic, Howard and American University students, as well as the broader Washington DC community.

Top Test Prep Location:

3615 Wisconsin Ave, NW

Washington DC 20016

(800) 501-Prep

As many of our readers know, we have been expanding rapidly. The parents and students with whom we work have been referring more tutoring and admissions consulting to Top Test Prep.  It is a pleasure to continue working with students as they prepare for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, GRE and many more!

Our private tutoring and test prep continues to be the best, as we only accept private tutors who are in the Top 1% for all exam.  In addition, our private tutors are provided with highly customized exam materials and test prep schedules.  If you need help preparing for your exams, give us a call today at (800) 501-Prep.

Best regards to you and happy holidays!

Ross Blankenship

Chairman and Education Expert

Top Test Prep

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1. Spot errors by listening for them.

In the error identification section, your goal is to identify grammatical or structural errors in a given sentence. The upside: you don’t need to know how to correct these errors. All you’re required to do is recognize when an underlined portion is wrong, or when there are no errors. Pronounce the sentence in your head and listen for anything that sounds off. If it sounds off, it probably is.

2. Remember that this is a test of written English.

Though tip #1 generally holds true, there are things we can get away with in spoken English that are not appropriate for written English. Some questions will spell out a common mispronunciation Рsuch as “could of” in place of “could have” Рthat might sound right, but isn’t correct in writing.

3. Watch out for “I” versus “me.”

People often confuse the two, or assume that using “I” is always correct. Not so. Here’s a tip for figuring out which one to use: take out the other person or people, and see how you’d write the sentence if “you” were the only person. For example, if the sentence is : “My parents lent Sarah and I their station wagon,” take out “Sarah” and see how you’d rewrite the sentence if you were the only borrower of the station wagon. You will realize that “I” sounds wrong Рthat the correct phrasing should be “Sarah and me.”

4. Check for subject/verb agreement.

Ask yourself whether the subject is singular or plural, and whether the correlating verb is conjugated accordingly.

5. Check for verb tense agreement.

Ask yourself, “When did the event described take place?” in order to check that the verb is in the proper tense. If one event in the past happens before another event in the past, the earlier event will require a past participle such as “had talked” or “had eaten.”

6. Be able to recognize sentences that are too “wordy,” expressing an idea in too many words.

One example of wordiness on the SAT may be an adjective that is unnecessarily modified, such as “completely silent” or “very unique.” The words “completely” and “very” are not needed here: you are either silent or not silent; you are either unique or not unique.

7. Keep in mind that the essay portion of the SAT may be compared to your admissions essay.

Admissions officers may compare the two in order to verify that your style and writing level are similar for both essays. In some cases, a good SAT essay may give your application the edge you need to take you from borderline to admitted.

8. On the essay portion of the SAT, aim for clarity and good organization.

Apply all the rules for essay-writing you’ve learned in school. Organization and paragraph-parsing are key. It doesn’t matter what you know in a certain subject area; it matters how well you are able to express your opinion or to relate an experience relevant to the given prompt.

9. Proofread your SAT essay for grammatical errors.

Be as vigilant about checking your own writing for errors as you are on the error-ID portion of the exam. Small errors can add up, lowering your score.

10. Give your SAT essay a title.

It never hurts to title an essay. A title can intrigue your reader and summarize the main theme, giving your essay a feeling of completeness.

___________

Our SAT tutoring and SAT preparation can help you get into top colleges and improve your scores.

Top Test Prep can help you with your SAT writing. Give Top Test Prep a call at (800) 501-Prep.

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Here are some last-minute SAT prep tips…

Whether you’re taking the SAT in December for the first time or the umpteenth, you still have about a month left to prepare. Here are some tips for getting the most out of these remaining few weeks.

1) Go over those vocab flash cards one last time. By now you’ll probably be familiar with them – so familiar, in fact, that it takes you far longer to say the definitions than to remember them. Still, it never hurts to review, review, review, and along the way, to remember all the synonyms surrounding a given word.

2) Go over the toughest practice problems, the ugly ones that really gave you trouble. Get a handle on them. Don’t just understand why you got each one wrong: understand the thought process required for solving it, and seek out other problems like it.

3) Get a good night’s sleep … for the two weeks leading up to the test. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation, even for a single night, can affect your performance on tests for over a week afterward, even if you got enough sleep during the nights in between.

4) On test day, wake up early enough to eat a healthy breakfast. Eat whatever works best for you: something filling and nutritious that sits well and will last you through the test. Eating a special meal can help set the day apart, putting you in the zone and revving you up for the day’s challenges.

5) It’s not too late for private SAT tutoring. You still have a whole month to sit down with an SAT tutor and address your weaknesses. An SAT tutor can help motivate you to study and provide you with tips and assignments that will build your mental endurance and efficiency. You can study alone, or you can study with the guidance of an SAT success story … your choice!

This article is on last minute SAT prep tips and was written by education expert, Ross Blankenship.

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When you learn about an upcoming test in any subject, it’s smart to tailor your studying strategy to both the individual test and your personal needs. Ask yourself the following questions:

1) What’s the format of the test?

Find out what the questions will be like and how long you’ll have to complete the test. This will guide your studying, as you’ll know how detailed your answers should be.

2) How many days will I need to study?

Estimate how many hours you’ll need to study the material. Then decide how many hours you’d realistically be able to devote to studying each day. You may have to try studying some of it first, and see how it goes for you. Make a study plan, and stick to it.

3) How helpful are study groups to me? What about group study guides?

Your answer may depend on which subject you’re studying for. If you took detailed notes for your History class and did all the readings, it may not be worth your time to contribute to a group study guide that won’t give you much in return. Your time might be better spent reviewing your notes, which you can probably trust to be as comprehensive as the guide your classmates will churn out.

Ask yourself whether you study well in a group setting, or whether it ends up devolving into a social gathering with the odd study question being thrown out there now and then. If studying with others is helpful to you, maybe you need to find the right people – those who can focus, stay on subject, and make the most of the time you have.

4) Have I skipped any homework assignments or readings?

Best to cover these first, instead of remembering that you missed them at the last minute.

5) How will this test affect my grade in the class?

Knowing that a good test score could give your grade a significant boost will help motivate you to study. On the other hand, if you’re doing well in the class, you can reduce stress by seeing which range of grades will help you maintain your overall performance. It’s good to know how the test is weighted, and whether there will be other chances to prove yourself.

Top Test Prep can help you prepare for the next big test.

Contact Top Test Prep today to get more help with your SAT and ACT test preparation.

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1) Use a dictionary.

No matter what you’re reading, take the time to look up words you don’t know. Not only will this improve your vocabulary (it’s the best way to do so), but it will improve your reading experience. You’ll understand the text better without relying purely on context (or skipping over the phrase with the unfamiliar word).

2) Use a thesaurus.

How many ways can you say ‚Äúaggressive‚Äù? ‚ÄúBelligerent,‚Äù ‚Äúpugnacious,‚Äù ‚Äúcombative,‚Äù ‚Äúbellicose‚Äù … you get the idea. Memorizing synonyms as a group will help you remember what each word means. For every standard vocabulary word, there are several synonyms that stand a chance of showing up on the test.

3) Read something challenging on a regular basis.

Consider getting a subscription to a respected magazine, something that will catch your interest and stimulate your vocabulary at the same time.

4) Buy SAT flash cards.

Standardized tests tend to recycle vocabulary. Having mastered 100 or more of the most common words on the exam will give you confidence when one or two of those words shows up on your test.

5) Complete practice exams under timed conditions.

Get accustomed to the amount of time you’ll have to complete the test. You’ll get faster, which will give you more time to focus on the tough questions. Study all the words you missed on the practice exams (see number four).

Find a private tutor to help you prepare! (But not too pugnacious.)

To improve your SAT Verbal score, contact Top Test Prep today at (800) 501-Prep or read about our SAT private tutoring.

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Here are the Top 10 test prep tips to improve your exam scores…

I’d like to share with our readers tips to use for test prep, whether you’re taking the SAT exam, ACT exam or other standardized tests like the LSAT, GMAT, GRE or MCAT. Preparing for exams can be tedious, but with the right plan you can succeed.

Ten Test Prep Tips to Help Improve Your Test Scores:

(1) Practice sections: Always take practice sections and exams under testing conditions. Testing conditions refers to taking an exam during the same time and general day you are scheduled for the actual exam (e.g. Saturdays at 9am)

(2) The back of the book: Do not simply look to the back of the book for answers. This causes you to rely on the book and others’ knowledge more than your own. Always try the problems first and then rely on the back of the book to check your answer.

(3) Manage your time wisely. One of the most important things to do before you begin studying for tests is to set out a proper study schedule. At a minimum, you should devote between 2 to 3 hours per day in preparing for exams. Make it your part-time job. Choose only one or two test prep books and go to work.

(4) Get help when necessary. In most cases, students only get once chance to take a major test like the PSAT, SAT, ACT or other grad level exams like the GRE and LSAT. So why not consider a private tutor? At the very least look into it. Beyond providing you direction, a private tutor may go a long way in helping you prepare for these exams. For example, Top Test Prep’s tutors all have scored in the top 1% percentile and are double-screened to ensure they are able to successfully tutor students.

(5) Speed exam taking: If the student has difficulties with time or time pressures, have the student take the sections under faster time settings. For example, have the student take what would normally be a 30 minute section, in 15 minutes instead. Like running with weights attached to your ankles, this will make the tests and each sections faster for the student.

(6) Math Problems: The method is more important than the result. If a student cannot explain how he or she got to the correct answer, they won’t be able to do it correctly on their own exam. Like any mathematical proof, you want to make sure you have every step down perfectly. Every studentmust be able to explain their methods.

(7) Verbal Problems: One method that has worked for Top Test Prep is to have every student read the verbal passages out loud before answering the questions. Most test prep companies recommend reading the questions first, and then skimming the content. During your tutoring sessions, we want the students to hear what the author is writing and then to explain the passage’s main point to the tutor. If a student can explain what an author intended to write, he or she will know the answers before they get to the questions. If a student can come up with his or her own title to the passage, they become more involved and will understand the questions better. Essentially, make the student the author of the passage.

(8) On test day: The Five P’s of Test Prep are simple: Proper preparation prevents poor performance. Make sure every student has everything they need on test day: All #2 pencils, calculators, and their admissions ticket. Being prepared will prevent nervousness and overall anxiety. Students are encouraged to have some caffeine, but not too much however much they are comfortable with drinking.

(9) Expect the Unexpected. When test day arrives, you must expect that you will see questions with which you are unfamiliar. In the event you don’t know the answer, make sure to eliminate as many problems that are not logical or those which have no basis for even being an answer choice. This takes practice. However, it’s important not to just guess if you have a chance of losing points.

(10) Don’t Panic. No matter what your score is, keep in mind that you can take an exam again. You can take most exams again without being penalized – several admissions offices will look to your highest score regardless of any previous exam results.

This article was written by Ross Blankenship, an education expert and Chairman of TopTestPrep.com, which provides private tutoring and admissions consulting to students around the world. Call (800) 501-PREP to get help with private tutoring and admissions consulting.

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Top Test Prep has announced a FREE 1-hour SAT Prep review course, starting May 30, 2010.

The 60 minute review will include:
SAT Math Review
SAT Verbal
SAT Writing Practice

And instruction by the leader in test prep, Ross Blankenship.

Ross Blankenship is the founder and President of TopTestPrep.com

Who? Top Test Prep
What? SAT Prep and SAT Exam Review
Where? 1027 33rd St NW Suite 140 Washington DC 20007
When? Sunday, May 30 at 2:00pm.
Why? Because you deserve the best SAT prep.

Students and Parents are welcome!

1027 33rd St. NW
Washington DC 20007

Call to reserve your space: (800) 501-Prep
or email “[email protected]”

This SAT prep course is open to all students in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia Regions.

You must RSVP for this event, space is limited.

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