Free Algebra 2 Help and Answers Are Essential

Free Algebra 2 Help and Answers Are EssentialFree algebra 2 help and answers are a crucial component of the algebra syllabus. They are there to answer any questions that you may have. Before you go into class, you will need to use them to check your work before putting it in a book.You don't want to panic when you see an answer that doesn't match your understanding of the topic. There is a help section in every textbook. Even with free resources you will need to do your homework before checking off your homework.Free tools are not generally available online, but most can be found in your book. For some questions you will have to spend more time working on it than others. If you spend a lot of time on a question, it will be a good idea to check online for more help.The professor gives many types of answers for math problems and they are usually not in the books. Some of the questions you will get from a test or class will be related to algebra and its topics. You will need to learn al l the basics before starting out, so making use of the help is essential.When you are working on algebra problems, you will need to look up the algebraic functions in the book to find them. These are the formulas that give you your answer. You also have to know how to solve problems for the different levels of algebra. Using the help is a necessity.Free help is not the same as an instructor giving lectures or explaining topics to you. When you are stuck, you need to have the answers right in front of you. You need to be able to see the answer and work backwards to find the best way to answer the question. This is what you get with an algebra textbook.Books have different topics and there is a chapter for every subject. You can't go over the same topics over and expect to be a good student. Use free resources as needed and use them to learn.

How to Choose a University Course

How to Choose a University Course Choosing Your University Courses ChaptersWhat Is Your Passion?Projecting Years Into the FutureChoosing the Right SchoolThink of the Downsides“The world is mine oyster” - Shakespeare, from The Merry Wives of WindsorThe world of secondary school is behind you â€" you scored well on GCSEs and are now on the home stretch as far as A-Levels are concerned.You may rightly say that every opportunity is laid before you, like a plate of oysters, with those fruits of the sea needing only to be pried from their shell to reap the goodness therein… and mayhap, find a pearl?The trouble is, it’s hard to decide which oyster to pick up first: the fattest looking one? The one closest to you? The one that looks the most savoury?Will you drizzle lemon juice on them or eat them with grated horseradish? Maybe you’d prefer cocktail sauce, wasabi or mignonette…What if you don’t even like oysters?No worries, the oyster analogy and the many ways they can be eaten serve well to illustrate that there are as many ways to choose you r university degree program as there are degree programs to choose from.So how do degree-seeking students decide what to pick as their course of study?That’s what your Superprof will talk with you about today. Parents usually always want what's best for their children, even when it comes to applying to university! Image by serrano1004 from PixabayIn the UK, we have a bit more latitude in deciding for ourselves which course our lives will take; nevertheless, getting input from others can make a huge difference in what we will ultimately choose to study.On the other hand, if you are an international student, you may carry the dual responsibility of studying abroad (here, in the UK) while carrying your entire family’s hopes and dreams, a weight that makes choosing your own course particularly difficult.What Interests You?If you’re mad for travel and want to see the wider world, you might pursue a degree in languages.Learning a second language can open doors for understanding cultures, history and traditions that you might otherwise not be privy to. You may even get to study abroad!Studying languages can also boost your employability; bilinguals tend to enjoy faster hires and higher salari es than those who speak only one language.Which leads us to consider: would you be satisfied with a language degree 20 years from now?Interests, like passions, can wane and change over time. That is why you should consider a course of study that will bring you satisfaction over the long haul.What Are You Good At?It stands to reason that following a course of study that you are unusually adept in will bring success in the long run. The danger is that you might get bored with seemingly easy successes and feel like you need more to strive for.There are a lot of personal factors that go into considering a course of university study: what fascinates you, what moves you, what you’re good at and how these things reflect on your personal values. Your future earning potential falls in there, too.As you start your university course deliberations, why not formulate a ‘wildest dreams’ list?Before you start applying for university, write down any course of study that interests you, no matt er how improbable it seems you might select it.Projecting Years Into the FutureI wanted to be a doctor but my father thought English would be more suitable â€" Berry, future English teacher. No matter which course of study you select, your family may not agree with your choice of higher education Image by Anh Nguy?n Duy from PixabayIt might be hard to envision yourself as a parent, as a relationship partner, as a financial and social contributor but these life situations should factor into your choosing a major.We’ve already touched on employability; now it’s time to point out that some fields are far more marketable than others.STEM subjects â€" Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths have long been touted as the sure path to professional reward while Liberal Arts degrees have been perceived and namby-pamby, indecisive… useless.Fortunately, there’s been a turnaround in that attitude of late. Not only do such studies yield a wider field of work â€" say, as opposed to the exceedingly narrow one-course-one-career field like professional studies, but they also foster the soft skills most needed in the workplace today.So, if you are as yet uncertain of where you w ant to be 20 years from now, don’t discount Bachelor of Arts degrees just yet!Your turn to chime in: when is the best time to apply to university?Choosing the Right SchoolYou might think that choosing your course of study based on what’s offered at UK universities you’d most like to attend is a bit loony but there is some merit in this idea.For one, consider why you chose those schools: their sterling reputation? Their cutting edge facilities? Their avantgarde student programmes? Student life? The ease of obtaining student finance?Although it is possible that, somehow, that name just popped in your head and won’t leave you alone, the more likely possibility is that you heard about it from somewhere and it stuck with you because you are wildly interested in what you heard.Take the Glasgow School of Art, for example: it was in the news just over a year ago for the tragedy that befell it.All while reporting on the damage done by the fire, all of the news outlets went out of the ir way to report on the age and veneration of this school, its illustrious alumni and the fact that it is no stranger to adversity.So you think: ‘I have always liked to draw and they have an architect programme; architects make a lot of money...’. And so, you are sold and, when UCAS opens for application at university, GSA tops your list.Do you know how to apply to university?That’s really not a bad way to choose the right university; there’s just one thing you should be aware of: the most popular schools offer the most popular programmes and receive the most applications.That tends to make their entry requirements more stringent.And, looking further down the road, the job market in that particular field will also be highly competitive or worse â€" saturated. There go your plans for a lucrative career!We’re not saying you shouldn’t apply to high-profile schools if they have the undergraduate degree programs you want, only that you might also look elsewhere to see if you can find a diamond-in-the-rough undergraduate study program that will yield a satisfying future, both financially and otherwise. You may decide against a particular degree course because of the heavy workload Image by Wokandapix from PixabayThink of the Downsides“I can’t wait for my life to begin!” - Katherine, future archaeologistIt’s easy for us to see the bright side of life; after all, we’re standing at the very threshold of our future, soon to command the world. For many of us, we just can’t help but think everything will turn up roses… right?We at Superprof fervently wish for that to be true for you. Reality can be a bit of a beast, though, and we would be doing you a grave disservice if we failed to point out that you should prepare for everything.To that end, we would encourage you to make lists; one for each school or each course of study you think you might like to pursue.They might look something like this:Field of study: one per list; it’s OK to end up with several listsIt’s better to dream and discard than to keep too narrow a focus!Why?: love it, good at it, want to know more ab out it, parents insist on it, my best mates are goingWhich universities and colleges?: list both top-tier and others that offer such a degree planCareer goals: does this course of study tie in with your future plans or foster a brand new one?Flexibility: how rich in opportunity is this particular course of study?As you draft this list, be sure to list pros and cons for every bullet point.For each university, consider everything from housing and tuition costs to student programs and extracurricular activities. For each study course, be explicit in what you like and don’t like about it.Log into The Student Room and ask others about their experiences and check the University League Tables. It provides university rankings so you can get a better picture of the facilities you are considering consigning yourself to for three years.Do not fail to visit prospective campuses on Open Days!Naturally, the school and everyone there will have their best face on but you can still get an idea of what life would be like and what facilities would be available to you while you’re there.Also, there is no harm in seeking out a bit of academic advising; after all, school counsellors are meant to provide student support.They will not tell you which course of study to choose but there is a good chance they can help steer you in the right direction.Last point: take your time. The UCAS application system is very clear in its dates and deadlines, and very generous in its course offerings and allowances.So generous are they that, even if you receive an offer for the undergraduate course of your choice, you may withdraw your application and hold out for ‘Extra’ or ‘Clearing’ courses â€" who knows? You may just strike gold in that manner.The important takeaway is that nothing is set in stone; decisiveness is good but so too can be a bit of ambiguity.Take your time and make the choice(s) that will serve you best in the long run.Now discover the steps to take in writing your UCAS personal statement...

10 Ways to Improve your Spoken English

10 Ways to Improve your Spoken English If you are looking to improve your spoken english these top tips will help you get the most our of your language skills. These suggestions are aimed at those learning english as a foreign language. Have a conversation with a native speaker Try and find opportunities to use your english speaking skills. This might be at the bus stop, at the supermarket or at your local gym. Don’t obsess over sentence structure of grammar just try and have a conversation that flows. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you make a mistake, you WILL be understood. Most find that people are kind enough to help you out if you find yourself in real language difficulty! Think in English Many people struggle with improving their language skills because they are constantly translating from their native language into English. This is simply not sustainable. In fact you are just making language learning more difficult. Multilingual speakers actually find switching between languages very difficult because they are not translating in their hands, they are in fact thinking and speaking in that language instead. Task:  When you are going about your daily activities, instead of thinking in your native tongue, try and and use English. Try this for a day, and just see how your spoken english improves. Listen to English Watch films, listen to podcasts or the radio. Anything that you find interesting that helps you to engage with the spoken word. Utilising your listening skills is useful for improving your conversational skills. It also help you improve your spoken English because you hear more frequently how it should be spoken. A great task to do is to watch films, and then repeat what has been said. That way you improve your sentence construction. Slow down your speaking speed You can’t be expected to speak english fluently at the same speed you use when speaking your native tongue. Focus more on what you say, and using varied vocabulary than trying to get all your words out at once. You can try and progress from that point. It’s better to get your general message across than to speak really fast and risk confusing your speaking partner. You will never improve your language skills if people can’t actually have a coherent conversation with you! Don’t forget to listen A great way of improving your fluency is to listen to the nuances of peoples conversations. Often people are so concerned with what they have to try and communicate across many people forget to listen to  what the other person is actually saying.  Make sure you are responding to what they are saying, not just want you want to respond to! Learn a word as part of a sentence When you are introduced to a new word, try to learn that word as part of a sentence. This will help you understand the meaning of the word. It will also give you more confidence when speaking. Instead of panicking to form correct sentences, you will already have a phrase bank of great sentences that you have already formed. 7.  Record yourself speaking This can have several benefits. If you are trying to improve your accent,  it can be useful to hear how you pronounce certain words. Recording your voice can also be useful to hear your fluency and give you confidence. If you hear yourself speaking, likelihood is you’ll be better then you think you are! Technology is a great tool to give you added support. Read out loud Reading out loud may seen foolish but it really is the best way to improve your spoken english.  Start by using  simple books, and just read out loud until you find a word you do not know. Try if you can to infer the meaning of word from it's context. If you can't don't worry, make a note of it and carry on reading. Don't forget to later look up it's + meaning! The key is to hear yourself reading fluently. This will help build confidence and vocabulary. Learn a new word everyday! Practice, Practice, Practice. This is the most important point of all. If you try and adopt some or all of these top tips, you will be fluent in no time! If you are still having problems, a tutor can help you feel confident about your language skills. At Tutorfair, we have english speakers who teach English as a Foreign Language (EFL)

Volunteers With Heart Jim, Denise and Walker Ratchford

Volunteers With Heart Jim, Denise and Walker Ratchford Volunteers With Heart: Jim, Denise and Walker Ratchford Volunteers With Heart: Jim, Denise and Walker Ratchford April 29, 2015 Volunteering with Heart Math Tutoring is a family affair for The Ratchfords. Denise and Jim Ratchford are members of Social Venture Partners Charlotte, which helped launch Heart in 2010, and alumni of Wake Forest University. The husband and wife became partner-tutors last fall at Billingsville Leadership Academy, where they tutor two second grade students on Mondays (Denise) and Wednesdays (Jim) at lunchtime. Their son Walker, a full-time student at UNC Charlotte, started in January, “after hearing us talk about how much we enjoyed it,” said Denise. Why do you all volunteer? “We all love to work with children and believe that early intervention and one-on-one teaching pay big dividends in a childs education.” What are some of your favorite moments from working with the students? We play card games to reinforce the math skills the children are learning, and some of my favorite moments are when competitive natures come out. They forget they are learning and working but just want to win! Also, its great when youve built a relationship with a child and they share stories about their families and whats going on in their lives. Theres a level of comfort there, and real learning can begin when theyre at ease. What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming a volunteer? “Heart makes it so easy for volunteers to tutor. They have all the materials for you, and the lessons are easy to understand. Its so rewarding to invest in another person. As the children progress, they are so proud of themselves, and its great to observe that and be a part of it. With a firm foundation, theres no telling how far theyll go! *** Thank you to the Ratchfords for their dedication to students at Billingsville! At Billingsville 74 weekly volunteers are helping more than 60 Heart students in grades 1- 5 gain foundational math skills and enthusiasm towards academics. Want to volunteer? Heart Math Tutoring will need more volunteers for the 2015/2016 school year! With a commitment of one hour per week, community members can help a struggling student gain the skills and confidence he/she needs for long-term success. Click here to see times/locations and express your interest!

How to Prepare for Your First Day at a New Job

How to Prepare for Your First Day at a New Job Photo Via: Pixabay.com 1. Dress Professionally First and foremost, it’s important that you appear professionally on your first day. Many companies will tell you that their workplace is “relaxed” and that business casual is okay, but you should always dress up a bit for your first day until you know for sure. For one, you want to make a good impression, which isn’t the case when you show up underdressed. Second, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed, so when in doubt on what to wear, go business professional. 2. Don’t Come Empty Handed Many individuals make the mistake of showing up for their first day empty handed, so don’t fall victim to that problem. While most organizations will provide you with everything you’re going to need for your first day and beyond, it’s a good idea to have a notebook, a pen and a cup of coffee if you’re a coffee drinker, as you never know what you’re walking into. Again, it’s better to be more prepared than necessary than it is to be underprepared, so be sure to bring everything you think you may need and, if you don’t need it, no harm done! 3. Map Out Your Route Showing up late on your first day isn’t an option. Not only does this look unprofessional, but it also makes a bad first impression. For this reason, you should map out your route in advance so that you don’t get lost, you are familiar with the traffic and you leave yourself plenty of time to arrive in the morning. When in doubt, give yourself plenty of extra time, just in case you happen upon construction or an accident. Basically, your first day is important, so arriving early and waiting in your car for a bit isn’t a bad thing. 4. Do Your Research It’s never a good idea to show up to your first day unprepared. For one, you should be researching the company you’re going to be working for (if you haven’t already) and you should also check out the LinkedIn profiles of the individuals you will be working with. This not only gives you an idea of what the day to day will look like, but it also helps you to better prepare. When it comes to doing research, you are obviously going to go through training and learn from your manager, but going in prepared with the information already readily available to you showcases your ambition and dedication to the role, which are both good things. 5. Start Brainstorming Along these same lines, when you begin a new job, many individuals show up and begin blind. In other words, they don’t know enough about the role to contribute until after they have gone through the training process. For that reason, if you show up having already brainstormed some ideas, you’ll be ahead of the curve and your manager will be impressed with your initiative. Basically, the more prepared you are, the more likely you are to impress on day one. 6. Be Ready to Hit the Ground Running Finally, you should always be ready to hit the ground running when you begin a new position. In other words, don’t show up on your first day assuming it’s going to be relaxed and more introductory, as you never know. Often, this is exactly the case, but other times, you’ll be surprised to learn your new job starts immediately. This is why it’s important to be more prepared than less, and you should always be ready to hit the ground running the second you walk in the door, whether you’re actually going to or not. Again, starting a new position isn’t easy, and it’s often overwhelming, scary and stressful. However, when you go into the position prepared, everything seems a lot less overwhelming. The more you know, and the more you’re prepared as to what to expect, the less frightening the entire process is, which means all you need to worry about is doing your job and doing it well. With that all being said, keep these six tips in mind when you begin your next job and there’s no doubt that you will be successful! Good luck!

The 9 Best Android Apps to Use for Stellar Language Learning

The 9 Best Android Apps to Use for Stellar Language Learning The 9 Best Android Apps to Use for Stellar Language Learning The world is being invaded.And our invaders numbers grow day by day.But no little green men are involved, and we dont need to recruit Will Smith to save us.Thats because were being invaded by Android language learning apps, which any language learner would agree is one of the best invasions possible.Thats right. If iPhone language apps  arent your thing, you still have a ton of great Android options.From  innovative language learning apps  to  game apps  to  flashcard apps, Android users have access to most of the  best language apps on the market!And you might not have even noticed what the best Android language learning apps are since they arent necessarily connected to big, recognizable names.Its time to pay attention to some powerful apps that may have been flying under your radar.With the Android apps below, youll be able to go above and beyond the usual language app features like multiple choice quizzes and picturesâ€"and learn through stories, podcasts, videos, social networks and more.But first, lets define what best means for you. How to Pick the Right Android Learning App for YouConsider your proficiency level to ensure the app you choose will cover that level.  Some Android apps focus on just one level, while other apps are intended for any level of language learner. Selecting an app that meets your proficiency level will help ensure that app is useful and not too far above or below your abilities.Think about what you want to get out of the app.  Each app has a different focus and can offer you different things. For instance, some apps focus on listening practice, some focus on vocabulary practice and others focus on reading practice. Deciding what you want to get out of the app ahead of time will help ensure the Android app you download meets your needs.Pay careful attention to the features and reviews. New apps come out frequently, and not all of them are high quality. While some app designers use science and research to produce the most effectiv e apps possible, other designers crank out as many apps as possible in hopes of making a quick buck. Paying careful attention to any apps reviews and features will help ensure that the app you download is the app you want.The 9 Best Android Apps to Use for Stellar Language LearningFluentUFluentUs  Android app  provides you with plenty of learning power you can take with you on the go. Do you ever wish learning a language could be as easy as watching entertaining videos? With FluentU, it can be.FluentU offers a fun, flexible approach to language learning where you pick your pace and what you learn. As a starting point to teach you a language, FluentU uses  authentic, real-world foreign language videosâ€"like news, movie trailers, music videos and more.  But dont worry, youre not thrown in unprepared! Each video is captioned and the captions are annotated, providing you with easy access to any words definition, example sentences and associated images. You can even click any word to se e how its used in other videos.Plus, FluentU also offers a unique learn mode that transforms videos, pictures and example sentences into exercises and flashcards for an engaging and interactive learning experience.Since FluentU uses a special algorithm, it adjusts to any learners level and teaches them based on what theyve already learned, so its appropriate for any level. It also puts the power to customize in your hands, as youre able to import your own word lists and mark off words you already know.FluentU is currently available for Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.Give it a try on the  website  or with the  app from the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.BeelinguappCant get enough stories? Beelinguapp helps you snag some language learning while you enjoy a compelling plot.Beelinguapp focuses on stories you can read in both English and your target language, giving you awesome reading practice while ensuring you actually understand t he material. Plus, you can even listen to audiobooks for some language offerings. As you listen, you can follow along with karaoke-style captioning that highlights the passage youre currently listening to. This makes Beelinguapp a great tool for reading or listening practice.Beelinguapp offers Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish.Study QuestA heros journey is never easy. Luckily, with Study Quest, yet another entertaining app for language learning, the journey can still be fun.In this app, you create a hero to guide on a language learning adventure. Along the way, language learning games and flashcards help you gain the skills you need. As you advance, the flashcards get increasingly difficult.Study Quest also allows you to interact with friends through the app. You can follow each others progress or even help each other in battle, which is a fun way to stay motivated.Study Quest offers English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.LingoLingo bills itself as an educational social network. Through games, conversations and more, Lingo might just become any language learners new favorite social network.Lingo offers a nice array of features for language learners. For instance, you can interact with other users, which provides you the opportunity to ask questions and/or have your work corrected. An interactive game also helps you learn by playing with others. Plus, you can even use text-based chat (complete with translation and correction features) to interact and get some language practice. Text, video and image posts can provide you with additional learning opportunities, and you can save these posts to review more later.Lingo offers Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.LingQThe LingQ app is all about immersing yourself in a wide variety of contentâ€"including podcasts, interviews and other authentic contentâ€"and you can even import real-life content you find online! The great thing about LingQs style of immersion is that its immersion with purpose and structure. You can use the app to track your progress and study habits, including words learned and the amount of time you spend on activities like reading and listening.LingQ is additionally flexible in that you can use it offline. But youll want to use it online because it also has some social features that enable you to interact with other learners.LingQs Android app is currently available in 25 languages, including Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Dutch and more.LearnPlayThe LearnPlay app might just slap you in the face with learning.Thats because LearnPlay uses what it calls Subconscious Language Acquisition Performance (SLAP), which employs word-group learning, deep audio-visual immersion, quizzes and play modules t o try to speed up the learning process.This app targets beginning students, teaching basic greetings, must-know phrases and more.LearnPlay offers Arabic, Cantonese, Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.Langu LiveWant to learn common vocabulary? Langu Live can hook you up with a ton of words.The Langu Live app is a word game app that  focuses entirely on beginning vocabulary acquisition. One of the best and most unique elements of the app is that you can set both the language you want to learn in and your target language. So, for instance, if youve studied Spanish and also want to learn Portuguese, you can set Spanish as your main language and Portuguese as your target language, thereby practicing your Spanish while you study Portuguese.Plus, Langu Live offers 100 languages, so if youre looking to learn a less common language, like Haitian Creole or Maori, Langu Live may be your best option.OpenLanguageConvent ional courses offer a targeted, organized approach to learning. But can you really enjoy the benefits of a conventional course in an app? Well, with OpenLanguage, you can enjoy many of them. OpenLanguage is much like a regular language class delivered in convenient app format.They call this approach Tablet Textbook.The app features much of what you would find in a real classroom, like lessons presented by teachers, dialogues that teach high frequency vocabulary, interactive review activities and flashcard decks for easy studying.OpenLanguage offers Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.iKnow!iKnow! aims to help you read, write in, listen to and speak a language. By telling you what to study and when, iKnow! takes a lot of the guesswork out of the learning process.Interactive activities like quizzes and a sentence builder help reinforce your learning. Meanwhile, audio activities help you fine-tune your listening skills.iKnow! offers Chinese, English and Japanese.There are two Chinese courses, divided into Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Each of these courses features the same 2,000 words. The Japanese course offers 6,000 common Japanese words, while the English course focuses on SAT vocabulary.So embrace the invasionâ€"check out these nine great language learning apps for Android!

6 Key Study Tips for the MCAT

6 Key Study Tips for the MCAT 6 Key Study Tips for the MCAT Studying for the MCAT is no easy feat and requires months of studying, at the minimum. Read accounts of any perfect scorer on the MCAT and you’ll discover that creating a solid study plan and dedicating a solid chunk of your day towards MCAT prep on a consistent basis is the key to yielding a high score. You may see articles online that can get you prepared for the MCAT in under a month, but be cautious about such bold claims. To do well on the MCAT, you must cover all the MCAT material before taking the test, and there is enough material on this marathon of a test to keep you busy studying for well over a three to four-week period. I write about the MCAT as well as create study guides for standardized tests and I want to share with you some of the top study tips that I have come across for the MCAT. Read on if you want to know how to do well on the MCAT by utilizing the most proven and effective study methods available. 6 Key Study Tips for the MCAT These ten study tips should not be your only method of tackling the MCAT. I recommend choosing a high-quality MCAT comprehensive book set or MCAT prep course that will outline your study plan based on the amount of time you have until the test day as well as identify and strengthen your weaknesses. 1. Take a Diagnostic Test First and foremost, before you start studying concepts or purchase any MCAT prep materials, you must take a diagnostic test to know what your baseline score is. A baseline score, in layman’s terms, is simply the score you would receive if you showed up at an MCAT testing center and took the test right now. How do you take diagnostic test? To take a diagnostic test, you need to have a full-length MCAT practice test. You can find one of these tests on Princeton Review’s site that you can take online. Once this test is graded, you can see what areas you need to work on more and other areas that you already seem to have pretty squared away in your mind. 2. Simulate Test-Day Conditions When you take your first diagnostic test as well as other practice tests, it’s extremely important to simulate real MCAT test day conditions. This means only taking breaks for snacks during official test breaks as well as working through entire sections before taking your few minutes of rest. 3. Study with Coursework when Possible Optimally, you’ll be taking college classes that align with what you should be studying for the MCAT. Building a solid background on the key concepts such as chemistry, biology, psychology, and physics. If you have the chance to progress into even more higher-level classes in biology or chemistry, you are even better off! 4. Create a Study Schedule and Stick to It! If you plan on taking the MCAT in 6 months, then you should be studying 20 hours per week. That would be nearly 4 hours per day during the workweek. A good way to make sure you stick to this schedule is to map out your days as well as fill in any other activities you may have to participate in, such as family or school events. If you know you will not want to study after dinner, then schedule your 4 hours during the daytime. Similarly, if you do not think you will have the self-discipline to study over the weekends, then do not schedule time to study on Saturday or Sunday. Creating a study schedule is all about you and how you study. Understanding yourself and when is best is a completely personal task. 5. Self-Evaluate Often When studying for the MCAT, it is important to take as many practice tests and practice as many official questions as possible. But simply answering the questions and looking at your score is not enough. You must go through the answers and understand why you got the question wrong and use the time to figure out how you can improve upon these incorrect answers. This is the only way to learn from your mistakes and come out stronger as a test taker. 6. Build Endurance The MCAT is over 7 hours long, so stamina is a huge factor in doing well on test day. You can build this stamina during your practice by working up to longer periods of time of uninterrupted study and practice. This many mean working on longer passages and not taking a break in-between. You may start at twenty to thirty consecutive minutes and work your way up to an hour to an hour and a half without breaks. Remember, preparing for the MCAT is like training for a marathon. Building your endurance can take months of training until you are able to work at a pace suitable for crossing the finish line. If you are able to follow these key study tips for the MCAT, you are well on your way to rocking the MCAT! Don’t forget to have a good night’s rest before test day and keep in mind that if you did your best during studying and practicing over the months, then there is nothing to be stressed about on test day. About the Author Kristine Thorndyke is a passionate teacher and test prep blogger. She writes about the MCAT, ACT, and everything in-between! 6 Key Study Tips for the MCAT 6 Key Study Tips for the MCAT Studying for the MCAT is no easy feat and requires months of studying, at the minimum. Read accounts of any perfect scorer on the MCAT and you’ll discover that creating a solid study plan and dedicating a solid chunk of your day towards MCAT prep on a consistent basis is the key to yielding a high score. You may see articles online that can get you prepared for the MCAT in under a month, but be cautious about such bold claims. To do well on the MCAT, you must cover all the MCAT material before taking the test, and there is enough material on this marathon of a test to keep you busy studying for well over a three to four-week period. I write about the MCAT as well as create study guides for standardized tests and I want to share with you some of the top study tips that I have come across for the MCAT. Read on if you want to know how to do well on the MCAT by utilizing the most proven and effective study methods available. 6 Key Study Tips for the MCAT These ten study tips should not be your only method of tackling the MCAT. I recommend choosing a high-quality MCAT comprehensive book set or MCAT prep course that will outline your study plan based on the amount of time you have until the test day as well as identify and strengthen your weaknesses. 1. Take a Diagnostic Test First and foremost, before you start studying concepts or purchase any MCAT prep materials, you must take a diagnostic test to know what your baseline score is. A baseline score, in layman’s terms, is simply the score you would receive if you showed up at an MCAT testing center and took the test right now. How do you take diagnostic test? To take a diagnostic test, you need to have a full-length MCAT practice test. You can find one of these tests on Princeton Review’s site that you can take online. Once this test is graded, you can see what areas you need to work on more and other areas that you already seem to have pretty squared away in your mind. 2. Simulate Test-Day Conditions When you take your first diagnostic test as well as other practice tests, it’s extremely important to simulate real MCAT test day conditions. This means only taking breaks for snacks during official test breaks as well as working through entire sections before taking your few minutes of rest. 3. Study with Coursework when Possible Optimally, you’ll be taking college classes that align with what you should be studying for the MCAT. Building a solid background on the key concepts such as chemistry, biology, psychology, and physics. If you have the chance to progress into even more higher-level classes in biology or chemistry, you are even better off! 4. Create a Study Schedule and Stick to It! If you plan on taking the MCAT in 6 months, then you should be studying 20 hours per week. That would be nearly 4 hours per day during the workweek. A good way to make sure you stick to this schedule is to map out your days as well as fill in any other activities you may have to participate in, such as family or school events. If you know you will not want to study after dinner, then schedule your 4 hours during the daytime. Similarly, if you do not think you will have the self-discipline to study over the weekends, then do not schedule time to study on Saturday or Sunday. Creating a study schedule is all about you and how you study. Understanding yourself and when is best is a completely personal task. 5. Self-Evaluate Often When studying for the MCAT, it is important to take as many practice tests and practice as many official questions as possible. But simply answering the questions and looking at your score is not enough. You must go through the answers and understand why you got the question wrong and use the time to figure out how you can improve upon these incorrect answers. This is the only way to learn from your mistakes and come out stronger as a test taker. 6. Build Endurance The MCAT is over 7 hours long, so stamina is a huge factor in doing well on test day. You can build this stamina during your practice by working up to longer periods of time of uninterrupted study and practice. This many mean working on longer passages and not taking a break in-between. You may start at twenty to thirty consecutive minutes and work your way up to an hour to an hour and a half without breaks. Remember, preparing for the MCAT is like training for a marathon. Building your endurance can take months of training until you are able to work at a pace suitable for crossing the finish line. If you are able to follow these key study tips for the MCAT, you are well on your way to rocking the MCAT! Don’t forget to have a good night’s rest before test day and keep in mind that if you did your best during studying and practicing over the months, then there is nothing to be stressed about on test day. About the Author Kristine Thorndyke is a passionate teacher and test prep blogger. She writes about the MCAT, ACT, and everything in-between!