Developing good study habits will help you succeed in class and achieve your educational goals. Knowing how to study hard and smart could result in the difference between acing a class and just passing. Those who have bad study habits or poor organizational skills could end up flunking a class or getting behind in school. If you want to turn your grades around and find new, more effective ways to study, then check out these seven bad study habits you should change immediately.

Studying at home

Studying at home might be convenient and easy, but there are way too many distractions lurking in your dorm, apartment, or house. No matter what room you study in, you’re always going to be faced with some type of distraction. Maybe it’s your talkative roommate, your TV, or the growing pile of clothes that are just asking to be washed. The smallest of things can break your concentration and make studying less effective. Instead of locking yourself in the bedroom and risking a wasted study session, go to the library and find a quiet room or desk to do your studying.

Listening to music while you study

The benefits of listening to music while studying has been argued time after time. Although classical music was once believed to increase spatial abilities and improve learning, subsequent research was not able to support this theory. Recent studies show that music may actually impair cognitive abilities and hinder memorization because of the changing words and notes in songs. Studying in silence or a little white noise will allow you to hear your thoughts and concentrate without the distraction of lyrics and changing tempos.

Studying with friends:

No matter how much you tell yourself it helps to study with friends, it’s probably not doing much good. First of all, anytime you meet up with friends to study, there’s always a delay in the actual studying or reviewing and you’re bound to take several breaks to goof off and chit chat about non-class related things. Although this kind of study session can reduce stress and increase your energy level, it may not be as effective as you’d like. Even if you’re going to study with your “serious” friends, you still need to review the material on your own.

Pulling an all-nighter:

We’re all guilty of it, but staying up all night cramming for an exam has been shown to do very little good for test preparation or performance. Not only does sleep deprivation make you look and feel like a zombie, but it also can take a serious toll on your happiness and overall well-being. The best way to avoid pulling all-nighters is to study ahead of time. It’s easier said than done, but the only way to avoid pulling an all-nighter besides not studying at all. Dedicate a few days a week (or more) to study and review the material so that you aren’t trying to cram everything into your head in one night.

Procrastination:

Procrastination is something we’ve all done in school, but just because it’s common behavior doesn’t mean it’s OK to do. When you procrastinate studying, you run the risk of doing things halfway and not retaining as much information as you need to ace the exam. If you have to pull frequent all-nighters or find yourself rushing to finish every essay or project, then you need to work on your time management skills and start studying earlier.

Not creating an outline:

If you aren’t making outlines while studying or writing a paper, then you aren’t being as efficient as you could be. There are many reasons to make an outline. It helps you keep track of large amounts of information, organize your ideas, and present your class material in a logical way. Instead of trying to reread your textbook or write an essay from scratch, make an outline to organize your thoughts and study more effectively.

Highlighting your textbook:

You might think that reading a textbook and marking the pages with a neon highlighter is the best way to study for an upcoming exam, but, in all actuality, this is one of the least effective ways for students to remember content. Instead of coloring entire pages with highlighters and trying to reread the text, you should quiz yourself over the material you just read. This will help you retain more information and score higher on exams.

Republished from http://onlineclasses.org

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors ACT Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in ACT tuition, please do get in contact.

There are lots of study tips out there, and even more college lifehacks. But now’s the time to learn what they don’t teach you in school: how not to take a test. Avoid these eight test day mistakes, and earn yourself that A. Here are eight ways to never take a test.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Study Skills Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in study skills tuition, please do get in contact.

Thwart the “curve of forgetting”:

Scientists have known about this brain event since 1885, yet somehow students never seem to pay it any mind. The first time you hear a lecture or study something new, if you review the material that same day within 24 hours, you prevent yourself from forgetting up to 80% of what you learned. After a week it takes only 5 minutes to retain 100% of the info.

Ditch cramming:

So now you know interval studying is best, but what if you don’t have time to study every day? UC–San Diego psychologists found that it’s still better to study closer to the day you learned the material than to the day of the test. They put the optimal time at 10% of the time between learning and testing. So if you learn something on Monday and the quiz is the following Monday, study no later than Wednesday…

Read More (excerpt from thebestcolleges.org)

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Reading Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in reading tuition, please do get in contact.

Many of our readers probably know, but we’re pretty heavily into helping people learn to read. In fact, we’ve even got a whole campaign running to make more people aware of the problem of illiteracy in the US.

Illiteracy in the USA is a massively controversial topic that’s often debated heatedly, even though most of us are accutely aware of the effects that illiteracy has on the lives of adults and children alike – the social and emotional issues that this can lead to.

So why, unbelievably are some people still not getting the additional help and support they need so they can at last learn to read?
This blog is going to cover some of the keys reasons as to why literacy is so important.

1. Literate Parents Make For Literate Children

If we want to raise children who have strong literacy skills, we ourselves need to have strong literacy skills.  Of the 93 million adults in the U.S. functioning at or below basic levels of literacy, 30 million are the parents or primary caregivers of children ages 0-8 (National Center for Family Literacy Fact Sheet).  Parents need to start the process of teaching their child to read before their child starts school.  Parents need to read to their children, buy their children books, and encourage their children to read.  Parents who are unable to read, or are not strong readers, will o course read to their children less than parents who enjoy reading.  Reading in and of itself in this scenario, is fundamental.

2. Being Literate Makes You Top Dog For Employment

If you have the ability to read, you will be a better employee, and have many more opportunities open to you (as well as being able to make more money from your job!).  Illiteracy and unemployment go hand in hand, with 50% of the chronically unemployed American’s not being functionally literate. (U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Presentation: Dr. Susan Sclafani, April 2005).  Employees who can read work better in a team, and are better at communicating with others around them, thereby making them more successful in their roles.  A rise in of 1% in literacy scores leads to a 2.5% rise in labor productivity and a 1.5% rise in GDP per person.  (The Economist, August 28, 2004). Not only this, but workers must be able to read safety regulations and warnings so they and their co-workers can stay safe on the job.

On a separate point, if you’re job hunting, you’re far more likely to land the job if you have at least a 2 year college degree. Most positions these days require at least this level of education.  As if it’s not hard enough as it is to get a job already!

To put this into a bit more perspective…The U.S. Census Bureau reports that “adults 18 and older with a master’s, professional or doctoral degree earned an average of $79,946, while those with less than a high school diploma earned about $19,915.”  That’s a $60,013 pay difference

3. For the health of you and your family (AKA ‘Health Literacy)

It sounds simple, but for those American’s who can’t read it is very difficult to understand what the doctor is telling you.  It can be impossible to work out how much medicine to take, or read information on your own health and your families.  This includes oral information given by physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and insurers.  Medication errors in the USA—many result from a misreading or misunderstood prescription labels—are the most common medical mistakes causing up to 7,000 deaths each year. (2005 White House Conference on Aging).

Low health literacy costs between $106 billion and $238 billion each year in the U.S. — 7 to 17 per cent of all annual personal health care spending.

4. Literate Voters Make For a Better Political System

The Elections are rolling around again, and we all hear about the need for more American’s to be ‘informed Voters’.  But without the ability to read and write, these American’s will not be able to follow the campaign properly and will then be forced make an UNeducated discision as to whom they want to run their country.

One in seven adults in the US cannot read this sentence.(National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2003).  So how can they be expected to participate in Democratic Government Elections with the same advantages as someone who can read?

5.Problem Youths and Illiteracy

We are all aware of the statistics connecting crime and illiteracy.  85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate. (National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2003)

Low literacy’s effects cost the U.S. $225 billion or more each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime, and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment. (ProLiteracy).

American’s need to join forces to overcome this issue!  The most common reason for illiteracy in youths is lack of access to books.

This is something we can easily change together.  

If you know someone who’s struggling with reading and writing, as part of our ‘Help to Read: Help to Empower’ campaign, we’re offering FREE READING TUITION to as many people as we can, with the resources we have available. Find out more about this opportunity on the left hand bar on this page.

Summer vacation is all about long days in the sun, family getaways and taking a break from the daily grind of the regular school year. For many students, however, this is a peak time for learning loss. Unless previously learned information is reviewed or new information is introduced your child can forget a great deal of what they’ve learned the year before. In order to keep their young minds learning-ready it’s a good idea to introduce some summer in-home tutoring or activities that inspire them to continue learning.

Make it a Game

While learning is important there’s also something to be said for enjoying their summer break. Not to mention the fact that trying to make a child actively participate in tutoring and learning during the summer can be an absolute battle to the death. The trick is to make the learning activities fun for them. In particularly for younger children you’ll be hard pressed to hold their attention with classroom-style activities when the backyard beckons. A quick online search will yield a number of fun activities that you and your children can take part in that will not only keep them engaged and motivated but will also keep their minds sharp. Enrolling them in in-home or online tutoring is also a great way to get them involved without a fight. Professional tutors are experienced in dealing with youngsters who would rather be outside and many have their own techniques to keep the learning experience fun.

Get Them Involved

You might have noticed a time or two that trying to force your child into a plan that in no way requires or requests their input can be somewhat difficult. If you allow them to become involved from the very planning stages, however, you might find your child to be more agreeable to the idea of summer learning. If you’d like for them to engage in more reading allow them to choose the material (within suitable reason of course). If numeracy is what you’d prefer to review go through the various available study tools with them and allow them to decide which tools they might like to use. Allowing them choices might make them feel more involved rather than forced into learning which often yields a better result.

Engaging your children in summer online or in-home tutoring, learning activities and other learning tools will not only help them to retain what they learned the year before, it will also prepare their minds to get back into the flow of the regular school year.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Study Skills Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in study skills tuition, please do get in contact.

Students spend practically their entire school year in eager anticipation of one event: summer break. The end to homework, test prep, and days spent taking notes is first and foremost in many young minds. Retaining what they’ve learned in the previous year might be the last priority on their summer to-do list, but it should be the first priority on yours. Online tutoring and other learning activities can help them continue to stimulate their mind without lamenting their summer.

Within 30 days of being outside of the academic realm many students have lost the vast majority of the information that they learned in the previous year. This is largely due to lack of review and mental stimulation. In particularly for those students taking the GED, ASVAB or other important examinations in the year to come this loss of information can have a devastating effect. After all, their scores on tests such as these effect not only their short-term goals but in some capacity the rest of their lives.

Unless you relish the idea of a continuous uphill battle that lasts all summer it would behoove you as a parent to seek out ways for them to learn during their break that won’t have them crawling the walls with boredom. There are a wide variety of activities that can be completed both online and off that will keep them learning and reviewing information, perhaps without their even realizing it. For instance, young students might enjoy learning-based video games that can be played with a friend. For older students that need the continued test prep an online tutor is an excellent option. Even as little as a few hours a week spent with a tutor can increase their learning retention and stimulation, resulting in improved test scores.

Summer learning might sound like a horrendous idea to your student, but they might find themselves surprisingly pleased with the result. Better learning retention and consistent stimulation will make for not only better scores in the coming year but also an easier transition from the laziness of summer days back into the classroom.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Study Skills Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in study skills tuition, please do get in contact.

Every parent can remember and appreciate the feeling of the last day of school. That day is normally not so much about new learning but instead revolves around the promise of the coming summer vacation, the impending freedom of days spent outside and homework-free nights. While this downtime is a somewhat of a yearly rite of passage for students it can also be a time of learning loss.

What We Lose During the Summer

Teachers and homework are not the only things lost during the summer for the average student. There has been many a study that has confirmed that the summer break can result in a devastating loss of information for students. Without the introduction of new information or review of previously learned concepts most students have lost the vast majority of what they learned the year before by the time the new school year begins. And because many subjects, such as reading and numeracy, tend to increase in difficulty building from concepts already learned over the years this can have a horrid effect on a student’s ability to learn in the new year.

In-Home Tutoring to the Rescue

In particularly for students preparing for the SAT or GED exams time and information are priceless. Because these tests cover a wide range of concepts learned over years of schooling studying can be difficult, especially only short term cramming prior to taking the exam. Summer in-home tutoring or online tutoring can help students adequately review information commonly seen on the test as well as keeping them engaged in learning and ready to begin again in the new school year.

Whether your child is simply preparing for the next grade year or studying for the important GED or SAT exams summer learning is a great stepping stone to success. With the improved subject retention and continued acclimation to consistent learning they’ll see better test results and you’ll see an even brighter side of your rising star.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Study Skills Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in study skills tuition, please do get in contact.

The summer break is a glorious opportunity for students to wind down and relax a bit following a strenuous year of learning. Many studies have shown that the break between the spring and fall semesters can have a negative effect on students’ retention of subject matter and learning. This break allows for not only summer play but also a complete lack of learning and mental stimulation for many. Therefore it is imperative that students of all ages engage in summer studying and in-home or online tutoring.

Better Retention of Previous Subject Matter

According to an article published by the Sylvan Learning Center in 2009 students begin to lose their retention of learned material within 24-48 hours without the introduction of new information or studying. After one month of learning downtime they can lose as much as 80% of what they’ve learned. Imagine the amount of information lost across the various subjects after a couple of months of complete lack of learning stimuli! Whether the student is in G-12 or G-16 summer studying or online tutoring will help curb this drastic loss of information.

Preparing for the Next Year

According to the Johns Hopkins School of Education children lose 2 months of math skills over the summer and most low income students lose reading skills as well. Summer reading and learning programs not only provide a wholesome activity to keep them busy, they also help aid students in keeping their minds engaged and accustomed to learning. The continuous flow of information helps keep them sharp and makes the adjustment to school life during the normal terms somewhat less of a shock to the system.

Summer studying at any age is about more than just filling your abundant summer free time. For many the information lost over the summer is never regained if not reviewed in the following year. Through summer studying and in home tutoring students can expect to see better information retention as well as experiencing an easier transition into school life in the fall.

Sources:http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090616/NEWS02/906160377/Summer-studying-vital-kids-maintain-skills, http://www.weau.com/education/headlines/50766452.html

Today’s tough job market has left many an otherwise valued employee beating the classifieds in search of a new prospect. People who have worked loyally for companies for decades are suddenly finding themselves without jobs due to budget cuts or outsourcing. For some the next logical step seems to continuing their education in hopes of making themselves a more valuable resource to their next employer, but many are left wondering how on earth they will pay the ever-increasing costs of higher education. The following might provide some answers:

1. The Old Standby- Student Loans

Student loans have always been an option for any student who wishes to further his education by attending a college or technical institute. The downside is that, of course, these loans must be repaid whether you graduate or not. This option might seem especially unappealing for non-traditional students who have just found themselves out of work with mounting bills and in some cases mounting debt. For those with no other options, however, they do remain a surefire way of paying for your education.

2. Scholarships

Scholarships are often thought only to be given to students who are just graduating high school and entering college or technical school. To the contrary there are scholarships and grants available to non-traditional students who have been out of the realm of academia for some time, such as the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) scholarship. There are a wide variety of websites dedicated to helping students from all walks of life find scholarship and grant programs that will help pay for school.

3. State Programs

In light of the recent trend of more adults looking to get back to school or training many states have developed programs to help non-traditional students obtain a degree or certificate. Check with your local Department of Labor to see what programs they might offer for persons in your industry or for anyone looking to learn in general. Some states also offer industry-specific training programs or opportunities that aid students in their pursuit of higher education.

Going back to school is a scary experience in and of itself without then being concerned over how you’ll ever afford it. Fortunately the above referenced options offer the possibility of education to any potential student.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Study Skills Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in study skills tuition, please do get in contact.

One of the greatest flaws in the education system is the idea that all students can learn in the same fashion. While it is true that all students possess the basic ability to learn, certain ones might require more attention than others in order to achieve that pursuit. Likewise the study methods that work for one student may do nothing to help another. The following is a list of articles relating to study skill alternatives to the traditional methods for students who might be less than conventional.

1. An Alternative Paradigm for College Reading and Study Skills Courses:  Jim Reynolds and Stuart C. Werner, Journal of Reading

This article discusses the different approaches to handling incoming college students who are ill-prepared for the advanced academic world that they are entering. It explores the idea of a learning paradigm in which students are allowed to develop learning skills in their own way or style. It embraces the idea that not every student benefits from the traditional “one size fits all” method of studying.

2. Homeschooling Study Skills: Gertrude Elizabeth Greene

This article discusses the specialized study skills that should be taught to homeschooled students in order to prepare them for entering the more public and advanced educational realm of college.

3. 4 Helpful Study Skills for Online Learners: Stefan Knapen,

In this article Mr. Knapen discusses the different study skills needed for online learning. Because learning online requires not only a different environment but a different mind-set altogether the study skills that students find useful for in-class tutelage often do not apply as well in the online learning realm.

4. 6 Study Tips for Adult Learners: courseadvisor.com,

Re-entering the academic arena after a prolonged absence can be difficult for even the most studious persons. This article provides study tips designed to help adult students balance their work, family and school lives into a smoother experience.

Not every student responds to traditional study methods, and in particular those learning in a non-traditional capacity tend to suffer from scenarios for which these methods do not fit. With the advice contained in the above articles any student can special tailor study methods that work for their specific methods of learning and situation.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Study Skills Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in study skills tuition, please do get in contact.

Scott Young started his blog 6 years ago while a student. Since graduating though, his interest in building skills and further education has only been heightened. We recently posted on our Facebook 

page a link video that Scott recorded detailing his latest challenge: to complete a 4 year MIT course in Computer Science in just 12 months (see the video here).

But just today we came across an audio interview Scott had with Corbett barr of Expert Enough- a site we love over here at Stepping Stone Tutors! But what I wanted to share were a couple of points Scott made in that interview that should be of value to you, as someone who’s looking to improve their knowledge, whether you’re using one of our online or in home tutors, or simply self-studying online.

Scott often refers to the way people who learn fast are able to effectively link the data and knowledge they’re processing  together, which therefore generates a much more deep rooted understanding of the topic being taken on. This is an alternative to simple ‘rote memorisation’, where students are challenged with the almost impossible of simply learning a ton of facts only to regurgitate these when asked about them. This ability to link things together- to understand in a much fuller way is what he calls ‘holistic learning’.

A method that’s often used to utilise this method of learning called the ‘Feynman technique’, which is an informal philosophy of how we can learn something deeply. As an alternative to rote memorization, which could take hundreds of hours for some subjects, the Feynman technique can be applied effectively to almost any subject. The video below will explains exactly what this is, and how you can apply this to your own studies, whether that’s for your upcoming ASVAB test, GED classes, K-16 classes, or test preparation (read about how we can help with this here) and revision.

The reason this technique works so much is because most people simply don’t know what it is that they’re trying to learn. They don’t understand which bits of a subject they need to expand on in order to full understand what it is they’re dealing with. The Feynman technique, however, highlights the exact aspects of each subject that you need to look into more in order to holistically grasp any topic you like.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Study Skills Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in study skills tuition, please do get in contact.

In the past few decades there have been drastic changes in the education system in the United States. These changes far outreach our grandparents’ stories about walking 8 miles to school in the snow (uphill both ways of course) and have spilled over into the actual instruction itself. Class sizes are larger, we grapple with overcrowding in many heavily populated areas, and graduation rates have slipped drastically. Currently the United States is ranked 51^st in the subjects of Science and Mathematics worldwide. So one must beg the question: are we getting soft on education? I would like to precede this discussion by disclosing that I am not an educational professional but only a student, worker bee and mother with an opinion.

Having no school aged children of my own I’ve heard horror stories from my friends and colleagues who do have children in our local public and private schools. Among the most disturbing changes that I’ve encountered has been the introduction of calling math problems math “facts”. The word “problem” apparently is considered to have too negative a connotation. For as long as I can remember in my education and professional life I’ve been weak in the subject of math. I could pass the subject but it required immersion in it, finding a way of solving the problems that I could wrap my brain around. I simply don’t “think” that way; I can’t reason it out for some reason. So for me, a math problem is most definitely a problem. But it seems illogical to me that dressing it up with a nicer, gentler name would have made me embrace it more easily. I feel that by giving difficult subjects or problems a more politically correct or easier to process name in effect we’re sheltering our children. What happens when they do become old enough to go out into the world where there are problems and that’s exactly what they’re called? Will they be searching for a softer way of looking at the issue in order to cope with it? What does this mean for their reasoning skills?

The second most disturbing trend I’m hearing about in schools is awarding each and every student for something, no matter how mundane the achievement. I’ve even heard of students as young as kindergarten age receiving an award on a monthly basis. As parents we all want our children to feel special and successful, but is celebrating mediocrity the way to go about that? What does that say for the future of work ethic? If each student comes along knowing that no matter how poor their performance they’ll be rewarded for something it seems to me that they have no incentive to work hard. If they become appeased with mediocrity beginning at such a young age they’ll know that it’s okay to slide by.

Coupled with softening the terms we use for difficult subject matter this new advent in education equals what I predict will be a much softer generation of people, unaccustomed to facing and overcoming challenges and complacent in their mediocrity. United States students performed better on the world stage in the past where problems were called problems and rewards were given only to those who worked hard to achieve something. If the system worked so well back then with regard to these two topics, why fix what isn’t broken?

These days having an education isn’t just a good idea, it’s imperative. Many employers, including the U.S. military, are requiring workers to have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalency in order to be considered for hiring. In today’s tough job market the more qualifications an applicant has the better! The following is a brief overview of some of the most important grade levels and tests to be completed on the track to a degree.

K-12

The term K-12 refers to the courses provided from Kindergarten to 12th grade for students. These classes normally take 13 years to complete and are marked in most every state by a graduation examination comprised of a few subjects: Social Studies, Math, Reading and Science. These subjects may of course vary from state to state. In addition to the graduation tests states are also required to implement End of Course tests, or EOCT’s, for each course that a student completes in grades 9-12. Completion of the K-12 program earns the graduate a High School diploma. This diploma can be used to obtain certain entry level positions and admission into a university or technical college.

K-14

K-14 refers to students who have completed Kindergarten through 12th grade, graduated with a high school diploma and completed two years of college. This normally owns a person an Associates Degree in their field of study, which is sufficient in some trades to obtain an entry level position of employment. Some industries, however, require more education for even entry level positions. Different programs have different tests, but in general students can expect periodical examinations throughout the semester in their courses to be followed by a final examination. Many universities require that students then pass an exit examination that serves as an examination to ensure that they’ve studied and grasped the general subjects that were taken during their instruction.

K-16

This term refers to students who have completed Kindergarten through 12th grade and 4 years of undergraduate study at a university or college. This generally earns a student a Bachelor’s Degree in their area of study. This degree often offers students a wider array of job possibilities when they graduate with more employers seeking students with a higher level of education, depending on the industry. Examinations for this degree are similar to those for K-14, with periodical examinations given during the semester and final examinations given at the end of each course.

GED

The GED, or General Educational Development, test is given to students seeking an alternative means of earning a diploma which is considered to be equivalent to that given to high school graduates. Students who complete the GED have not completed the traditional 12 years of school and therefore obtain this diploma as a means of applying to universities or technical colleges, or for the purposes of obtaining employment. These days most every employer requires at a minimum a high school equivalency diploma for entry level positions. This test covers Math, Social Studies, Science, Reading and Writing.

ASVAB

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude (ASVAB) test is administered to certain high school students and other persons interested in joining the military. The ASVAB consists of the following sections: the General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto Information, Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, and Assembling Objects. The scores from the test are used to determine the best vocational placement for the student within the armed services.

ACT

The ACT is a standardized test that can be taken by students for use in obtaining admission to a university or technical college. The test consists of 4 sections: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Reasoning. Often universities and colleges require either an SAT or ACT score prior to granting an applicant admission to the institution.

These terms and tests are commonly associated with attending post-secondary education in the United States and in various other countries world wide. Depending on your goals as a student chances are that you’ll be encountering them as you navigate today’s educational systems. Practice examinations and other information about each test or term is available online for preparation purposes.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Study Skills Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in study skills tuition, please do get in contact.

By the time many of us reach our thirties and forties we have long assumed that our test-taking days are over. The idea of re-entering the classroom after what may be decades of school-free existence can therefore be rather disconcerting.The idea of taking exams for GED, ACT, ASVAB etc seems often a distant dream.  But with today’s job market leaving many long-term employees suddenly out of a job thousands are flocking back to schools across the country. So how do you re-train yourself for studying after years out of practice?

But, through self-study, and with online tutoring, and in-home tutoring, it’s important to realize that you’re never too old to study…

Unconventional Students and Unconventional Obstacles

One of the most difficult challenges facing older students is the change in their obstacles since they were last in school. When you’re going to college in your early twenties much of your existence is dedicated to that cause. You may hold down a part time job, but the vast majority of your time is spent in class or studying (with the exception of various other free-time activities that you always seem to make time for). When you’re in your thirties and forties, however, the obstacles standing in your way of studying are generally much more pressing than a part time waitressing position, like kids, home maintenance or a full-time job. For this reason unconventional students have to find new study methods and ways to cope with these challenges that differed from what they may have used the first time around.

Making Time

The biggest problem facing most older students is simply making time. You must make time to go to class and make time to study for tests, which can be a huge challenge with a family or full-time job to consider. The bottom line is that if you want to accomplish it badly enough there’s a way. It’s important to make time at least on an every-other-day basis to study material, allowing for more frequent studying around test and exam times. Try to dedicate one room or a secluded area of your home as a study area and designate certain times of day strictly for studying. Discuss the importance of quiet while you’re studying with your family and ask for their cooperation in helping you set aside that time for studying. Another new element that many older students find bothersome during study time is the new temptation to surf the web instead of studying. For many older students this specific distraction wasn’t around the first time.

Unless your work requires you to be connected to the internet try to leave your browser down all together. If you do have to be online try to keep your mind on track. Try sticking a post-it note to the side of your computer with your task written on it, and don’t leave open tabs with distracting or tempting sites. This will make it less tempting to check your email as opposed to studying. Just as you have to push these types of distractions out you must also remove psychological distractions such as worrying over bills. Remember that your study time is for studying and studying only. If you find yourself having difficulty concentrating stop what you’re doing, close your eyes and take several deep breathes while concentrating only on breathing. This will help reduce your anxiety momentarily and allow you to regroup.

For students of all ages the same traditional study tips still apply. Being rested, eating as balanced a diet as possible and removing distractions are all good tips to follow for students at any stage in their academic lives. For those unconventional students with families, finances and other distractions to consider making time is one of the most important considerations for fruitful study time.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone Tutors Study Skills Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in study skills tuition, please do get in contact.

Our last post discussed Richard Feynman’s study method (the Feynman Technique), which involves writing out a lecture to yourself, explaining in simple terms the topic you’re working on. As you’re working through this, you’ll reach points where you stop and become slightly confused, or unsure about something. At these points, you know you need to brush up your knowledge in these areas. By the time you’ve finished writing your lecture, you’ll have a far fuller understanding of the topic than hours and hours of rote memorization could produce. To read what we wrote about this, see here.

As a way to build upon Richard Feynman’s teaching and learning philosophy (especially from 40+), we came across the following video, which we’re sure you’ll benefit hugely from watching.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone GED Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in GED tuition, please do get in contact.

Test taking is a nerve-wracking experience for most people, no matter what you’re studying- GED, K-12. ASVAB. It’s the ultimate test prep.

While some can simply breeze through a written exam with no problems or intense heart palpitations the majority of the rest of us are completely bewildered come test time. The pressure to pass, the last-minute second guessing of answers and the sudden flooding of the mind with failure scenarios is enough to make anyone want to jump up and run out of the room. For those who have this completely normal fear of test-taking practice exams and test preparation tools are imperative. Practice tests in particular are an important staple in the preparation process for tests such as the GED.

Preparing For Testing-Taking

For those with an immense fear of testing the act itself can be enough to induce failure. Many find that they are unable to think straight, consumed with nerves over the implications of failing the test. This leads to rushed and scattered thinking, which can lead to rushed answering and misunderstanding questions themselves. All in all, this type of anxiety can lead to failure not because the student wasn’t prepared for the test, but because the act of testing itself caused them such distress that they were unable to recall the information they’d studied. Sitting for practice exams can help with this somewhat by allowing the student to practice test-taking tips such as breathing exercises or visualization techniques without the pressure of the actual examination.

Acclimating To Test

Anyone who has attended school for a long period of time, say K-12, knows that tests are different. Teachers ask questions differently, the types of test questions vary (multiple choice vs. essay), and even the type of material covered can vary (one teacher may harp on dates while another harps on event details). Practice tests such as those offered for the GED exam give the student a chance to see first-hand what the test will be like, including what types of questions they ask, what material they may expect to see covered, etc. This gives the student a leg-up in studying, offering them not only the opportunity to test their skills thus far in the studying process but also to get a handle on what and how they should be studying. After all, one preps differently for a multiple choice test than an essay exam.

Practice tests offer students a valuable opportunity to evaluate their study methods, acclimate themselves with the test itself and prepare themselves mentally for the act of test-taking. This experience is paramount for many pupils in their ability to adequately prepare for tests such as the GED, ACT, and SAT.

This article was written by one of the Stepping Stone GED Tutors. If you know of anyone who might be interested in GED tuition, please do get in contact.

In today’s working world having a basic education is a must. In recent years it has become difficult to land even the least skilled employment without some degree of education. For most workplaces at least a GED is required.

In particularly for those who have been out of school for quite some time the art of test taking and studying can be a daunting task to master. For most, simply sitting down and reviewing material is not sufficient preparation for taking a major test such as the GED. For students who haven’t had to burn the midnight oil in a while try the following top 5 GED study tips:

1. Identify the Material- The GED consists of 5 sections: mathematics, science, social studies, reading and writing. It is essential that you review and prepare for all 5 sections before attempting the test.

2. Identify Your Weaknesses- While it is important to go over each section diligently you should also pay special attention to your weakest subject(s). If you find that you’re lagging in mathematics allot some extra study time for that subject. Get your hands on as many different types of preparatory materials as are available and become familiar with them.

3. Obtain Study Materials- There are a number of different study materials available for the GED exam. From print media to video tutorials students today have access to whichever methods they find make them the most successful. If you find you respond better to reading print materials and taking practice quizzes, do that. If you can more easily and fully absorb material that you watch on a video, obtain as many videos as possible. When studying for any test having the right materials is essential. There are several websites that also offer free practice tests.

4. Take a Preparatory Course- Most every city in the United States has an institution that offers a GED prep course. If you don’t have an institution in your town there are a number of different online courses available, some of which are free. For many students the hands-on in-class approach is superior to going it alone. Group studying in such an atmosphere might also prove helpful.

5. Prepare Your Body- Be sure to get plenty of sleep the night before the test. An all night cram session might seem tempting, but you’ll be doing yourself a much larger favor by getting a good night’s sleep. If you feel the need to cram before the test try going to bed early and getting up early for some last minute studying. The morning of the test it’s also essential that you eat a good breakfast. Our bodies and minds function at their highest when they are rested and well fueled.

6. If needed, get extra help- there are companies like us here at Stepping Stone Tutors who offer online and offline tutoring for exams such as GED, K-12, SAT, ASVAB etc. We’ve masses of experience in helping people young and old to pass exams they never thought they could actually pass, and work with you one-to-one to make sure you make progress as effectively as possible.

So, with the correct preparation you could be just one step away from your GED and financial success. A good education is the cornerstone of a successful career and a happy worker.

For anyone undergoing any form of study- whether you’re studying for your GED, SATs, K-16- whatever qualification you’re working toward- there are plenty of fantastic commencement speeches that ring true for you as well as for the undergrads they were originally aimed at.

These are our top 5 commencement speeches to build up that motivation and inspiration you need to push your studies to the next level.

1. Steve Jobs, 2005, Stanford University

“Remembering you’re going to die, is the best way I know, to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” – Steve Jobs

2. Ellen Degeneres, 2009, Tulane University

 “Really when I look back at it I wouldn’t change a thing. I mean it was so important to me to lose everything because I found out what the most important thing is – To be true to yourself. Ultimately that’s what’s gotten me to this place. I don’t live in fear, I’m free, I have no secrets, I know I’ll always be okay because no matter what, I know who I am.” - Ellen

3. Bill Gates, 2003, Harvard

“Even with the advent of the Internet and 24-hour news, it is still a complex enterprise to get people to truly see the problems. When an airplane crashes, officials immediately call a press conference. They promise to investigate, determine the cause, and prevent similar crashes in the future.

But if the officials were brutally honest, they would say: “Of all the people in the world who died today from preventable causes, one half of one percent of them were on this plane. We’re determined to do everything possible to solve the problem that took the lives of the one half of one percent.”

The bigger problem is not the plane crash, but the millions of preventable deaths.”

So, no matter what you’re studying for- whether that’s in school, or through an in-home or online tutor- these messages, stories, and lessons ring true for all of us, whether we’re undergrads, grads, or not.