Important Math Formula

 

At the beginning of each SAT Math Section is a formula box with many of the basic formulas.  However, there are many other formulas that a student must also know, which are not given.  Here is one important geometry formula:

To find the sum of the interior angles of any polygon use: (s-2) X 180 where s represents the number of sides. Using this formula to find the sum of the interior angles of 5 sided figure (a pentagon) (5-2) X 180=540 degrees. Assuming all the angles are equal, to find the value of each individual angle use (s-2) X 180/s, so (5-2) X 180/5=108.

Are Your Priorities Straight?

Many students fail to see the big picture. They claim they have “no time” for SAT or ACT prep. Amazingly, they have time for practice, games, rehearsal, recitals, shows, driver’s ed, the mall, the movies and hanging out. How is this possible? Priorities! If there is time for play, there certainly is time for work. Allocate some of that play time for study time.

If you set aside a block of time early each day in the summer and on the weekends during the school year (when everyone is still asleep), you won’t be borrowing from time with your friends.

Tip–Once school starts, every Saturday and Sunday morning wake up early and prep for an hour. Start ten weeks prior to test day. That’s a full 20 hours of prep in addition to any private tutoring or prep class. Everyone can do that math!

Who Benefits From Private Tutoring?

Private tutoring is not for every student.  Some are okay in a large prep class.  Still, others prefer to lock themselves in their room with the books and prepare alone.  For the rest of you, a private tutor can be of great use.  Here are some profiles of students who can thrive with one on one instruction:

1. The Social Butterfly- the student with many friends will more than likely sit in the back of the room of a large Test Prep Class and socialize while the instructor is giving the lesson.  To the social butterfly, SAT or ACT prep is just another social event and an opportunity to goof off.

2.  The Overprogrammed Student- Captain of the Swimming Team or Captain of the Cheerleaders, Interns at the Local Soup Kitchen, Lead actor in the school play.  You get the picture!  With such an irregular schedule, it is hard for these “kings and queens” of the extracurriculars to show up at a test prep class every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. So a private tutor who can mix and match dates and times is a great luxury.

3.  The Lazy, Unstructured, Unfocused Student- sometimes an intelligent kid needs the structure and focus which private tutoring can provide. Tutors can act as mentors to these students through motivation, organization and by making sure they complete the homework in a timely manner.

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Commitment

Are you committed?  Are you willing to do what it takes?  To become a better reader?  To write and speak with a more sophisticated vocabulary?

Are you committed to improve your math problem solving skills?  Are you committed to becoming a better essay writer?

Commitment takes time and effort.  Commitment requires doing some work while your friends are swimming at the beach.  Commitment is making choices– that you will put aside fun this minute for a lifetime of fun as a successful adult.

Believe!

Believe is the first theme our students will use to write about this summer.  What do you believe?  Don’t answer right away, think about it.

We will be posting the best essays submitted.  More to follow.

ACT vs. SAT Conversion Table

Many High School juniors sat for multiple college entrance exams this term.  Now that summer is upon us it would be wise to find out which test results are better.  Check out this conversion table here If your scores on one of the exams (ACT or SAT) are markedly better, then you should focus only on the test with the better results.

Dedicate your summer months to improve upon the exam which you did the best as a junior.  When you get back into the swing of things in September of your senior year, plan to sit for either the September ACT or the October SAT.  This should be your final best effort.  Then you can focus on your college applications.

Summer Reading is a Must!

High School and Middle School students must read this summer and with a purpose.  A purpose to learn new words, to learn about the world and to develop your intellect.  There is an excellent article in the NY Times written by a NYC Middle School English Teacher which explains the different kinds of reading and suggests books for different age groups.  You can read the entire article by clicking here

 

Summer Plans?

What are your summer plans? To work and gain some experience? To volunteer for a good cause? To travel and explore other places and cultures? All of the above? Does college planning and test prep factor into your summer plans? If so, how much time will you allocate each day or week? Please share your thoughts by commenting!

The Great Gatsby Project

We are re-reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald with an eye towards helping everyone with their upcoming SAT’s.  We will be defining as many essential vocabulary words we can find in the book.  Additionally, we will be looking for various themes, sub-plots, vignettes, etc. which will help students build up ideas for their SAT essay and perhaps their college essays.