Factoring Polynomials Problems - Online tutoring

Factoring Polynomials Problems - Online tutoring Rules for the factorization of the polynomials are given below. 1. The first term of both the factor is x. 2. The product of the second terms of the two factors is equal to the third term of the trinomial. 3. The algebraic sum of the second terms of the two factors is equal to the coefficient of x in the trinomial. Example 1.Resolve into factors x2 + 11x + 24. The second term of the factors must be such that their product is + 24 and their sum + 11, it is clear that they must be + 8 and + 3. x2 + 11x + 24 = x2 + 8 x + 3 x + 24 = x (x + 8) + 3 (x + 8) Or x2 + 11x + 24 =(x + 8) (x + 3) Example 2.Resolve into factors x2 - 10x + 24. The second term of the factors must be such that their product is + 24 and their sum -10, it is clear that they must be - 6 and - 4. x2 - 10x + 24 = x2 - 6 x - 4 x + 24 = x (x - 6) - 4 (x - 6) Or x2 - 10x + 24 = (x - 6) (x - 4) Example 3.Resolve into factors x2 + 2x - 35. In the given equation the third term is negative. The second terms of the factors must be such that their product is 35 and their algebraically sum + 2. Hence they must have opposite signs, and the greater of them must be negative in order to give its sign to their sum = x2 + 2x 35 = x2 + 7x- 5 x 35 or = x (x + 7) 5 (x + 7) Hence x2 + 2x 35 = (x + 7) (x 5)

GCSE Physics Curriculum and Revision Tips

GCSE Physics Curriculum and Revision Tips Preparing for GCSE Physics Exam ChaptersPhysics CurriculumRevision TipsGet OrganisedPractice Practice PracticeTeamworkWhat’s Your StyleD-dayStudying for your GCSEs may seem like a daunting task but with preparation and revision it doesn’t have to be. At this level, physics covers many different topics, so you need to be prepared for what’s ahead.Looking at the curriculum of your course is the perfect way to see what’s to come. You can anticipate the workload and use it as a reminder of what you’ve already covered over the course of the two years.We take a look at what you can expect to learn on your GCSE physics source and give you some tips on the best ways to revise. PetarPhysics Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamPhysics Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhPhysics Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FrankPhysics Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JidePhysics Teacher 4.80 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DorothyPhysics Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RahulPhysics Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsPhysics CurriculumDepending on your school the specific curriculum at GCSE you follow can vary, but the core topics remain much the same. At this stage in your studies you will already have a good grasp of the basics. GCSE goes into more depth building on your existing knowledge.Physics is, among many other topics, the study of energy, mechanics, atoms, space and of the physical environment.You will learn more about atoms, their structures and radiation. You’ll get to grips with gravity, elasticity and motion. This is where you’ll discover the famous Newton’s law of forces and acceleration.GCSE physics will even take you into space! Over the course you’ll learn about the life cycle of a star, the solar system and about our expanding universe. Physics surrounds us in our daily life and on this course you get to discover how it affects mostly everything we do, see and feel! As well as the theory, you'll be get to use your practical skills, running experiments in the lab. You’ll be able to conduct an experiment from planning it to writing an analysis of the results.Don't be overwhelmed by the amount of information you'll need to learn. Taking it bit by bit will make it a lot easier to remember and preparing your revision techniques in advance will put your mind at ease.Discover a good physics maths tutor here.Study groups are an excellent and engaging way for students to work together. Photo Source: UnsplashRevision TipsAt GCSE level, the topics you learn are pretty advanced. It is near impossible to retain all this information just by remembering. You need to build up your knowledge gradually until these topics become something you know not just something you can recall.To do this you n eed to constantly revise new information as you go. Make sure you really understand a topic before you move on to the next one. To build up your knowledge and like a real building, you need to ensure the foundation is strong! If you don't understand a concept don't ignore it, work on it and ask your teacher for more help.Doing little and often is a much more effective way of learning, you will struggle to do it all just before the exam.Here are some of our tips to get you prepared:Get OrganisedDraw up a revision timetable to help add structure to your learning. Having a visual aid with the work you need to do can help you prioritise your time. And not to mention it won’t let you forget all the work that’s to come!Draw out your calendar yourself or print one off, decorate it however you want to just make sure it's neat!At GCSE you have a lot of other subjects to revise for too, so use different colours for your subjects or different colours per physics topic.Hang your revision ti metable somewhere visible in your room and once you've done a revision session or covered a specific topic tick it off the timetable. This should be something you do regularly over the course of your GCSEs not just the few months before your exams!Having a visual reminder of all the work you've put in will give you a confidence boost before the exam.Past papers are essential for revision (Source: pexels) PetarPhysics Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamPhysics Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhPhysics Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FrankPhysics Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JidePhysics Teacher 4.80 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DorothyPhysics Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RahulPhysics Teacher £20/h1st lesson free !Discover all our tutorsPractice Practice PracticePast exam papers from previous years are key to preparing yourself for the exams. They are the closest you’ll get to the real thing.Past papers will help you get familiar with the:Exam format - is the paper divided into different sections?Question style - are the questions multiple choice?Time pressure - how much time should you spend on each section?Past papers are also a great way to check in on how you’re revision is going. Use the papers to see what topics you’re struggling with or maybe you’re yet to cover them in class.Sit at least some of the past papers in exam-like conditions. You’ll get to see what it’s like to recall information and test your knowledge without any revision notes on hand.Use the papers to practice demonstrating your knowledge. What you think you know in your head and what you can actually put down onto paper aren't always the same. You might that you need to brush up on your physics vocabulary i n order to succinctly answer a question.All of this practice will put you at a great advantage in the exam and you’ll have already worked out all the problems in the past papers!Find law tutors UK now.TeamworkIf you find revision difficult or if you’re struggling to grasp certain topics you might find it useful to join a study group.Working in a group can be a great motivator as you can encourage each other and discuss your ideas together. People don’t always see things in the same way, so if you’re don’t understand something a classmate might have a different way of explaining it.You can also swap revision techniques and resources with your study group. Test each other’s knowledge by setting quizzes or work on solving a problem together.You will find that everyone bounces off each other and revision will become much less boring. All in all, it’s just great to feel a sense of solidarity that you’re not in it alone!What’s Your StyleThere is no one size fits all when it comes to learning. Everyone learns in a different way.Once you understand your learning style and revision techniques whether you’re a visual, auditory, reading or writing learner, then remembering and recalling new information will become much easier.Try mixing up methods to see what suits you best. If you struggle with reading textbooks then maybe this isn't the learning method for you.Try something different like watching YouTube lessons or use sites like BBC bitesize to learn in a more fun, dynamic way.You could try listening to podcasts, watching videos or documentaries, studying in a new place or even something as simple as using different colours for your study notes to make them stand out.Whatever method you use make sure you d what’s best for you.D-dayThe day of your exam can be stressful but don’t worry too much, there are many ways you can minimise your anxiety before you enter the exam hall.Simple things like eating a good breakfast and getting to the exam hall on time can make a big difference.Focus on yourself and remember all the hard work you’ve put in over the course of two years. Doing the work is the best and really the only way to feel confident about the exam.Whatever methods you choose to revise just make sure you give yourself time to prepare. Not only will you save yourself stress you'll give yourself the best possible chance to achieve the grades you deserve.Good luck and happy revising!

Public Speaking Fear Ways To Help Harness Your Energy In A Positive Way - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Public Speaking Fear Ways To Help Harness Your Energy In A Positive Way - Introvert Whisperer Public Speaking Fear: Ways To Help Harness Your Energy In A Positive Way The average individual is more scared of speaking in public than death. And while most people think this is exaggerated, public speaking can actually hurt your personal and professional life. Unless you are a sociable extrovert, you feel so nervous with stomach tying itself into knots and your palms getting all sweaty before speaking to events or just standing in front of an audience. And while glossophobia or the fear of public speaking is very real, there are certain techniques that can help you overcome this fear and harness this negative energy into a positive one. 1. Convert The Nervous Energy Into Enthusiasm How do you do that? Well, some speakers often down an energy drink or plugging in their earphones and playing energetic or soothing music before they present. Although it may sound strange, this can help pump you up and transforming your nervousness into focused enthusiasm.

SAT Mathematics Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

SAT Mathematics Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace Online SAT Mathematics Tutors Available Now! The SAT Mathematics section can be intimidating. Even for students who are proficient at math, preparing for the test can be overwhelming. Tutor Pace can ease your fears and give you the confidence you need to perform well on test day. Our tutors are available 24/7 to give you the help you need in any area of the SAT Mathematics section. Each one is certified to be able to help you with every type of question you will encounter, including: Numbers and operations Algebra and functions Geometry and measurement Data analysis, statistics, and probability It doesnt matter if you need help in just one area or all of them: Tutor Pace has the tutoring you need the minute you need assistance. SAT Mathematics Tutoring Made Easy Tutor Paces online tutoring is a leader in the industry because of the intuitive interface of our online classroom. Designed to be just like working with a face-to-face tutor, our online classroom allows students can draw equations, use a scientific calculator, chat with their tutor, and even browse the web together. Thousands of students have already benefitted from this simple and effective way to learn. Each session is a personalized interaction between a tutor and a student, which allows students to make the most of their time online. Many other companies group students together, but Tutor Pace only allows our tutors to help one student at a time. This gives students the attention they need to successfully prepare for the SAT. Let Tutor Paces online SAT Mathematics tutoring prepare you for one of the most important tests you may ever take.

A Level Biology Grading Exam System

A Level Biology Grading Exam System Biology A Level Exam Boards Grading System ChaptersStudying Biology At A LevelA Level Biology Course ContentCourse OverviewGetting Your Head Around Your Upcoming ExamsBiology Exam-Taking TipsAt a glance, this linear specification offered by AQA covers a range of core topics such as Biological Molecules, Cells, Genetic Information, Energy Transfers and Gene Expression, the last two being taught at A Level only.The AS Level course is split into two exams, each worth 50% of the final grade and lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. The second year, however, is assessed over three written exams, each taking 2 hours to complete and making up 35%, 35% and 30% of the final mark respectively.OCR Biology A Level AS Level (H020, H420)This specification leans on the practicality of Biology for students and integrates problem-solving to help pupils understand biological concepts and scientific methods. Like the above, the course is split between the two years of study.The course is said to refresh the popular themes from GCSE Level specifications a nd embeds new teaching modules centred around answering the all-important question: How does Science work? MahimaBiology Teacher 5.00 (10) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyBiology Teacher 5.00 (2) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlishaBiology Teacher 5.00 (10) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SaifBiology Teacher 5.00 (9) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FrankBiology Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HeavenliBiology Teacher £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SiobhanBiology Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MackenzieBiology Teacher 5.00 (2) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCourse OverviewBraintree Sixth Form provides prospective students with some very useful information about studying Biology, including entry requirements and career prospects. Furthermore, they provide a fantastic overview of the A Level Biology course structure, as below.Course Structu reYear 12Module 1: Development of Practical Skills in Biology: This covers the skills of planning, implementing, analysing and evaluating practical investigationsModule 2: Foundations in Biology: This covers cell structure, biological molecules, enzymes, nucleotides and nucleic acids, biological membranes, cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisationModule 3: Exchange and Transport: This covers exchange surfaces, transport in animals and transport in plantsModule 4: Biodiversity, Evolution and Disease: This covers communicable diseases, disease prevention, immune system, biodiversity, classification and evolutionYear 13Module 5: Communications, Homeostasis and Energy: This covers communication, homeostasis, excretion, photosynthesis, respiration. plant and animal responses, neurones and hormonesModule 6: Genetics, Evolution and Ecosystems: This covers cellular control, patterns of inheritance, biotechnology, cloning, manipulation of genomes, ecosystems, populations and su stainability.Biology A Level AssessmentPaper 1 â€" Biological Processes â€" 37% of total A Level. Candidates answer all  questions in a 135 minute written paper   comprising multiple choice questions,  extended response and structured questions covering content from Modules 1, 2, 3  and 5.Paper 2 â€" Biological Diversity â€" 37% of total A Level. Candidates answer all  questions in a 135 minute written paper comprising multiple choice questions,  extended response and structured questions covering content from Modules 1, 2, 4  and 6.Paper 3 â€" Unified Biology â€" 26% of total A Level. Candidates answer all questions in  a 90 minute written paper comprising extended response and structured questions  covering content from Modules 1 to 6.Practical Endorsement for Biology â€" Candidates complete a minimum of 12  practical activities and investigations covering key skills and topic areas over the two  year course. Evidence of candidates meeting a series of competencies in practical  sk ills is assessed by class teachers and moderated externally. Performance in this  assessment is reported separately to the A Level grade as a pass/fail certificated  endorsement. It does not count towards the final A Level grade.Getting Your Head Around Your Upcoming ExamsAccording to research, children and young adults in our country are among the most tested on the planet, so does this mean that UK students should be accustomed to performing under pressure?Despite being some of the most tested pupils in the world, students in the UK still find exams very stressful. Photo by half alive - soo zzzz on Visual hunt /On the contrary, it seems that the recurrent need to test performance and improvement during schooling is something that still causes a lot of distress for pupils, and the abolishment of coursework is making the importance of exams all the more stressful. What do you think?Many admit to finding it hard to get to grips with the fact that they will be participating in nationw ide exams in the not so distant future.  Nevertheless, your exams are going to happen and will make up all of your final grade, so it is time to start thinking seriously about them.Having access to a timetable, even if only a provisional one, can really help to prepare you psychologically for the culmination of your course, because having a specific goal to work towards can be very motivating.Using a calendar or a countdown app might make it even easier to remain focused on the exam period and might, on some level, build up a bit of anticipation for the day of the first exam to finally come.Attempt to keep your spirits up by translating your nervous energy into positivity. Just think, once you have completed your last exam you will have an entirely carefree summer ahead of you!When Will My A-level Exam Timetable Be Released?Timetables for compulsory exams like GCSEs and A Levels are usually released a couple of years in advance, but do remember that these are only there for guidance and should not be taken as completely certain.Although exams will usually take place across roughly the same 2-3 week period of each academic year, you should never attempt to predict when your exams will be based on information from previous years.To be on the safe side, however, we would recommend that you do not make any arrangements for holidays or social events around the time of your exams unless completely necessary, as doing so could allow you to get distracted from your revision, cause unwanted stress due to losing precious revision time, or leave you feeling tired and less alert.Your education does not last forever but you will have plenty of opportunities to go on trips or nights out in the future.What If I Am Away On The Day An Exam Is Set?You should make sure that you do not accidentally make any plans which cause you to be away on the date of any of your exams. Failing to sit an exam could result in you failing the entire course and putting two years of study to waste .If your family are looking to book a holiday which crosses over with the exam period, then every effort should be made for the trip to be booked for a later date, or rebooked for another year. Even a once in a lifetime trip will not sway the examiners, as the rules cannot be twisted for just one pupil.If, however, you have a valid reason for missing an exam, such as being unable to make an exam due to the death of a loved one or as a result of having a funeral to attend, you should consult your school or exam board at the earliest opportunity.Be warned that your eighteenth birthday will absolutely not be classed as a reasonable excuse to miss or re-sit an exam (and neither will being hungover on the morning you are supposed to sit the assessment!).Don't plan to attend or host any parties around the exam period because being hungover won't get you out of doing your exam! Photo by Flóra on VisualHunt.comIn emergencies, the officials will work together to do all that they can to help you, whether that be awarding you a mark based on other assessed performances or using comparable units of a completed exam to predict how you would probably have been graded. This is called special consideration and applies to all students so long as they have completed 25% or more of the total assessment for the subject.Similarly, special consideration can be applied to those who made it to the exam but were affected by circumstances out of their control, like sickness, a bereavement, or being in the midst of a court case, for example. In situations like these, exam boards will give an allowance (usually up to 5% of the raw mark) dependent on the severity of the circumstances.How Are The Exams Graded?When you sit your exam, you will be asked to write your answers in a booklet which will be collected once the assessment time is up. These booklets, known as scripts, get sent off to examiners to be marked. Examiners are more often than not qualified teachers, but don't worry as they are rigorously trained to mark to a particular standard.The exam marking period usually lasts for around 12 weeks, so don't bank on getting your result until the end of the summer.  Throughout this time, the examiners' work is checked externally to ensure their marking is consistent and fair and  to ensure that they are applying the mark scheme correctly.  If not, the examiner won't be allowed to continue marking.Once all of the marks have been collected, the exam boards set the grade boundaries.  This process, called awarding, is carried out by senior examiners who are experts in their particular subject field, and overseen by the qualifications regulator.They look at scripts in relation to the grade boundary from the previous year as well as a range of scripts from the current year and then compare the scripts to decide the mark for this year's boundary.Biology Exam-Taking TipsPreparing for a Biology exam isn't the same as for any other subject. Of course, the general rules of re vision apply, but there are a number of other things you should be thinking about doing when you have a Biology exam coming up.Plan extra time for Biology revisionOkay, so we would say that as we are championing Biology. But, the fact is that things you learn about in Biology are often completely new to you (except those things you already covered in GCSE which may be slightly more familiar to you). So, rather than adding knowledge to things you already know, as you would be on an English or Maths course, you will need to take some extra time to learn the contents of your Biology modules as well as all of the complicated vocabulary that comes with it.Study vocabulary listsOn the subject of vocabulary and glossaries, why not create flashcards to help you remember some of the long words and scientific terminology? Memorisation is great ahead of an exam, so be sure to start early and keep going back to the exercise, increasing the amount of time you spend on learning them as you get cl oser to the exam period.Be active in your revisionThis is more of s general suggestion rather than an exam tip. Reading alone isn't enough to pass a Biology exam with flying colours, you need to truly understand the information and be able to apply it logically. To gain this enhance understanding, you must ensure you participate actively in any classroom activities or experiments in the lab. Whilst doing so, ask as many questions as you can - you won't get the chance again and you will kick yourself if you hit a brick wall during your revision because you didn't explore the subject more at the time!Use resourcesThere are various resources you can make use of, such as science books, revision websites, exam board websites and past papers, but one place that you shouldn't forget is your classroom textbook. These books have been designed for a specific purpose, working closely with your exact curriculum to help you to pass the exam! Be sure to take a look at their revision tips, exercis es and any add-ons they offer ahead of your test.Maximise pointsOf course, you can know the course inside -out but that doesn't guarantee you top marks. Since your overall grade is down to a number of factors like  coursework,  lab experiments and racking up points in your long answers, you should try to target getting the most points. This can include displaying your knowledge of terminology in an exam, being proactive in class or it could be the extra effort you put into your homework assignments.Be readyIt goes without saying but you should always make sure you have prepared yourself enough for the exam that you feel ready. Test yourself in the run-up to the exam so that you can address any weak areas before they catch you out on the exam paper. You'd rather find these before the examiner does in your actual exam when there's no opportunity to try again, wouldn't you?To find out how using past papers can benefit you, visit our blog on the importance of past papers.Furthermore, to find out what other resources are available to you, see this article on revision resources and techniques.Finally, find biology tutors near me.

Where we find best oral English tutor is from TutorPace

Where we find best oral English tutor is from TutorPace Every day you have to make yourself much more advanced and more dynamic so that you can easily live a better life in future. Parents invest much for their children so that the child can be well prepared for the future. Education has become of the basic necessity of our life and we cannot think about skipping it at any phase of our life. Today the use of English is one of the prime knowledge that is required for any child. It is needed for our further lives as well. The entire process of learning is not at all tough but if you get a good and efficient support then things can be easy and under your reach as well. Today parents take initiative to admit their child into a good and reputed English medium school that will help then to learn the most required language easily and the subject will be under their grip. English is such a subject that has been gaining popularity in our country from last few decades. The subject helps anyone to get the universal recognition and an easy way to communicate with the people globally. The approach becomes more confident and you can deal with better way. These things help English to be much more popular and the requirement increases. Having an online teacher can help a student to learn better and perfect English. Intelligent students do not require any teacher and with the help of school only they can learn better and faster. But for some students who are in average platform or are considered as weak can need some extra support that will help them to learn in a better manner and with perfection.  Today the availability of good online tutors are many but while investing you have to take a look as off who is offering you the best services within your reach. This will help you to stick to your budget as well as get enough time to know which one to go for. Online tutoring institute brings to you the best and the easy way to learn your part in English as it has many installed features in it. English is divided into two parts-one is English language and the other is English literature. English literature does not require any teacher as any student can with the help of dictionary and paying attention in class understand the poems, poetry, prose, novels and so on. But the main base is created through the help of English language. Proper learning of the language can help in making our lives easier. It consists of grammatical part, construction of sentences and so on. TutorPace is one of the online institutes that help its students in many ways possible. It brings in lot of help to those students who have enrolled themselves in it. They have a good set of teachers who can teach the students with ease and with much affection. Now let us look into some of the features that TutorPace can provide you with ease which is not possible for any other online tutoring to deliver it in such affordable prices. Features of TutorPace The teachers that online tutoring offers you is enough qualified and unlike private tutors they are not just sitting with their own way. Here the interview is taken which is said to be very tough and those candidates who have cracked the interview can be appointed as a teacher. This is the reason that online teachers are much more efficient than any private tutoring. The time limitation is never an issue. The teachers who are present in the world of TutorPace are available all round the clock and throughout the year. This helps any student to a large extent. They can clear their doubts, get help, and acquire the solution to any problem with ease and less timing. This is a way through which you being a student can learn without any obstruction. The charges that online tutoring institute like TutorPace charges are very less and affordable as compared to other online tutoring institutes. Other online tutoring institutes charges hefty amounts that are almost not possible for any middle class family to afford. Whereas TutorPace has kept this is mind and has charged much lesser so that they can easily have good number of students who really need help. The student will not have to move here and there and they can easily come up with the solution of getting tuitions. This is possible through the help of TutorPace and internet. This saves time, energy and money for transportation to a large extent. The saved time and energy can be utilized during the learning process or while doing the revisions. TutorPace provides its students with the best teacher who can conduct the entire work of teaching in a smooth and easy manner that will help the students to learn the subject faster. As English language is a subject which requires lot of knowledge and a flawless grip over the subject, so appointment of an efficient and expert teacher is required. TutorPace leaves a mark with its best choice of teachers who make the work possible. The one on one tutoring service is also provided by TutorPace. In this service, your child will be entertained by a single teacher. This is a service in which a single teacher will be entertained by a single student so that the teacher can concentrate on the particular student and help them to know the subject from its roots. This is very much beneficial service for those who are not at all used to with the coaching classes or cannot grab what is taught in the coaching class amidst everyone. For those who are still confused whether they want to enroll their child into such an institute can go further and check the online portal of TutorPace where you will find answer of your every question. If you are still surfing for where we find best oral English tutor, then this is your destination.

What You Should Expect from a Private Tutor 25 Rules (Part 3)

What You Should Expect from a Private Tutor 25 Rules (Part 3) Improving Academic Performance In our previous two articles, we discussed what to expect from a private tutor before and during tutoring sessions. We covered communication, logistics, planning, and specific tutoring strategies and techniques. In this article we’ll finish our series of 25 rules by covering rules 21-25 by exploring what to expect after a tutoring session. After the Session The tutoring experience doesn’t end when the clock turns off on the session itself. How you interact with the tutor after the session is important and can help make for a positive or negative experience. Immediately following the session, the tutor should summarize quickly the key learnings and takeaways from the session and how it fits into the broader “study plan” being followed. This helps reinforce the material in real-time and can take various forms. If the tutoring session was about preparing for the GMAT, as an example, and this was the first diagnostic session with the tutor, the student may not have decided whether or not to continue with the tutor. Still, the tutor should be able to offer some real-time thoughts on, if this relationship were to continue, and even if it doesn’t, what the student should be focused on. If the tutoring session was related to a specific subject, like geometry, then the tutor should have some thoughts about what topics are likely to be coming next, how what they discussed today relates to those topics, and how to prepare. An important best practice is for the tutor to send a written summary of the session to the student (and perhaps parent) summarizing what was covered and how it fits into the broader study plan. If this was the first tutoring session, then the written summary could and perhaps should be an actual written study plan documenting how the tutoring relationship will be approached. It is very important to document in written form the plan being followed so a student can reference it and orient themselves to where they are in the tutoring process. In some cases, the tutor may need to do a little research to find online tools or practice problems (i.e., reviewing certain elements of Kahn Academy) to help build a student’s skills in a given area. If appropriate, you might find a tutor spending some time to research online tools or practice problems to help a student build skills in weaker areas. This is sort of an “extra credit” best practice. If a student is really struggling with something, there are often web-site or additional materials that can help, and an expert tutor can help identify and direct a student towards those resources. The tutor should include in his or her summary email details on scheduling for the next month or so. Neither party should be surprised that someone’s schedule has changed or that someone is going on vacation. It is important to be highly structured around scheduling and logistics. At MyGuru, some of our best tutors were unfortunately not strong when it came to scheduling and organization more generally. We had students express that the tutoring sessions themselves were excellent, but getting confirmation of times and dates for future sessions was like pulling teeth. We’ve worked hard to address this. The tutor should be available to respond to simple, easy questions via text or email as part of an effective long-term tutoring relationship. Obviously, “off-line” interaction needs to be kept to a minimum and be within reason. The tutor isn’t being paid for this time, after all, so his or her time needs to be respected. That said, the tutoring relationship should not just exist within the confines of the 1-2 hour tutoring sessions. In some cases, more extensive off-line QA sessions via email or text can be a productive part of a tutoring relationship, and something for which we’ve charged students at discounted rates. Summary Working with a private tutor is a significant investment. And at the end of the day, it’s on the student and/or parent to “own” the process and put in the work to extract value out of the experience. At the same time, it is right to expect a lot from your tutor in terms of communication, planning, and, of course, instruction. Hopefully these 25 rules have you thinking about how to get the most out of a tutoring relationship.

June 2013 last chance to take the SAT and ACT before the summer!

June 2013 last chance to take the SAT and ACT before the summer! Is your student planning to take the SAT, ACT, or SAT subject tests  in June?  If so, AJ Tutoring can help with a review of important concepts and strategies.  We know this is a busy time of year with finals and AP exams, so we will work with your students schedule to accommodate his or her needs.  Read on for more details and important dates!Retaking the SATThe SAT is offered again this spring on  June 1.  The regular registration deadline for the June 1 SAT is  today,  May 7.  To register for the SAT, please visit the College Boards website.You should plan your students testing schedule ahead of time so he or she has time for both the SAT and the SAT subject tests.  The SAT and SAT subject tests cannot be taken on the same day.If your student has already completed a full SAT preparation or an SAT group class, AJ Tutoring offers the option of a 3-4 session SAT review.  During these review sessions, our tutors zero in on your students difficulties with the test and focus on fix ing specific problem areas or content gaps.Taking the SAT subject testsSAT subject tests are also offered on June 1.  Registration for the SAT subject tests takes place at the College Boards website.SAT subject tests are offered in math, literature, US and world history, biology, chemistry, physics, and most languages.Students can take up to 3 subject tests in one day.If your student is taking AP exams in May, its a good idea to also take the subject test in that topic in June.  For example, many AP US History students do well on the subject test in US History with little additional review.To prepare for SAT subject tests, students typically meet with our tutors for 3-4 sessions for each test to review content and cover test-taking strategies.The ACT: another college admissions optionColleges accept both the SAT and ACT for admissions, so for most students it makes sense to try both tests and see which one yields a higher score.  The ACT is faster-paced but more straightforward t han the SAT.The ACT is offered one more time this spring on June 8.  Late registration is available until May 17.  To register for the ACT, please visit the ACTs website.AJ Tutoring offers two options for ACT preparation.  For students who have not completed a full SAT prep or would like more comprehensive prep for the ACT, we have a full 8-9 session one-on-one tutoring program.  For students who have already prepared for the SAT, we offer a shorter 4-session ACT hybrid review, focusing on the differences between the two tests.If youd like to sign up for SAT or ACT review or speak with a director to develop a testing plan for your student, please give us a call at (650) 331-3251, or email info@ajtutoring.com.  Were looking forward to talking with you!