Supplementary Textbooks For the Modern Chemist

Supplementary Textbooks For the Modern ChemistA Chemist must always have a Chemistry unit available in his bookshelf. In addition to the regular textbooks used in chemistry, there are also many supplementary texts for further studies in chemistry.These are more common in colleges as well as universities and include popular works on chemistry. However, it is also possible to find additional worksheets, charts and visual aids to further your studies in chemistry and beyond.The first in a series of supplementary textbooks is the textbook assigned in the first year of a science course. This usually is a standard book used by most schools in the UK. It contains a description of the system of chemistry which comprises elements, atoms, chemical compounds, chemical bonds, boiling points, melting points, oxidation and freezing points, halogens, oxygen etc.There are also secondary texts, which offer the student more detailed descriptions, and chemistry units that cover various aspects of the s ubject. The later can be found through various websites online.Some supplementary materials may also offer a whole range of other supplementary subjects. These may include information about science fairs, inclusions in the curriculum, and the latest happenings in chemistry.A Chemical Tool Kit is useful for all ages, as this offers a very up to date description of chemistry. It also includes access to the world's largest electronic chemistry encyclopedia. These contain invaluable information for all ages and can be accessed by simply searching with the keywords 'Chemistry Tool Kit'.An alternative text to the Chemistry Tool Kit is the Energy Chemistry and Chemical Reaction Center. This provides comprehensive, interesting and up to date information on the entire spectrum of the subject. Additionally it allows the student to add an entirely unique entry to the site at anytime via the comment box.

Why I Volunteer - Fiona Ss Story

Why I Volunteer - Fiona S's Story Meet triple-threat Fiona S: volunteer, tutor, and qualified teacher. Before volunteering at Deptford Green School with Tutorfair, Fiona worked at the school as a secondary maths teacher. We help her tell the rest of her story below. I begin my chat with Fiona by admitting that I don’t know much about her volunteer experience. She kindly fills me in, “I’ve been tutoring at Deptford for probably a year now, after school on Mondays and during lesson time.” I go to scribble this down quickly when she continues, “I also tutored at a local charity in Camberwell [the Southside Young Leaders Academy] for probably six months, supporting talented black boys in the area. Then I volunteered with the On Track Project, teaching maths to students who are at risk of being permanently excluded, probably for another three months.” While I’m amazed at the time and energy Fiona has dedicated to the education of young people, Fiona herself doesn't appear fazed. “It’s just nice to keep my hand inâ€"to keep connected to schoolsâ€"and to teach on my own terms. It’s a system that allows me to give back and not tear my hair out,” she jokes. It’s a system that is easier for many students, too. As a tutor, Fiona is able to focus on those who most benefit from the extra tuition, but she doesn’t make the sessions mandatory. “I really like that balance; you don't have to be there, but if you want that extra help, then come,” she explains. “I think it's very refreshing to have a bit more freedom. It’s more of a choice, and that creates a very different balance between you and the students.” I ask Fiona if she can think of a particularly exceptional tutoring moment that was fostered by this new relationship between her and her students. “Oh, I’ve got loads. I’m just trying to choose one,” she answers easily. “I really like working with small groupsâ€"that's the fun of teachingâ€"and tutoring back at Deptford Green it gave me the opportunity to tutor students that I’d taught before. There was one student who was very disruptive in class, but being able to work with him one on one, he was a completely different child. That’s what I enjoy the most, working with the students who are really difficult in class, but then they get to be treated differently, and show how special they are.” I know I should let Fiona get back to her fantastic work, but I have one more question. Although it doesn’t sound as though she needs another reason to volunteer, I ask her if there is anything she would like to say to someone who is thinking about volunteering. She says, “I’m really interested in working more with children in care, and volunteering allows me to gain more experience with this group of young people. That’s how I feel about volunteering in general: it's just an amazing way to get experience in a sector you want to work in. You get to specialize and it's on your own terms.” We couldn’t have said it better. Thanks, Fiona! If you're a tutor, teacher or an aspiring educator looking to make a difference, visit the Tutorfair Foundation to find out how you can join the future of tutoring.

Common Wrong Answer Choices on the SAT and ACT Reading

Common Wrong Answer Choices on the SAT and ACT Reading ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Many to-be ACT and SAT takers absolutely dread the Reading section for a series of totally fair reasons. The passages can be mind-numbingly boring. Questions about tone and author’s purpose seem cruelly subjective. So many of the questions have various answer choices that seem fine. The fact of the matter is that Reading sections on standardized tests tend to be more intimidating than they are legitimately difficult. Sure, the people who write these tests design the Reading section to be dry, but they also write questions and answer choices following some easily identifiable tropes and patterns. Oh, by the way, real people write these exams! There are only so many tricks that test writers have available when coming up with incorrect answer choices. This guide will help you identify the answer choices you should be suspicious of, helping you feel more in control when confronting an unfamiliar reading passage. But First: Why Identify Common Wrong Answer Choices? Many test takers tend to approach the reading comprehension questions on a standardized test the same as they would ordering lunch. They read through all of the whole menu of options for each question and then choose the one that seems most appealing. The people who write these tests hope that’s exactly what someone taking the test will do. A big part of their game is providing test takers with a number of answer choices that look appealing on first glance. Basically, the people who write these tests are banking on the fact that you know the clock is ticking and you have to choose whatever you think is the best choice fast enough in order to get a shot at the remaining questions. Identifying common wrong answer choices is a great way to beat these standardized tests at their own games. Sometimes, this will help you choose between two answer choices that look equally appealing. Sometimes, it will help you make snap judgements on a question you find really difficult, and therefore help you increase your chance of guessing correctly by eliminating an answer choice you know likely isn’t correct. Identifying common wrong answer choices helps a lot as part of a good process of elimination strategy. Common Wrong Answer Choices, Explained Too extreme: This can apply to questions asking you to describe characters in a story or ones asking you to draw conclusions about a study described in an expository passage. Take answer choice B in this problem: Scary things come to mind when you hear global catastrophe. Always ask yourself if it’s easier to support the more extreme answer choice or the less extreme one. Here we also have answer choice D, which reads political problem. A more extreme â€" and therefore harder to prove â€" statement is not as good of an answer as an equally accurate and more flexible one. Generalizations: Similarly, beware of answer choices that allow for too much interpretation. You will need to choose an answer that is reasonably specific. Answer choice A from this question is a good example of such a generalization: The phrase “always largely fictitious” sticks out like a sore thumb. Always is in and of itself a generalization and you want to be wary of any answer choice that starts that way. Always is hard to support unless explicitly stated in the page. Even worse, though, is this part of the phrase largely fictitious. What does that even mean? Is it totally fictitious or largely, but not entirely, fictitious? How could something be always mostly but not entirely fictitious? Half right means all wrong: Watch out for answer choices that contain some valid information alongside something that doesn’t really match the passage. These tend to be the most tempting wrong answer choices, since they look appealing when you’re just trying to pick something and move on. This is a hard one to provide an example question for since you really need the context of the passage. But remember, if just part of an answer choice can be supported by the passage, it should always be tossed out in favor of an answer choice that can be entirely supported by a passage. The better answer choice should be the one that’s hardest to eliminate. Off-topic: Sometimes an answer is bad because it really has nothing to do with the question being asked or the information in the passage. Looking for this type of common wrong answer choice can prove helpful on science-oriented passages, where lots of jargon and unfamiliar science concepts make things confusing. Consider this one: The question asks about small comets, but answer choice A talks about the sun and electricity. It doesn’t make any sense that electricity or the sun would have anything to do with comets, so you can just eliminate that one. Definition is too literal: This one will either apply to vocabulary in context questions or to ones asking what a phrase means. Take this question: Without having read the passage, the most alluring answer is B, since a movie projected in a dark theater is “a show in light.” That’s why this answer choice is here! It doesn’t actually make sense given the passage, but if you skimmed or didn’t really understand what happened in the story then it might make some sort of sense to you. Avoid answer choices that define a word or phrase too literally without any support from the passage. Conclusion Being able to identify common wrong answer choices is an important part of your overall test taking strategy. This skill will improve your time, your accuracy, and lessen stress. When you're able to glance at previously confusing and distracting answers and identify them as incorrect right away, that's one less obstacle to overcome on your way to a fantastic SAT and/or ACT score. About the Author Mike S. is one of our most experienced test prep tutors. Click below for moreinformation on our SAT/ACT test prep packages: SAT ACT

Listen Up The 5 Best Audio Programs for Learning a Language

Listen Up The 5 Best Audio Programs for Learning a Language Its time to get back on the right track.As an adult, you might find it frustrating to struggle with language learning while  young kids become fluent just like that  .Youve probably heard people  say, Kids absorb knowledge like a sponge.So why cant it be that easy for you?Well actually, it sort of can.Maybe not exactly as easy, but close to it.Back when your vocabulary was limited to mama and dada, listening  was how you learned new words and phrases.Anything you overheard, your brain soaked up, and eventually you repeated it back.The same method will work for you as an adult, because that’s how your brain is wired to learn a language. There are plenty of other benefits to learning a language through listening, too. Why Learn a Language Through Listening?Learning a language by listening can greatly improve your success in speaking like a native and the speed at which you achieve your language goals.Lets take a look at some of the reasons for this.Some of us just learn better that wayDo you learn best by listening?If so, youre not the only one. A lot of us are the same.While some learn most efficiently by reading books and using flashcards, others are more attuned to aural learning (just a fancy term for learning by listening).For these people, using an audio CD or MP3 program is one of their best bets for becoming fluent.  It’s also a great way to practice speaking the language by responding to audio prompts.In fact, for people who learn best by listening, using other methods can be quite frustrating!So if you know youre an aural learner, don’t worryâ€"there are plenty of resources out there for you, even if your brain is a little slower than when you were three years old.Its a scientifically proven way to learn a language (for all of us)According to science, listening may be the best way to learn a language for everyone, regardless of their usual preferred language style.So its not just those who consider themselves aural learners who can benefit from listening. The rest of us can, too.Studies have shown that being exposed to the spoken language helps the brain absorb it,  even if you don’t understand what’s being said!Research on how the brain processes language has led to the revelation that hearing a language could very well be the most important aspect of a language learning curriculum. It helps our brains adapt to unfamiliar pronunciations and new grammar structures.We may even be able to learn a language in our sleep just by listening to it!Still, you probably already know that learning a language takes a lot of time and dedication, so its important to know youre putting in time and energy where its going to pay off the most. Its good to realize that learning by listening is sure to bring about results.There are lots of great resources out thereIf an aural language learning experience is what gets you to fluency, then audio CD and MP3 programs are the resources that can take you there. In these programs, you hear words , phrases and sentences spoken to you. Practices and exercises give you the opportunity to use  them yourself. These lessons increase in difficulty and complexity in a natural progression.This provides you with constant feedback about how to properly pronounce words and create sentence structures.The best thing about audio programs is that you can start learning by listening at any level. No experience in the language? No problem! By listening to audio resources, your brain will start to pick it up right away.You can easily mix audio with other methodsWhile listening may be a scientifically proven key to learning a language, combining audio programs with other methods will give your brain an extra boost.A comprehensive language learning curriculum may also include textbooks, written exercises, in-person language practice, TV programs, computer tutorials and others.FluentU  combines audio with elements of all of the above by taking real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailer s, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turning them into personalized language learning lessons.Using a combination of different approaches forces you think about language in different ways. It helps you master the breadth of language skills, from writing to participating in real conversation. Try different approaches and see what works for you. It’s not necessary to do everythingâ€"just what helps you make progress learning the language.You can learn at home, during your commute or on the goLearning a language using audio CD and MP3 programs is one of the most convenient ways to boost your fluency. You can listen to them practically anywhereâ€"whether it’s in the car, during your workout or while doing chores around the house.Bored on your commute? Waiting in line at the DMV? Sitting at home with nothing better to do? Turn on your audio language program and get learning! If you have a CD player, or a mobile device that plays MP3s, you can make the most of your do-nothing time with t hese programs.Even if youre just passively listening, your brain will still pick up the language. So if you want to learn a new language, you may as well listen to your audio language programs whenever you find yourself idle. You may be surprised how much learning you can squeeze in!Listen Up: The 5 Best Audio Programs for Learning a LanguageAt last, we reveal the top audio language learning programs that will skyrocket you to fluency! We carefully considered the options and selected these resources for their value, effectiveness and entertainment.These audio resources are highly valuable for any type of learner. In order to really understand a language, you have to practice your ability to hear it and speak it, which are exactly the skills that audio programs test you on.So listen up, and start acing your language now with audio language learning programs!PimsleurThe gist of the Pimsleur approach is this:You hear the words and phrases in the target language.You hear them in your mo ther tongue.You translate the word from your mother tongue to the target language.The course is based on research by Paul Pimsleur, a linguist who sought to discover the fastest way to learn a language. The length of each course varies from around 15 to 45 hours, depending on the language. The courses are broken up into half-hour sessions. Nearly everything is audio-based, and even the provided reading material is meant to be read along with the audio lessons. More than 50 languages are offered.Pros: With the Pimsleur method, the pressure is on you to respond with the correct translations. This provides a built-in motivation system that inspires you to do better with every attempt. The material from previous lessons is repeated in subsequent levels, so there’s a lot of reinforcement.Cons: There’s limited context provided in the lessons. Most of the vocabulary seems to be oriented toward people traveling for business. Youll learn select words and phrases, but not necessarily thos e that would be most useful to you.Levels:  There are typically up to three or four levels, with 30 lessons per level.Cost:  Price varies by language and format. German, for example, is $450 for a four-level course on MP3 ($970 on CD). All prices are listed on the Pimsleur website.iSpeakiSpeak is an MP3 language learning program from McGraw-Hill that focuses simply on learning new words. The package for each language includes 1500 high-frequency words and phrases, all in MP3 format. Each comes with a visual cue to associate with the word that appears on the screen.Simply load the program onto your MP3 player and select the word or phrase you want to hear. On an iPod, youd find this by going to “Artist” and selecting from a list of themes, then to “Audio” and selecting from a list of topics.Pros: iSpeak is compatible with iPod and most other MP3 players, so no matter your preference of device, you can use iSpeak to help you with your listening skills in the target language. T he portability and simplicity of the program make it a perfect choice for travelers.Cons: The program is limited, with just 1500 words and phrases. It doesnt do much for improving grammar and building conversation skills. There are only a handful of languages available. Still, it’s a convenient way to pick up new terms in select languages, especially if youre a beginner.Levels:  There are no distinct levels. Programs focus mainly on beginning-level vocabulary.Cost:  Programs are reasonably priced.Michel ThomasThis audio-only method provides an opportunity to learn from a “teacher” who reads a lesson and asks you to repeat it. Youre “in class” with two other students also heard on the recording. The course introduces words and phrases that are explained in detail, which you later (along with the other two students) use to construct simple sentences. The total course for each language consists of 12 hours of audio.Michel Thomas was a linguist and language teacher who spoke m any languages and developed a system for rapid language learning. He was highly successful, with diplomats and celebrities numbering among his clients. These audio CDs are based on his methods.Pros: Because there are other students recorded on the lessons, you get to feel like youre really in class, and the progression seems natural. The Michel Thomas method is a more economical alternative to the Pimsleur method. The structure of the course gives you the tools to make real conversation in a short time.Cons: The Michel Thomas method uses a lot of mnemonic devices to help you remember words and phrases. If this doesnt work for you, it may seem tedious. For some, the pace might be too slow, since it’s dependent on the progress of the other two “students.”Levels:  There are no distinct levels, but the program progresses to intermediate difficulty.Cost:  The entire series of each language will run you about $75-100.Living Language Drive TimeThe Living Language Method prides itself on giving language lessons that involve multiple senses. Its regular offerings include CDs and a book in multilevel packages that encompass audio, visual, written and interactive approaches to language learning. The company’s Drive Time series is an audio-based program designed for commuters and anyone looking for language lessons on the go.Each language comes with eight conversational lessons that guide you through vocabulary warm-up exercises, examples and opportunities to practice. You also get a CD of vocabulary words and a listener’s guidebook with vocabulary lists, dialogue scripts and summaries.Pros: The Drive Time series gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Youll progress rapidly through increasingly challenging lessons for a fraction of the price of many other programs. If you like thorough explanations of new material, this course is for you.Cons: It’s not as immersive as some other programs. The structure is very traditional, and with the explanations, there’s a lot of English on the recordings. Some learners may find the pace to be a little on the fast side.Levels: The entire eight-disc series take you from Beginner to Advanced.Cost:  The price is generally in the double digits.BerlitzA well-known name in the linguistic world, Berlitz offers a variety of language learning programs, including those that focus on audio CDs. The focus of their programs are typically conversation-based and centered around real-life conversation. Theres less focus on vocabulary and grammar lists.Berlitz has one-CD sets, like  Spanish in 30 Days, that can get you started for an upcoming trip, as well as multi-CD sets like  Italian Berlitz Basic  that give more in-depth lessons. The contents of each CD can be easily downloaded to an iPod or MP3 player.Pros: There are a lot of different Berlitz products to choose from. Using Berlitz means youll be able to get high-quality books published by the company to complement your audio learning. Berlitz uses the “direc t” or “natural” method that emphasizes learning a language to be able to communicate. For those who want to start using a language right away, Berlitz gets straight to the point.Cons: The quality of the materials on the audio language programs can vary from language to language. With more than 30 language offerings, you might not get what you expected.Levels: Most of their audio-focused products are for beginners. Their Confident series caters to “advanced beginners.” Their textbooks, which come with a CD, come in beginner to advanced levels.Cost:  Price varies widely, but expect to spend in the double digits.Audio CDs and MP3s for language learning can be the next best thing to a personal tutor.Theyll talk to you, prompt you and guide you along as you master speaking your new language. Plus, you can take them wherever you go!Your language learning doesnt have to stop in the classroom or at home.Take it with you, increase your practice time and see your efforts pay off!And One More ThingIf you dig learning real languages, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you ’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.

What do I need to know about GCSE Physics

What do I need to know about GCSE Physics Physics helps explains the world and the universe. Studying it at GCSE level and beyond offers you the chance to develop skills that will make you very employable in the future. To help you make your decision about whether or not to opt for it, here is what you need to know about GCSE physics. Reasons to study GCSE physics Physics is the study of the universe and as such it focuses on a range of topics like energy, forces, waves, and the structure of atoms. It's worth choosing physics at GCSE if you are interested in careers that need science but also if you are interested in matter and energy and concepts about time, and space. Studying physics is rewarding as it can lead to a diverse range of skills that are needed in fields such as science, engineering, education, medicine, law, and business. The diversity of careers is down to the fact that physics gives you a range of skills that includes maths, problem-solving, and the communication of complex ideas. Should I choose Combined Science or separate sciences at GCSE? Separate science GCSEs are where students study all three sciences and end up with three GCSEs. General Science also known as Combined Science is where students study biology, chemistry and physics but end up with two GCSEs. The majority of GCSE students in England follow the combined course. Some schools offer both options so talk to your science teachers about what the best option is for you and your future plans. What topics will I study in physics? The initial study in physics focuses on covering the basics of the subject and then moves slowly towards more advanced concepts and topics. The exact specification for your GCSE depends on your examining board, but in the main, you will study the core aspects of physics: Energy - work, energy demands, changes in energy stores. Electricity - circuits, static and mains electricity. Particle model of matter - particles in gases, temperature, density. Atomic structure -atoms, ions, fission and fusion, radiation. Forces - gravity, motion, Newton's Law's, momentum, refraction, sound, waves, pressure. Magnetism and electromagnetism - transformers, induction, electromagnets, magnetic fields. Space physics (physics GCSE only) - expanding universe, stars, solar system How can I make an informed decision? One way to find out if physics is for you is to increase your knowledge in the field. Try listening to podcasts like The Infinite Monkey Cage hosted by physicist Brian Cox or reading books by Stephen Hawking. It's also worth checking out if your maths skills are strong enough, as maths is a significant component of physics. Talk to your teachers about your strengths and weaknesses, and think about boosting your skills in maths. What will help me with physics? At GCSE level, the topics you learn in physics are very detailed, so you need to build up your knowledge gradually. One good tip is to revise new information as you go. Then if you don't understand something don't move on seek out the help of a tutor or your teacher, so you don't have knowledge gaps when the exams come round. For more information about tutors in your area, look at our listing page for physics.

What You Need to Know About Private Student Loans

What You Need to Know About Private Student Loans Image via picserver.org With high tuition rates across the country, funding your education can seem like a minefield. There are many options when it comes to financing your future from government loans to grants and scholarships. Did you know that you can also take out private student loans? For some students, private student loans are an important option to have when budgeting their higher education. However, private loans do come with a few tips and tricks that will keep you out of repayment trouble. Before you make any decisions on private student learns, here is some important information about how they work and whether or not they will work for you. Protections private loans may not have Private loan details are set by the lender meaning that they may not come with the protections offered by the federal government. Government loans have deferment and forbearance options so that someone who may drop out due to unforeseen circumstances won’t be saddled with debt immediately. Private lenders, however, may not have this. Federal loans also have a six to nine month grace period before students must begin repaying their loans. Again, private loans may not have this. If you’re considering private student loans, make sure that you know exactly what your lender’s policies are so you don’t get stuck in a bad situation. Nobody wants surprise payments that they aren’t ready to pay. Private loans may cost more Federal loans are designed to offer students the most affordable way to pay for their education. Private lenders are usually part of a business that is looking to sustain itself. In total, private loans almost always end up costing more than federal loans. The rates are considerably more variable and sometimes they’re even designed to trick you. Some private loan rates will start out very, very low to convince you to sign on, but in the years after, the loan rate could double or even triple. This means you’ll end up paying a larger amount of money than you probably originally thought. Federal loans, however, always have a fixed rate that isn’t subject to change over the years. It depends on your score Loans are often determined by someone’s credit score, and since many undergraduates haven’t had enough time to foster and develop a good credit score, this means that the responsibility usually falls on someone else. Whoever the cosigner is then takes the risk of debt should you not be able to keep up on your loan payments. On the other hand, if you have limited options for co-signers that don’t have good credit history, you may end up paying more for your loan or you may not even qualify for the loan at all. For students who are independent and want to rely on themselves for financing their education, this can make the option of private student loans very costly or not an option at all. Federal student loans do not take credit scores into account when deciding loan rates and will not deny them to students should they qualify. Private loans may offer more money For some students, student loans may look even more enticing because at the time, they seem like free money. Student loans, however, are not free money and frequently, the college years go by much quicker than students anticipate. Federal student loans have limits on how much students can borrow so that their debt doesn’t become astronomical. Private loans do not have such limits. Some lenders may have caps, but others may allow students to take out as much as they want. This enticing deal may tempt students to take out more than they actually need to and leave them with a large repayment. The silver lining Fortunately, tax cuts are available for both private and federal student loans. This can be a huge bonus because families with student loans can deduct the interest from their student loans, up to $2,500 each year. However, this is a combined total, so if the total interest from both your federal and private loans amounts to more than $2,500, then taking out money through private loans won’t be of much help to you. What it does mean is that private student loans aren’t completely void from some of the benefits that federal student loans have. When deciding whether or not to take out private student loans, make sure to think about all the above factors. Really attempt to determine what your student budget needs to be, how much federal financial aid you’ll be receiving, and what remains. Be sure to talk with anyone that will be involved in the student loan process with you, including your parents and potential lenders. They’ll be able to talk with you about realistic costs and what your loans will look like in the future. Private loans are a great option for some people and it is definitely worth it to consider them for your financial student future.

Santa Ana Private Tutor Reacting to your final exam grades

Santa Ana Private Tutor Reacting to your final exam grades Tips from a Santa Ana Private Tutor: Reacting to your final exam grades Tips from a Santa Ana Private Tutor: Reacting to your final exam grades Some students might have gotten straight As on all their final exams. This is awesome, and they should celebrate. On the other hand, the majority of student’s need a little bit of extra help dealing with the news. There are different levels of disappointment if things didn’t go well varying from a B+ on an exam that a student was sure they were going to ace all the way down to a failing grade that the student now has to remedy prior to the end of the school year. Once the reality has set in its a good idea for students to think about practical applications that can help them turn the situation around and salvage the remainder of the year score higher on your next final with the help of our Santa Ana tutoring services. 1. Did you try your best? If the answer is yes, and you still got a poor grade, it may be time to ask for help. Students who studied like crazy, made finals their priority, and worked diligently but still didnt do well may need the help of a tutor or their classroom teacher. Getting a little extra help can go a long way when it comes to the next round of final exams.   If the answer is no, then its time to implement an organizational and study plan for the remainder of the school year. Students who are transitioning to the 9th grade or who are in their senior year, and suffering from senioritis, might have thought it would be easier to ace an exam then it is. Students going through any academic transition are encouraged to have a plan that makes their educational tasks a priority from now until June (READ: Irvine AP Tutor: 4 Reasons You Should Form an AP Study Group ASAP). 2. Is there one subject that is giving you trouble consistently? Some students score well on every test they’ve ever been given thats not algebra. Almost every student has one pesky subject that simply wont let them get straight As. If this is the case, it’s a good idea to sit down and talk with your teacher and parents to identify which concepts you need extra help in. Whether you end up working with a tutor or joining a study group, once you identify the concepts you dont understand youll be able to move forward. 3. How often do you talk to your classroom teacher? If like most students, youre thrilled to run out of the classroom at the end of the period and move on to something else, you may be missing out on valuable time with your teacher. Most high school teachers have office hours at least once a week and middle school teachers generally conduct office hours by appointment. If a student didnt understand a particular mathematical concept or if they didnt understand the character development in a novel, for example, the first person they should talk to is their teacher. In many cases, students can get help right away and avoid having any major educational issues. 4. Do you procrastinate when it comes to getting help? Students who wait until the end of the month to go and talk with their teacher may find they have 3 hours worth of questions but only 15 minutes to talk with their teacher. It can be overwhelming to attempt to learn all of these new concepts at once. In the future, try bringing one issue to the teacher at a time so that the amount of mental energy put in is minimal. 5. Do you have any extracurricular activities? In some cases, students attempt to be superstars and take on everything at once. They want to get straight As, be the star of their sports team, volunteer, and in some cases hold a part time job all at the same time. Attempting to master all of these things can leave students in the dust. If grades have suffered significantly its a good idea to think about what can be done over the summer versus what absolutely has to be done now. For instance, could that volunteer activity wait until July? Can you cut back hours at a part time job and only work during the weekend? Once students find a healthy balance, they’re more likely to be able to maintain a high GPA and do well on midterms and final exams. Its best to take this disappointment and turn it into an opportunity. Youre capable of scoring high on your finals, you just may need a little extra help. Dont hesitate to book your private Santa Ana tutor from TutorNerds. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.