Tanya Said:

Why is it that even if you work hard in college and study hard you don't get excellent scores in tests?

We Answered:

College is much more challenging than high school.

In high school, teachers are under pressure to teach to the test. In other words, they tend to purposefully make it easy to score high b/c their funding hinges on it.

All bets are off in college, though. There is no more teaching-to-the-test. Either you "get" the material or you don't. There is no more hand holding, extra 'chances', and rounding up.

In college, it's more than reading the textbook. It's not just parroting back what you're read or heard. You actually have to understand, digest, and be able to apply the material.

That shows up when you're required to write papers, essays, etc, rather than just taking a stab at a multiple choice question, where you'll get it right just be chance 25% of the time. Students get used to that sort of coddling in high school, and when it's no longer there in college, it takes some time to adjust.

Study strategies in college need to change pretty dramatically from what is required in high school.

In addition, the field of students has been "culled" by college age. The non-academically inclined have been weeded out, so you're thrust into a pool of folks who, at least theoretically, have the intellectual horsepower to handle the material. In high school, you're compared against the lot (including those who are not too bright). In college, you're compared against the cream of the crop, making it harder to stand out.

~Dr. B.~

Terri Said:

Whats the best way to study for math finals?

We Answered:

Doing math problems.

Reviewing formulas.

Dean Said:

What do children who go on to the National Spelling Bee study?

We Answered:

There are really nice dictionaries that clearly state word origins and complete meanings in other languages. But these dictionaries are usually big and expensive. Etymology Dictionaries are specifically made for word origins. Also there are a few online sites listed in my sources.

Margaret Said:

help!?!?!?!?!? :) please help!?!?

We Answered:

1. True
2. False
3. Personification
4. Laughing
5. Sheila's hands were as smooth as leather.
6. Active reading Strategies

These are really easy and I am in 7th grade honors L.A. and Math. Pretty Sure These Are The Right Answers.

Calvin Said:

taken AP Bio: what did you do to score a 4 or 5?

We Answered:

What I've been doing (taking it this year) that has been helping a lot is making one-page summaries for every chapter in the book.

You can add pictures, do whatever you want with font size and margins, but the only rule is for it to be one page. Do one or two of these per night until the AP and it will really help out.

Shelly Said:

How do you take notes and study?

We Answered:

Write down what teachers says - the important parts, the parts you might forget, the parts when she says "This is important, people." (Put today's date at top of page)

That night, read over your notes. Fix what isn't right in them. Cross out what you don't need. Highlight the important stuff. Add to these if you see that you left something out.

Keep notes together, in order, by the date you wrote at top of page.

When you get ready to study for test, take all those notes and start reading them from the beginning. (not the stuff you crossed out earlier - skip that). Take a different colored highlighter & mark the stuff that you don't feel you really know too well.

Then, read them over, from the beginning, just reading the stuff in the 2nd highlight color.