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Math Center! Free peer tutoring, room B208

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Math Center! Free peer tutoring, room B208

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3-3:45 every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Snacks provided!

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Released Tests & Item Sets (ALL SUBJECTS) | Virginia Department of Education

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Released tests are representative of the content and skills included in the Virginia SOL tests and are provided to assist in understanding the format of the tests and questions. Test item sets rather than full released tests are being provided for some SOL courses since the test item bank for those courses cannot support a full release. Raw score to scaled score tables cannot be provided for the test item sets because they do not represent full test forms. Likewise, a raw score to scaled score table cannot be provided for the MC/TEI component of the End-of-Course Writing test because it does not represent a full test form.

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The best way to ensure that you'll get the grade you want is to understand the material thoroughly. Good test taking skills, however, can help make the difference between a top grade and an average one. Mastering these skills can also help reduce stress and relieve test-taking anxiety.

In this blog, we've divided our tips for test taking into two categories: seven things you can do to prepare for your next exam and seven things you should do once the test begins. We've also included four strategies that can help with test taking anxiety.

We hope these test taking tips will help you succeed the next time you are facing an exam, big or small!

Seven Best Strategies for Test Prep

You've probably heard the quote (originally credited to Alexander Graham Bell): "Preparation is the key to success."

When it comes to test taking, these are words to live by.

Here are the seven best things you can do to make sure you are prepared for your next test.

1. Cultivate Good Study Habits

Understanding and remembering information for a test takes time, so developing good study habits long before test day is really important.

Do your homework assignments carefully, and turn them in on time. Review your notes daily. Write out your own study guides. Take advantage of any practice tests your teacher gives you, or even create your own.

These simple steps, when done habitually, will help ensure that you really know your stuff come test day.

2. Don't "Cram"

It might seem like a good idea to spend hours memorizing the material you need the night before the test.

In fact, cramming for a test is highly counterproductive. Not only are you less likely to retain the information you need, cramming also increases stress, negatively impacts sleep, and decreases your overall preparedness.

So avoid the temptation to stay up late reviewing your notes. Last minute cramming is far less likely to improve your grade than developing good study habits and getting a good night's sleep.

3. Gather Materials the Night Before

Before going to bed (early, so you get a good night's sleep), gather everything you need for the test and have it ready to go.

Having everything ready the night before will help you feel more confident and will minimize stress on the morning of the test. And it will give you a few extra minutes to sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.

4. Get a Good Night's Sleep

And speaking of sleep...showing up to your test well-rested is one of the best things you can do to succeed on test day.

Why should you make sleep a priority? A good night's sleep will help you think more clearly during the test. It will also make it easier to cope with test-taking stress and anxiety. Moreover, excellent sleep habits have been shown to consolidate memory and improve academic performance, as well as reduce the risk of depression and other mental health disorders.

5. Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Like sleeping, eating is an important part of self-care and test taking preparation. After all, it's hard to think clearly if your stomach is grumbling.

As tough as it can be to eat when you're nervous or rushing out the door, plan time in your morning on test day to eat a healthy breakfast.

A mix of complex carbohydrates and healthy protein will keep you feeling full without making you feel sluggish. Whole wheat cereal, eggs, oatmeal, berries, and nuts may be great choices (depending on your personal dietary needs and preferences). It's best to avoid foods that are high in sugar, as they can give you a rush of energy that will wear off quickly, leaving you feeling tired.

And don't forget to drink plenty of water. If possible, bring a bottle of water with you on test day.

6. Arrive Early

Arriving early at a test location can help decrease stress. And it allows you to get into a positive state of mind before the test starts.

Choose your seat as soon as possible. Organize your materials so they are readily available when you need them. Make sure you are physically comfortable (as much as possible).

By settling in early, you are giving yourself time to get organized, relaxed, and mentally ready for the test to begin. Even in a high school setting, maximizing the time you have in the test classroom-even if it's just a couple of minutes-can help you feel more comfortable, settled, and focused before the test begins.

7. Develop Positive Rituals

Don't underestimate the importance of confidence and a positive mindset in test preparation.

Positive rituals can help combat negative thinking, test anxiety, and lack of focus that can easily undermine your success on test day. Plan some extra time to go for a short walk or listen to your favorite music. Engage in simple breathing exercises. Visualize yourself succeeding on the test.

Your rituals can be totally unique to you. The important thing is developing a calming habit that will boost your confidence, attitude, and concentration when the test begins.

Seven Best Test-Taking Tips for Success

You have gotten a good night's sleep, eaten a healthy breakfast, arrived early, and done your positive test-day ritual. You are ready to start the test!

Different types of tests require different test taking strategies. You may not want to approach a math test the same way you would an essay test, for example. And some computerized tests such as SATs require you to work through the test in a specific way.

However, there are some general test taking strategies that will improve your chances of getting the grade you want on most, if not all, tests.

1. Listen to the Instructions

Once the test is front of you, it's tempting to block everything out so you can get started right away.

Doing so, however, could cause you to miss out on critical information about the test itself.

The teacher or proctor may offer details about the structure of the test, time limitations, grading techniques, or other items that could impact your approach. They may also point out steps that you are likely to miss or other tips to help improve your chances of success.

So be sure to pay close attention to their instructions before you get started.

2. Read the Entire Test

If possible, look over the entire test quickly before you get started. Doing so will help you understand the structure of the test and identify areas that may need more or less time.

Once you read over the test, you can plan out how you want to approach each section of the test to ensure that you can complete the entire test within the allotted time.

3. Do a "Brain Dump"

For certain types of tests, remembering facts, data, or formulas is key. For these tests, it can be helpful to take a few minutes to write down all the information you need on a scrap paper before you get started.

Putting that important information on paper can relieve stress and help you focus on the test questions without worrying about your ability to recall the facts. And now you have a kind of "cheat sheet" to refer to throughout the test!

4. Answer the Questions You Know First

When possible, do a first pass through the test to answer the "easy" questions or the ones you know right away. When you come to a question that you can't answer (relatively) quickly, skip it on this first pass.

Don't rush through this first pass, but do be mindful of time-you'll want to leave yourself enough time to go back and answer the questions you skipped.

* It's important to remember that this technique is not possible on some tests. Standardized computer-based tests often do not allow you to skip questions and return to them later. On these types of tests, you will need to work through each problem in order instead of skipping around.

5. Answer the Questions You Skipped

Once you've done a first pass, you now have to go back and answer the questions you skipped.

In the best case scenario, you might find some of these questions aren't as challenging as you thought at first. Your mind is warmed up and you are fully engaged and focused at this point in the test. And answering the questions you know easily may have reminded you of the details you need for these questions.

Of course you may still struggle with some of the questions, and that's okay. Hopefully doing a first pass somewhat quickly allows you to take your time with the more challenging questions.

6. Be Sure the Test is Complete

Once you think you've answered all the questions, double check to make sure you didn't miss any. Check for additional questions on the back of the paper, for instance, or other places that you might have missed or not noticed during your initial read-through.

A common question is whether you should skip questions that you can't answer. It's not possible to answer that question in a general sense: it depends on the specific test and the teacher's rules. It may also depend on the value of each individual question, and whether your teacher gives partial credit.

But, if you're not penalized for a wrong answer or you are penalized for leaving an answer blank, it is probably better to put something down than nothing.

7. Check Your Work

Finally, if you have time left, go back through the test and check your answers.

Read over short answer and essay questions to check for typos, points you may have missed, or better ways to phrase your answers. If there were multiple components to the question, make sure you answered all of them. Double check your answers on math questions in case you made a small error that impacts the final answer. You don't want to overthink answers, but a doublecheck can help you find-and correct-obvious mistakes.

Four Ways to Cope with Test-Taking Anxiety

Nearly every student gets nervous before a test at some point, especially if the exam is an important one. If you are lucky, your pre-test nervousness is mild and can be mitigated by these test taking tips.

A mild case of nerves can even be somewhat beneficial (if uncomfortable); the surge of adrenaline at the root of a nervous feeling can keep you focused and energized.

For some students, however, test taking anxiety-a form of performance anxiety-can be debilitating and overwhelming. This level of anxiety can be extremely difficult to cope with.

However, there are a few things you can do before and during a test to help cope with more severe stress and anxiety:

1. Take a Meditation or Sitting Stretch Break

Take a minute or two before or even during a test to focus on your breathing, relax tense muscles, do a quick positive visualization, or stretch your limbs. The calming effect can be beneficial and worth a few minutes of test time.

2. Replace Negative Thoughts with Positive Ones

Learn to recognize when your brain is caught in a cycle of negative thinking and practice turning negative thoughts into positive ones. For example, when you catch yourself saying "I'm going to fail", force yourself to say "I'm going to succeed" instead. With practice, this can be a powerful technique to break the cycle of negative thinking undermining your confidence.

3. Mistakes are Learning Opportunities

It's easy to get caught up in worrying about a bad grade. Instead, remind yourself that it's ok to make mistakes. A wrong answer on a test is an opportunity to understand where you need to fill in a gap in your knowledge or spend some extra time studying.

4. Seek Professional Help

Test taking anxiety is very real and should be taken seriously. If you find that your anxiety does not respond to these calming tips, it's time to seek professional help. Your guidance counselor or a therapist may be able to offer long-term strategies for coping with test taking anxiety. Talk with your parents or guardians about finding someone to help you cope.

Following these test taking tips can't guarantee that you will get an A on your next big test. Only hard work and lots of study time can do that.

However, these test taking strategies can help you feel more confident and perform better on test day. Tests may be an inevitable part of student life, but with preparation and confidence, you can succeed on them all!

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14 Tips for Test Taking Success - Harvard Summer School

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Worried about getting through your next big exam? Here are 14 tips for test taking that can help you do your best on your next test.

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Title: How To Beat Test Anxiety - YouTube

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Test anxiety is a type of performance anxiety in which fear of failure contributes to symptoms that interfere with your ability to perform well in an exam situation. Before a test, anyone can feel a bit anxious.

If you experience serious test anxiety, you may have physical symptoms such as a headache, nausea, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and light-headedness.﻿﻿ You could even have a panic attack, during which you may feel like it's hard to breathe or you may think you're having a heart attack.

Feelings of anger, fear, and helplessness are other symptoms of test anxiety, as are thinking negatively and comparing yourself to others. If you experience test anxiety, there are a number of coping strategies that you can employ. Below are 10 tips to help you cope.

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Test anxiety is a type of performance anxiety in which fear of failure contributes to symptoms that interfere with your ability to perform well in an exam situation. Before a test, anyone can feel a bit anxious.

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Test anxiety refers to the nervousness you might feel just before or during an exam.

Maybe your heart beats a little faster, or your palms start to sweat. Perhaps you feel overwhelmed by all the material you'll need to remember. As the test approaches, you might even start to get a little nauseous.

If so, you're not alone. Test anxiety is very common, and it can happen with any kind of exam, from an algebra final to a driving test.

However, research suggests some factors make test anxiety more likely:

School level. Research from 2019 estimates that between 20 and 25 percent of undergraduate students have test anxiety, compared with around 16 percent of children in grades 6 to 12. Among adolescents, those in grades 10 to 12 tend to have more test anxiety than those in grades 7 to 9.

Type of test. A 2020 study involving adolescents in Spain found that multiple-choice exams tend to prompt the least anxiety. Essay tests lead to more than twice the stress of multiple-choice exams, while oral exams prompt the most anxiety.

Subject matter. The same 2020 study found that math tests are more likely to cause test anxiety than general subject tests. A 2016 study involving students in Saudi Arabia suggests nursing students are more likely to have high levels of test anxiety than their peers in different majors.

Stakes. Exams tend to induce more anxiety when the consequences of failure are higher. In other words, a final exam worth 20 percent of your grade will likely prove more stressful than a weekly pop quiz.

A little anxiety is typical, and it can even help you focus on studying for the test. On the other hand, 2019 research on students in Malaysia suggests that severe anxiety could hurt your score in the end. After all, you might find it tough to give a test your full attention when the fear of failing dominates your thoughts.

Searching for strategies to overcome test anxiety? It's not always possible to completely banish anxiety, but the tips below can help you do your best on any exam you've got coming.

One way to do your best on a test may come as no surprise: Know the material. If you've kept up with your classwork all semester, you're less likely to feel panicked or stressed on the day of the test.

That's because studying isn't just about learning - it's also about practice. For example, if you solve an algebra equation in your homework, you get experience solving that particular kind of problem.

When you face a similar question on your test, then, you might think back to your homework. This doesn't just help refresh your memory, it also offers some proof you're capable of answering the question. What's more, familiar problems often feel less intimidating than completely new ones.

While studying can make plenty of difference in your score, quality rest is important too.

A 2018 study involving high school seniors in Turkey considered sleep and test anxiety before university entrance exams. Students who felt they slept poorly the night before were more likely to have:

a distorted view of their exam performance

physical signs of anxiety like upset stomach, sweating, and rapid heart rate

higher levels of test anxiety overall

Of course, test anxiety can make it difficult to sleep before an exam. A small 2020 study involving pharmacy students in the United States suggests students tend to get less sleep just before final exams.

Sleep deprivation, in turn, can have a negative impact on your exam performance.

To improve your chances of getting a good night's sleep:

Put away phones, laptops, and other electronics at least half an hour before bed.

Get in bed at a consistent time each night.

Keep your bedroom quiet and cool.

Limit your food intake before bed. If you feel hungry, try one of these bedtime snacks.

During exam season, you might find yourself increasing your caffeine consumption through coffee, tea, soda, and energy drinks.

Caffeine can boost your energy, absolutely. But it can also disrupt your sleep, according to a small 2013 study, especially if consumed within 6 hours of your bedtime.

To put it another way, it may help to avoid consuming caffeine the night before the exam. If you want to use caffeine right before your test to make sure you're alert, sticking to your regular amount is a good option.

A higher dose of caffeine may make you feel more alert than usual, but it can also cause symptoms like:

According to a 2020 study involving medical students in Saudi Arabia, those who drank energy drinks before an exam reported higher levels of test anxiety. In fact, they reported higher levels of anxiety and distress than students who took stimulant drugs.

Being late can make a stressful situation even more difficult. If your test is timed, you may feel extra pressure trying to answer all of the questions before the clock runs out.

Rushing to show up on time might only add to your stress. If you spend the 10 minutes before the exam scrambling to get to the right place, you'll more than likely carry that anxiety (and the physical symptoms that come with it) right into the test with you.

Getting to the exam location early prevents those issues. Plus, it provides some time to transition from your everyday headspace to "exam mode." A little breathing room can go a long way toward giving you a good start.

During the test, the answers to some questions will probably spring to mind right away. Other questions might seem like they came from a completely different class (one you didn't take). Unless your test somehow prevents it, you might find it helpful to skip around and answer those easier questions first.

Every question you answer can boost your self-confidence and your conviction that you do know the material. You might not answer every question perfectly. But so long as you solve most of them, you can probably make out with a decent score.

When a question stumps you, you might want to give it a pass for the moment. You can always come back later if you have time at the end. If you stay stuck on one question too long, you might lose momentum and start doubting yourself again.

And who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky and one of the later problems will offer a hint that helps you answer it.

When considering an exam as a whole, you might feel overwhelmed pretty quickly. You can make the test more manageable by breaking it up into chunks and tackling them piece by piece.

This strategy works for almost any kind of question:

Multiple-choice questions. When working through a whole battery of questions, you may feel tempted to multitask or read ahead. However, this kind of distraction might just slow you down. You can typically work more efficiently if you give your complete attention to one question at a time.

Short answer responses. A found that test anxiety can lower your reading comprehension, making paragraphs feel like mental marathons. It can help to read and digest each sentence one at a time, underlining key terms as you go.

Essays. Jotting down an outline can help you stay organized. It may help to pose a specific question in your outline and think of each paragraph as its own short response to that question.

When taking a test that could have an impact on your future, feelings of exam anxiety might quickly spiral out of control.

You may read a question you can't answer and suddenly feel like the worst student ever. Your thoughts could jump to ever-worsening futures where you flunk the class, drop out of school, and never find it possible to succeed in anything again.

If these thoughts start racing in your head, you may want to put on the brakes. Consider the following:

Do you know with absolute certainty that missing this single question will ruin your score?

Or, is failure merely something you fear could happen?

What if the opposite is true, and this single question won't affect your score much at all?

Challenging your thoughts can keep your worries from consuming you. Once you feel a little calmer, give the question a second pass.

If all else fails and your test is about to begin, try a few slow, deep breaths. Slowing down your breathing can help short-circuit your fight-or-flight response. In other words, it can help reduce your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and let your body know it's time to chill out.

Diaphragmatic breathing can be particularly helpful for easing anxiety, according to a 2019 review. To try it:

Breathe in slowly through your nose.

Let your abdomen expand alongside your ribs, rather than breathing through your chest alone.

Bring your abdomen in, pushing the air up and out through your mouth.

Repeat the cycle until you feel calmer.

Breathing may seem absurdly simple - after all, you do it practically every second. But it can be a surprisingly powerful tool to soothe anxiety.

Anxiety before a test tells you something important: The outcome of the test matters to you. Still, that knowledge may not make much difference as you try to calm your pounding heart and keep your sweating palms dry enough to hold your pencil or grip the steering wheel.

Giving yourself plenty of time to study and getting a good night's sleep before the test can help ease anxiety and prepare you to give your exam everything you've got.

If you consistently experience test anxiety, to the point where you find it difficult to complete tests even when you know the material, professional support could help. A trained therapist can offer more guidance with personalized coping techniques to work through test anxiety.
Emily Swaim is a freelance health writer and editor who specializes in psychology. She has a BA in English from Kenyon College and an MFA in writing from California College of the Arts. In 2021, she received her Board of Editors in Life Sciences (BELS) certification. You can find more of her work on GoodTherapy, Verywell, Investopedia, Vox, and Insider. Find her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Test anxiety refers to the nervousness you might feel just before or during an exam. Maybe your heart beats a little faster, or your palms start to sweat. Perhaps you feel overwhelmed by all the material you'll need to remember. As the test approaches, you might even start to get a little nauseous.

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TED Talk: Inside the mind of a master procrastinator

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TED Talk: Inside the mind of a master procrastinator

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Inside the mind of a master procrastinator

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Tim Urban knows that procrastination doesn’t make sense, but he’s never been able to shake his habit of waiting until the last minute to get things done. In this hilarious and insightful talk, Urban takes us on a journey through YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes and bouts of staring out the window -- and encourages us to think harder about what we’re really procrastinating on, before we run out of time.

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What Happens When You Procrastinate Too Much

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The Pomodoro technique to beat procrastination

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The Pomodoro technique to beat procrastination

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Understand your required credits

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Graduation Requirements and Course Planning

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High school students and their families work together with the school counselor to create a Academic and Career Plan, to include successful course sequencing. The course catalogs are updated yearly to use as a reference when meeting with the student's counselor. Requirements for graduation differ depending on the year the student entered high school for the first time.

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Progress Report Message and Grading Scale

Middle and high school progress reports include a general message to parents and grading scale descriptions. Official translations are available below.

Middle School (PDFs)

High School (PDFs)

FCPS has two approved grading scales, the 4 point scale and the 100 point scale.

A

3.8-4.0

93-100

Designates the status of a student who consistently demonstrates accurate and complete knowledge of content and skills specified in the FCPS Program of Studies (POS) and applies that knowledge to solve problems in a variety of settings.

B+

3.1-3.3

87-89

Designates the status of a student who demonstrates knowledge of content and skills specified in the FCPS POS, with some improvement needed in accuracy and/or consistency in performance, applying that knowledge to solve problems in a variety of settings.

C+

2.1-2.3

77-79

Designates the status of a student who demonstrates knowledge of basic content and skills specified in the FCPS POS, but requires additional practice and instructional experiences to acquire skills necessary to solve problems.

D+

1.1-1.3

67-69

Designates the status of a student who needs significant practice and instructional experiences to acquire the knowledge of basic content and skills specified in the FCPS POS necessary to solve problems. As a final mark, it is not necessarily sufficient to meet the prerequisite requirements.

F

0-0.7

50-63

Designates the status of a student who has not demonstrated the basic knowledge of content and/or skills specified in the FCPS POS and requires additional practice and instructional experiences in order to succeed.

Other Report Card Marks

Incomplete (I)

While a student should receive a grade whenever possible, there are times when an "Incomplete" (I) grade is appropriate. Teachers may assign incompletes under the following circumstances:

Students with excused absences who are unable to complete assignments that are major components of the quarter grade receive an "I" for that grading period. If a student receives an "I", he or she must adhere to the teacher's plan to complete missing assignments.

A student may receive an "I" for a quarter grade only if his or her absences are excused according to criteria established by FCPS. See Regulation 2234, Student Absences and Attendance Regulations.

It is expected that students will make up incomplete grades by the end of the next grading period and should work with the teacher(s) to create a plan. If this is not possible, the teacher will convert the "I" to a letter grade at that point. An incomplete may not be given as a final grade. High school seniors should not receive incompletes at the end of the seventh semester due to the required computation of grade point averages (GPA).

A student will be awarded an "Incomplete" as a grade for driver's education if they earn a passing grade in the classroom driver's education course but do not attend the parent/teen safe driver's evening program. This grade of "Incomplete" may remain as a final grade but will not impact the GPA.

No Mark (NM)

While a student should receive a grade whenever possible, there are times when a "No Mark" (NM) grade is appropriate. Teachers may assign "No Mark" under the following circumstances:

A student has been diagnosed with a medical issue which prevents them from completing work.

Other circumstances in which prolonged absences hinder a student's ability to complete work as approved by the principal.

The No Mark (NM) grade may be used with principal approval as a senior semester grade or end of year grade to indicate the student has been unable to complete coursework due to prolonged health related issues. The NM can remain on the report card and transcript unlike the incomplete. Students shall be given opportunities to make up the work by the end of the next grading period; however, if this is not possible, the NM grade will remain on the transcript.

Pass-Fail (P or F)

See current version of Regulation 2436, Optional Pass-Fail Grading for High School Courses for rules and procedures for high school students who choose to take one elective credit per year to be marked pass-fail.

Audit (T)

In special circumstances, high school students may be allowed to attend one course without receiving credit for it. The audit application ( IS-680 Request for Audit Status) must be completed, submitted, and approved prior to the beginning of the course.

Students may audit a course one year and then take it for credit the next year.

Students who audit a course must meet all attendance requirements and strive toward completion of POS standards, benchmarks, and indicators.

Students may not change from audit status to credit during the school year with the exception of students with a home language other than English referenced in the Assessing Special Populations in High School section.

Students with a home language other than English (ELP levels 1-4, 6, & 10) enrolled in credit bearing classes may participate with an audit status. At any time an audit status may be changed to credit status at the request of the teacher. Audit status should be used judicially in consideration of the student's post secondary goals, the impact it will have on the student's parallel advancement with cohort members, the student's length of time in U.S. schools, and the student's English language proficiency level.
When ELs transfer during the school year and are being considered for enrollment in a class with an audit status, the school counselor should conduct a transcript review to confirm that the enrollment is appropriate and in alignment with the student's graduation timeline. Newly enrolled ELs who demonstrate understanding of the standards should be given the opportunity to earn credit for the course.

Withdraw, Pass-Withdraw, Fail (W/P or W/F)

See the current version of Regulation 2445 Rules and Procedures for Students Dropping High School Courses for rules and procedures that apply to any student who wants to drop a high school course.

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Grading Scale (Secondary Grading and Reporting)

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Middle and high school progress reports include a general message to parents and grading scale descriptions. Official translations are available below. FCPS has two approved grading scales, the 4 point scale and the 100 point scale.

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Essay review, individual support, group classes

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Free Online Tutoring through FCPS: Varsity Tutors

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Free Online Tutoring through FCPS: Varsity Tutors

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Overview

Fairfax County Public Schools is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services, at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.

Tutoring Program Details

Varsity Tutors can help students with homework or help them prepare for the next big test whenever they need it. Tutoring is available in English and Spanish.

The Varsity Tutors platform gives your student more opportunities to learn at their own pace and covers kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum with the following features:

Varsity Tutors Quick Guides

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Varsity Tutors - Online Tutoring Services

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Access free resources like on-demand chat tutoring and online classes through Varsity Tutors.

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Free tutorials on over 3,000 subject areas

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Virtual Nerd: Real math help for school and home

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Virtual Nerd's patent-pending tutorial system provides in-context information, hints, and links to supporting tutorials, synchronized with videos, each 3 to 7 minutes long. In this non-linear system, users are free to take whatever path through the material best serves their needs. These unique features make Virtual Nerd a viable alternative to private tutoring.

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Keep track & prioritize your work

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Free math problem solver answers your algebra homework questions with step-by-step explanations.

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Explanations, flashcards, ready-made for you to study. Many different content areas

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Free Math Help - Lessons, games, homework help, and more - Free Math Help

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Find helpful math lessons, games, calculators, and more. Get math help in algebra, geometry, trig, calculus, or something else. Plus sports, money, and weather math lessons, too.

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An alternative to Quizlet

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Are you studying the right way?

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13 Study Tips: The Science of Better Learning

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Need executive functioning help? Click HERE

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You just heard you have a math test on Friday - the same day as your big history test and weekly quiz on Spanish verbs. Are they crazy? How will you get all your studying done?

Don't panic. There are some secrets to good studying. These 5 study tips can help you take tests with confidence.

1. Start Studying in School

Studying for tests and quizzes actually starts way before you even know you'll have a test. Good study techniques begin in the classroom as you take notes. Note-taking is a way of remembering what you were taught or what you've read about.

Some keys to note-taking are to write down facts that a teacher mentions or writes on the board during class. If you miss something, ask your teacher to go over the facts with you after class.

Keep your notes organized by subject and making sure they're easy to read and review. This may mean that you need to recopy some notes at home or during a free period while the class is still fresh in your mind.

Unfortunately, most schools don't have classes that teach you how to take notes. When it comes to taking good notes, it can take some experimenting to figure out what works, so don't give up.

2. Plan Your Study Time

When you sit down to study, think about how much time you want to devote to each topic. This will keep you from getting overwhelmed.

If it's Monday, and you've got three tests on Friday, figure out how much time you need for studying between now and then. Then figure out how long each subject will take. For example, a weekly Spanish verb test probably won't be as intense as a big history test. So you won't need to set aside as much study time for the Spanish test - and if you break it up into a short amount every night, that's even better.

Another study technique is called "chunking" - breaking large topics down into chunks. Let's say you have a history test on World War II. Instead of thinking about studying all of World War II (which could overwhelm even an expert), try breaking your study sessions into 2-year chunks or studying the material by specific battles.

Most people can concentrate well for about 45 minutes. After that you'll probably want to take a short break. If you find yourself getting distracted and thinking about other things as you study, pull your attention back. Remind yourself that when your 45 minutes of studying are up, you can take a 15-minute break.

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3. Study Based on the Type of Test You're Taking

Many teachers tell students ahead of time what the format of an exam will be. This can help you tailor how you study. For example, if you know you're going to have multiple-choice questions on World War II, you'll know to focus on studying facts and details. But if the exam will contain essay questions, you'll want to think about which topics are most likely to be covered. Then come up with several possible essay topics and use your notes, books, and other reference sources to figure out how you might answer questions on those topics.

As you study, review your notes and any special information from your textbook. Read things over several times if you need to, and write down any phrases or thoughts that will help you remember main ideas or concepts.

When trying to memorize dates, names, or other factual information, keep in mind that it usually takes a number of tries to remember something correctly. That's one reason why it's a good idea to start studying well in advance of a test. Use special memory triggers that the teacher may have suggested or ones that you invent yourself.

In the case of math or science problems or equations, do some practice problems. Pay special attention to anything the teacher seemed to stress in class. (This is where good note-taking comes in handy!)

Some people find it helps to teach what they're studying aloud to an imaginary student. Or work with a study partner and take turns teaching aloud. Another study technique is making flashcards that summarize some of the important facts or concepts. You can then use these to review for a test.

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4. Resist the Urge to Procrastinate

It's tempting to put off studying until the last minute (also known as procrastination). Unfortunately, by the time students get to high school there's so much going on that there's usually no room for procrastination.

If you're a procrastinator (and who isn't sometimes?), one of the best ways to overcome it is by staying organized. After you've written test dates and project due dates on a calendar, it's hard to ignore them. And sitting down to organize and plan your work really highlights how much time things take. Organization makes it harder to procrastinate.

Sometimes people put off studying because they feel overwhelmed by the fact that they're behind on things or they just feel really disorganized. Don't let this happen to you. Keep your notes organized, stay on top of required readings, and follow the other study tips mentioned earlier to stay focused and in control. Your teachers will give you plenty of notice on important tests so you have enough time to study for the type of exam you'll be taking.

But what if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the stuff you have to do? Are classes or extracurricular activities limiting your time to study properly? Ask your teachers for help prioritizing. You may need to involve the people in charge of your activities - such as your coach or music or drama teacher - in working out a solution.

Don't wait until the last minute to talk to your teachers, though, or you'll just look like a procrastinator! And don't be afraid to ask for help. Teachers respect students who are thoughtful and interested in learning and doing well.

5. Start a Study Group

Sometimes it can be useful to go over things with people who are studying for the same test: You can make sure that your notes are correct and that you understand the subject. Study groups are also helpful because you can work together to come up with ways to remember concepts and then test one another.

For some people who are easily distracted, though, study groups spell disaster because they get off the topic. When you're with a bunch of friends or classmates, you may spend more time hanging out than actually studying. One way to ensure quiet and focus when studying with a group is to study in the library. You'll be forced to keep things more low-key than if you're at someone's kitchen table.

In the end, it comes down to what works best for you. If you like to study alone and feel most confident doing it that way, that's great. If you think you'd like to work in a group, try it out - just be aware of the drawbacks.

The Payoff

When you've finished studying, you should feel like you can approach the test or quiz with confidence - not necessarily that you will get 100% of the answers correct, but that you have a good understanding of the information.

Most of all, don't panic if you can't remember some facts the night before the test. Even if you've spent all evening studying, the brain needs time to digest all that information. You'll be surprised by what comes back to you after sleeping.

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You just heard you have a math test on Friday - the same day as your big history test and weekly quiz on Spanish verbs. Are they crazy? How will you get all your studying done? Don't panic. There are some secrets to good studying.

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The Ultimate Distraction!

What is your biggest distraction? For many of us, adults included, it is our cell phone. It can be especially important to set that distraction aside while you need to focus most during the day, whether that is during class or when you need to get a test or an especially important assignment or project completed. Ideally, it is best to put the phone in another room where it cannot tempt you. If that is not something you can do, or that you prefer to do, at least put your phone on some type of "Do Not Disturb" mode.

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What is your biggest distraction? For many of us, adults included, it is our cell phone. It can be especially important to set that distraction aside while you need to focus most during the day, whether that is during class or when you need to get a test or an especially important assignment or project completed.

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Manage your coursework

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Evaluate how many hours you spend on tasks

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Write it down, make it happen