Apothem Length

Apothem Length Apothem length in a triangle is the length calculated from a vertex of the triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side of the vertex. Apothem is always the perpendicular drawn from the vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side in the triangle. Similarly apothem in a circle is the length calculated from the center of the circle to the midpoint of the chord drawn in the circle. Example 1: Find the length of the apothem in a triangle if a side of the triangle is 6m and area of the triangle is 45m2. Given side length or base length of the triangle, b = 6m Area of the triangle, A = 45m2 Formula to find the area of the triangle, A =1/2 * base length * apothem Hence Area of the triangle, A: 45m2 = 1/2 * 6m * apothem 45 = 3 * apothem In order to solve for apothem, we divide 3 on both sides Apothem = 45/3 = 15 Hence apothem of the given triangle = 15m Example 2: Find the length of the apothem in a triangle if a side of the triangle is 4cm and area of the triangle is 24cm2. Given side length or base length of the triangle, b = 4cm Area of the triangle, A = 24cm2 Formula to find the area of the triangle, A =1/2 * base length * apothem Hence Area of the triangle, A: 24cm2 = 1/2 * 4cm * apothem 24 = 2 * apothem In order to solve for apothem, we divide 2 on both sides Apothem = 24/2 = 12 Hence apothem of the given triangle = 12cm

Spanish Lessons Birmingham

Spanish Lessons Birmingham Finding Spanish Courses in Birmingham ChaptersSign Up for Online Spanish LessonsSpanish Courses In and Around the CitySharpen Your Language Skills with a Spanish TutorWe are now just over halfway through January; the time when people tend to give up on the earnest resolutions they made at the dawn of the new year.Getting fit, quitting smoking and learning something new are traditionally among the top resolutions uttered before (or directly after) the stroke of midnight that heralds new beginnings.Of those three, learning something new is the easiest one to keep and, of all the learning possible, learning a new language is the goal most people set for themselves.What about you? Did you make such a resolution?Superprof aims to help you keep it by presenting you with venues in and around Birmingham you could learn to speak Spanish and the different ways to do so.By the way: another popular resolution people make (and quickly break) is to enjoy life more.If that was also one of your goals for the new year, you might knock ou t two birds with one stone by taking Spanish classes so you can holiday in a Spanish speaking country!Now that we’ve got it sorted how you can keep your New Year promises, let’s get on with finding ways to do so!How much does a Spanish tutor in Belfast Cardiff, or Edinburgh charge?Who has time to enjoy life if your next promotion is contingent on you working all hours?Who has time for language lessons if the only moment you have to yourself is a bit of quiet after tea when the kids are doing their homework or glued to their electronic devices?The ready language learning solution for those leading hectic lives is learning Spanish online.Online Spanish classes offer you many benefits, the first being that you don’t have to leave home in order to participate.All you need to get that party started is a stable Internet connection, a device â€" computer, tablet or smartphone and, if you’re worried about hearing your Spanish teacher, perhaps some headphones.Most of today’s electr onics have built-in cameras and decent speakers so, unless your electronic equipment is a bit out of date, you should not have to buy any peripherals for your Spanish lessons.You will have to find a suitable teacher, though â€" with an emphasis on suitable.Searching for Spanish classes near me would surely yield dubious resultsNot every Spanish teacher will work, if only because not every Spanish speaking region will understand any type of Spanish you might learn.For example, if you wanted to hire a car in Spain, you would call for a coche but, in Latin America, the words auto and carro are more readily understood.However, if you are taught Neutral Spanish, that is a moot point.Neutral Spanish incorporates terms and phrases that the majority of native speakers of Spanish will understand, with little emphasis on local dialects.Another point to consider when looking for Spanish lessons online is your prospective teachers’ availability.If you can only spare a couple of evenings a wee k, obviously your future teacher must be able to work with you during those time frames.Italki makes that aspect of planning your Spanish courses a breeze!You simply log on to their platform, choose a likely Spanish teacher and avail yourself to their scheduling module. If your desired class time is not blocked out, feel free to reserve it for yourself!And then, at the appointed time, simply log on to Skype and your learning experience begins!Italki rates for classes are set by the teachers themselves so you will find quite a range of prices. You may have to look through several profiles for the teacher who will meet all of your criteria.Live Lingua eliminates this hurdle by setting the prices per hour of Spanish lessons. Furthermore, they offer an introductory lesson at no cost, just to see how you and your teacher click and how you enjoy the overall format.Through Live Lingua, you may find Spanish teachers for general Spanish lessons from beginner Spanish all the way through fluen cy. They also have instructors who specialise in test prep for the Spanish Dele â€" the formal certification of Spanish language ability.Live Lingua is quite upfront about its costs per hour of instruction; their schedule of fees is posted right on their web page! Also, the more lessons you pay for in advance, the lower your cost per lessons.The one downside to both of these learning ventures is that group lessons would be a bit harder to come by.Many people, in an effort to keep the promises they made to themselves at New Year, buddy up: they find a partner to undergo their revolutionary change with.So, if you and your family or mates wanted to take Spanish classes together, it might be better to venture into town after tea, after all.Find out if Spanish students in Manchester also run out of the house for lessons!You and your friends could attend Spanish classes together! Source: Pixabay Credit: MoteOoSpanish Courses In and Around the CityWhether you were looking for lessons in co nversational Spanish or totally enamoured of Spanish culture and wished to imbue yourself with both the language and culture of Spain, you should repair immediately to Brasshouse.Their trained Spanish instructors hold classes in the library just west of the city centre at various times during the week and on weekends.They welcome individuals and small groups alike, as well as those wanting to learn Business Spanish or Medical Spanish.Whether you need intensive lessons â€" if your headed out on holiday soon, or are more relaxed in your learning; if you're seeing this venture as a long term commitment, Brasshouse is the right place for you.They too offer online lessons and test prep for any of the Spanish qualifications exams, be it your GCSEs and A-Levels or the more formal (and internationally accepted) Dele.Listen and Learn is a nationwide language learning venture based in London, with an outlet in Birmingham.There you may sign up for individual instruction in Spanish or take priv ate group lessons â€" just you and your mates.Please note that all of you should be a roughly the same level: you could all be beginners or all at intermediate level. Should there be any question about your level of Spanish, you may take their placement test.You may also join a class or take lessons online.General Spanish, intermediate Spanish, Business Spanish... their business is getting you to speak the language of Cervantes fluently â€" or, at least, as well as you’d like and as quickly as you’d like.In this table, we present other venues you may consider for enrolling in Spanish lessons; now we’d like to introduce you to another, perhaps more amenable solution to your language learning goals.Venue NameWhat they teachWeb AddressPhone NumberPhysical AddressBrasshouse LanguagesConversational Spanish Spanish as a second language Test prephttp://www.brasshouse.ac.uk0121 303 0114Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2NDListen and LearnBusiness Spanish Conversational Spanishhttps://ww w.listenandlearn.org/spanish/birmingham0845 862 0824multiple outletsUK Language ProjectSpanish to Individual and groups Business Spanish Tutoring for test prephttps://uklp.com/birmingham/0121 740 140755 Newhall Street Birmingham B3 3RBUniversity of BirminghamOpen access; you don't need to be a student to enrolhttps://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/lcahm/departments/languages/sections/lfa/iwlp/open/index.aspx0121 414 3344Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TTAre there such great opportunities to learn Spanish in Leeds?Sharpen Your Language Skills with a Spanish TutorYou may find that learning Spanish with a private tutor is the best solution for your study goals! Source: Pixabay Credit: RawpixelWhether you are studying Spanish in school â€" any type of school from secondary through the undergraduate level or you would simply rather a tutor come to your home to teach you Spanish, Birmingham is home to many experienced Spanish tutors.Gilda Ribeiro has been teaching Spanish for more than 10 years. Over that time she has amassed quite a portfolio of testimonials from satisfied students.Her approach to teaching is that, above all, learning must be fun!  To that end, she incorporates music and movies into her lessons; lots of games and, through it all, serious learning.Gilda teaches Spanish all students from primary level to adults; she even has experience working with the learning disabled.Did you know that Superprof also has Spanish tutors in Birmingham?Are there any Superprof Spanish tutors in Glasgow?With more than 50 Superprofs in and around Birmingham, surely you will find your ideal Spanish tutor.Maria is a student at the University of Birmingham; her Spanish lessons focus on vocabulary building and correct pronunciation (get ready to roll those Rs!)Roberta has lived both in Spain and South America; she may tailor her lessons to suit which type of Spanish you wish to learn.Michael brings more than 30 years of teaching experience to your Spanish lessons; he has taught youn g and older alike.Ben will not saddle you with a lot of homework but he will make sure your verb conjugations and grammar are spot-on during your sessions.Every Superprof tutor is committed to providing a positive, lasting learning experience, giving you the language tools you need to succeed â€" whether that success is measured by high marks on the A-Levels or by the warm glow of conversation with a native Spanish speaker on your next holiday in Spain.Are you ready to make good on your resolution to learn something new this year?Is Spanish your new language of choice?Now that you know where and with who you could take Spanish lessons, there’s nothing stopping you!Find out if Spanish lessons in London are as popular...

The Trick to Being Likeably Confident in an Interview - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / The Trick to Being Likeably Confident in an Interview - Introvert Whisperer The Trick to Being Likeably Confident in an Interview Career Attraction August 18, 2014 Body Language, Communication, Personal Branding No responses Go to top You’ve secured an interview! Congratulations! But, uggg! Then comes that sinking feeling Sure, it’s a huge step forward knowing you’ve been selected for an interview. But knowing you’re going to have to show up and perform is often enough to make most people’s stomachs do a backward flip. If this is you, you’re not alone. Going for a job interview is probably in the top five most uncomfortable things to have to do. At this point, you’ll have gone through the kinds of questions you’re going to be asked, and you will have some answers thought out in your head. You’ll also have done some research about the company you’re interviewing at. And even though this helps, it still isn’t quite enough to give you that personal edge when you get in the room. And you’re reading this because you already know that. You’re aware that people relate to people, and the way you come across in the face-to-face meeting is going to have a huge effect on whether you get hired. Your resume and qualifications have got you this far. Now it’s down to the interview. It Would Be Useful to Have the Charisma of George Clooney You see, it’s a delicate balance you face from here on out. You need to come across as confident: confident in your abilities, that you can do the job, that you’ll fit in with the culture, and confident enough that people will generally enjoy working with you. At the same time, you want to give arrogance a very wide berth. In essence, what you’re shooting for is “likeably confident,” as this will tick all the boxes without pushing the wrong buttons. The bad news is that learning a few tactics and handshakes aren’t going to cut it. Sure, techniques and body language know-how can help a bit, but if underneath it all you’re feeling inadequate, thats going to leak through. The problem you face is that overconfidence is, in essence, a compensation for an internal “lacking.” Arrogance only happens when people feel insecure and need to try to hammer home the point of how good they think they are on the surface. The danger is that, even if you’re consciously trying not to come across as arrogant, you have to balance that with appearing too vulnerable and delicate. And when you’re trying to balance it consciously, in addition to remembering all those good points you’ve prepared and trying to build rapport, you’re setting yourself up for cognitive overloadâ€"giving your brain so much to think about that your responses slow down and you don’t come across as natural. What’s the Alternative, Then? Well, it sounds easy, but don’t let the simplicity fool you, because the exercise I’m about to share with you flat-out brings home the bacon. If you’re ready to really rock your interview with real inner confidence, keep reading. This is where we separate the doers and achievers from the “content skimmers.” Real, inner confidence comes from internal self-esteem. It’s a place where you are really sure of yourself and happy with yourself to the point where you don’t have to artificially inflate yourself or try and put others down. This is a place where you’re comfortable to be around and people like being around you. The only way to make this show up on the outside is by building it up on the inside. Like “presence,” you either have it, or you don’tOr do you? What you’re about to learn is an exercise that will allow you to quickly make a shift in your level of self-esteem and inner confidence that will outshine any tooth whitener you’ve bought from the store especially for the interview. What we’re going to learn is how to shortcut years of personal and professional development and fast-track your outer confidence quota to a level where you realize you’re so valuable inwardly that outwardly, you’ll have them at “hello.” Your “Because I’m Worth It Map Take out a fresh piece of paper, and in the center, write down the words “reasons why I should get my dream job” and draw a bubble around it (like in the diagram below). For added motivation, write down specifically what that dream job is. Next, you’re going to write down these reasons, shooting off into other bubbles which can be attached to the central bubble or to each other as your brain sees fit. You’re aiming to write down 200 reasons. (That’s right, 200. You’ll see why in a moment.) Keep your reasons shortâ€"you want to get as many on the page as possible. And to get to the 200, go through all the different areas of your life, past and present. Look at everything, even if it’s a tenuous reason. We’re trying to drill into your psyche the feeling that you are deserving. Eventually (somewhere between reasons 150 and 190), it just throws its hands up and says “Yes, I’m worth it!” and you feel a shift where those old thoughts of self-doubt and worry are overridden by your new sense of confidence. So get as detailed as you canâ€" you’re looking for as many reasons as possible to drill the notion into your mind that you actually do deserve to have whatever it is you’ve put in your center circle. The example below is what it should look like in the beginning, but you’re looking to build it up to 200 reasons, so you’re probably going to need another sheet of paper.

How to Fix Fret Buzz (Guitar Buzzing) Once and For All

How to Fix Fret Buzz (Guitar Buzzing) Once and For All Sign up successful 5 Steps to Fix Fret Buzz, AKA Guitar Buzzing 1. Check Your Strings Strings covered with dirt or grime can create a host of problems. Make sure to clean and change your guitar strings regularly to ensure the best sound overall. If your strings continue to buzz, but only when youre playing with a lot of pressure,   you may need to switch to heavier strings. 2. Check Your Frets Hold your guitar out and look down its neck to check that all of the frets are even and the binding is still intact. Examine your guitar for worn or uneven frets, as any grooves or depressions from frequent use can cause fret buzz. Fret replacements can be pricey, so if you notice any issues, take your guitar into a shop to see if they can simply reset the frets, which can help. 3. Check the Fingerboard If you notice that the ends of your frets have become sharp and jagged, it may indicate issues with the actual fingerboard. This is a common problem for players in dry environments, especially if youre not taking proper care of your guitar. Try using lemon oil on the fretboard to keep the wood moisturized.   If the fingerboard is already warped, take it into a shop to get the frets leveled. In the worst case scenario, you may need to replace the fingerboard. 4. Check the Hardware Examine the guitar for any other loose parts: the bridge, pegheads, braces, string windings and screws, as well as cracks in the body. A good way to find loose parts it to tap your knuckles against the neck and body and listen for any rattling. If youre not familiar with guitar repair, make sure to take your instrument to a professional so you dont create even more damage. 5. Check Your Technique Even if your guitar is in great shape, poor (or simply under-developed) technique can be the underlying culprit of guitar buzzing. If you havent developed calluses on your fingers yet, for example, you may not be putting enough pressure on the strings. Other causes include placing the pick at an unusual angle (keep it at a 90-degree angle perpendicular to the strings), or placing the fingers too far behind the fret. Work on your technique, and you should notice a much better sound as you progress. Did you find the cause of your fret buzz? Let us know in the comments section below! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by meddygarnet.

Difference Quotient

Difference Quotient Difference Quotient is an effective tool in calculus. It is used to find out slope of a secant line. Secant line is a line that intersects at any two points on a curve. Difference quotient is used in defining the derivative. Dividing the function difference from the difference of the points is called as difference quotient. . We know that slope is change in y axis over change in x axis. If secant line passes through two points (x, f(x)) and (x + h, f(x + h)). Then the slope of a secant line is calculated as m = (f(x + h) f(x)) / (x + h) x. by simplifying this we get slope = (f(x + h) f(x)) / h and it is denoted by d y/d x. Problem 1: Find the difference quotient of function f(x) = 4x^2 - 1 Solution: Given function isf(x) = 4x^2 -1 = So f(x + h) = 4(x + h) ^2 -1 = Now find, f(x + h) - f(x) = 4(x + h) ^2 -1 (4x^2 -1) = 4(x^2 + h^2 + 2xh) 1 - 4x^2 + 1 = 4x^2 + 4h^2 + 8xh 1 - 4x^2 + 1 = 4h^2 + 8xh = Difference Quotient for function f(x) = (f(x + h) f(x)) / h = (4h^2 + 8xh)/h = 4h + 8x. Problem 2: Find the difference quotient of the function f(x) =3 - 5x Solution: Given function isf(x) = 3 - 5x = So f(x + h) = 3 5(x + h) = Now find, f(x + h) - f(x) = 3 5(x + h) (3 - 5x) = 3 5 x - 5h 3 + 5x = -5h = Difference Quotient for function f(x) = (f(x + h) f(x)) / h = -5h /h = -5.

The Different Types of Law

The Different Types of Law What Are Main Areas of Law? ChaptersTwo Broad ClassificationsTort LawFamily LawContract LawPersonal DisputesWe hear legal terms regularly bandied about: on the telly, on the news, in conversation; perhaps you might even have had a case to bring before the court.Or worse: you might have been a defendant in a legal case â€" meaning somebody brought charges against you!The law is the law is the law, but there are distinct divisions to address specific legal matters that might arise so, if you have a legal matter to take up, you should address it to the proper court and to a solicitor that specializes in that type of law.Conversely, if you are a law student still trying to decide your area of expertise, you may want to know more about the various fields of law.Either way, this article is meant for you! Superprof now jumps into the legal fray to bring you salient points of the four main types of law that shapes and governs our society. two types of law that are absolutely distinct from one another: criminal law and civil law.Broadly painted, the difference between the two is that criminal law addresses offences against society â€" the more heinous crimes such as murder and rape, drug deals and assaults.Those thus accused are prosecuted by the state in Magistrate’s court or Crown court, and, if convicted of misdeed(s), that conviction would be entered on that person’s criminal record.Most people never acquire a criminal record!By contrast, civil law is a much broader topic that encompasses everything from immigration to tort.That is a French word meaning wrongdoing.Civil cases may be brought by individuals or by companies and may seek simple redress or substantial and extended compensation.Civil cases may include:Insurance payouts â€" you bring suit against someone’s insurance company after a traffic accident, for example.Breaches of contract: your landlord or employer has failed to live up to his/her formalised agreement.Divorce and child custody â€" one party files suit against the othe rpersonal injury cases â€" contrary to the name, you don’t need to be physically injured to obtain compensation; you may seek relief because of mental anguish brought on by discrimination, for example.traffic offences: speeding tickets and any other moving violations; you may even dispute parking tickets in civil court!Negligence: you become sick after eating in a restaurant, you may sue the restaurant owner because s/he is responsible for providing uncontaminated food.Copyright and design right infringement: whether an artistic medium or a functional item, they are protected from reproduction for a certain period of time.One gripping civil case of note was the one brought against O.J. Simpson â€" what was called America’s trial of the Century.He was found not guilty of murder in criminal court but was found liable for the death of his wife in civil court through the lawsuit brought by her family.They received an injunction against him: any future earnings are to go directly to relieve his debt to the families concerned!Discover the the different law tutors on Superprof.Crimes are offences prosecuted by the state Source: Pixabay Credit: GeraltOne critical difference between civil and criminal court proceedings is how the parties involved are labelled.For criminal cases, the defendant(s) must answer to the charges made against him/her by the prosecution.In civil law, the parties are generally designated as the plaintiff â€" the one complaining to or petitioning the court, and the defendant: the person being sued.They may also be called petitioner and respondent.However, no matter the grounds of the lawsuit or the criminal charge, in our country, all judges are to follow judicial precedent, meaning that decisions made in higher courts are binding onto lower courts.Now we delve into four main types of law addressed in civil courts in the UK each type necessitating  the intervention of a different kind of lawyer.Tort LawThis is an umbrella term for any litigat ion that addresses wrongdoing between two parties.Tort law covers assault, battery, trespass, intentional infliction of emotional distress and product liability â€" when your new phone explodes, for example.Briefly stated: when one party’s alleged negligence ‘injures’ the other party â€" causes them financial or physical harm or some other type of duress, the injured party may engage the services of a tort lawyer to seek redress.Of course, nothing says that you must hire a solicitor but, the law being very complex, your best chance at settling any dispute in your favour demands someone with legal training.Tort law comprises of all past litigation decisions which form the basis of deciding compensation for people who claim injury in a court of law.Damages are generally monetary in nature and may cover the loss of earning capability, medical expenses, reimbursement for property damage or loss and may even include punitive damages â€" a sum that the defendant must pay to the plai ntiff as punishment.Of course, this is a mere overview of torts; the topic is so vast that entire volumes have been written about it!A current case in point of a verbal/social contract gone wrong involves the American dine-n-dasher who misrepresented his romantic intent to various women, inviting them to a fine restaurant â€" only to leave the lovelorn women to foot the bill for his extravagant meal.As dining/dashing is considered a crime in California, he is currently being held to a criminal statute rather than any civil code.However, in addition to criminal penalties, the women in question also have the option of bringing civil charges against him.This case presents a fascinating study of a contract law!It is in the public interest that verbal contracts, as well as written ones, receive the same treatment under the law. However, verbal contract breaches tend to be much harder to prove.In the days prior to digital recording, most such cases boiled down to the credibility of the pa rties involved.Tax law, labor law, business law and corporate law; estate law and property law; international law and immigration law â€" a branch of law practice that is currently under close scrutiny all over the world...These are particularly high-profile categories that anyone in law school may choose as their specialization.Lawyers can be expensive, check Superprof guide to pro-bono legal aid.However, the fourth type of law we will cover is rather ambiguously labelled.Personal disputes need not be a black and white affair; mediation can help you see the other side of things! Source: Pixabay Credit: Kabaldesch0Personal DisputesTechnically, any legal issues between two parties are considered disputes.The legal system considers everything from public and private nuisance claims to bankruptcy and personal injury personal disputes.Those aforementioned elderly who must bring suit against their family â€" perhaps for a will dispute or inheritance provisions, would most likely do so as a personal dispute rather than a tort case.The first order of business in personal disputes is mediation.This is a process in which both sides meet and discuss the pertinent issues under the guidance and advice of their family lawyer.If the matter at hand does not involve family, many types of lawyers are available.You may need a business lawyer to help protect your rights in corporate matters, or you may need an injury lawyer when seeking redress against someone who struck your car while driving.Should negotiation not resolve the issue, you and your counsel will find yourself embroiled in a civil court case whose resolution may not be entirely in your favour.Whether you work in a law firm actively practising law, are taking strides toward obtaining your law degree or if you are just looking for a bit of legal education so that you may be better versed in public law...Learning about advocacy, jurisprudence and legislation in general will serve you well but law tuition fee can be ex pensive and may require that you get a law scholarship.After all, we all have a constitutional duty to fulfil our social contract as citizens by learning everything we can about different types of law, if only that we might uphold them better.And who knows? You may decide to embark on legal studies if you’re not yet enrolled in law courses!Check for law tutors online.

Practicing Deliberately for the SAT and ACT

Practicing Deliberately for the SAT and ACT Every SAT or ACT tutor is familiar with this request, which can come from students or their parents: “Can we take extra practice tests? I can come in every weekend between now and the test. Can you give me more tests to take at home?”This question comes from a good place the student wants to work hard and improve her SAT score and it’s preferable to the alternative, which is a totally unmotivated student. However, is endless repetition of practice tests really the best way to prepare for the SAT or ACT? I’d argue not.What’s wrong with taking as many practice tests as possible?When this scenario plays out in real life and students crank out practice test after practice test, this is typically what happens: they have good intentions of grading the practice test and reviewing their errors soon after the test is over. But as usual, homework and extracurriculars get in the way and at best, the test is graded but not thoroughly reviewed. Then the next weekend rolls around, the student takes another practice test, didn’t learn from his mistakes last time and lo and behold, makes the same errors again.Here’s the problem: the longer this cycle of test-taking continues, the likelier it is that the student is actually practicing and reinforcing bad habits. If the student is prone to careless errors, simply taking numerous tests only trains him to make the same careless error over and over. If the issue is not understanding a specific concept the remainder theorem, for example seeing that question repeatedly won’t help him actually learn the concept. Repeated exposure does not automatically lead to improvement.The best way to prepare for the SAT and ACT: deliberate practiceEnter the concept of deliberate practice. Deliberate practice, as defined by author and performance-improvement expert James Clear, is “a special type of practice that is purposeful and systematic…[it] requires focused attention and is conducted with the specific goal of improvin g performance.”Clear adds that “[d]eliberate practice always follows the same pattern: break the overall process down into parts, identify your weaknesses, test new strategies for each section, and then integrate your learning into the overall process.”Rather than taking a test every weekend, a student engaging in deliberate practice would take 3 or 4 practice tests strategically placed throughout her SAT or ACT prep. After each test, she would review the correct answers and methodically work back through most questions she missed, looking for patterns and areas of weakness and learning how to do better on the next test.The mechanics of deliberate practice in test prepCan you practice deliberately for the SAT or ACT on your own? Of course, just like you can start a fitness regimen or train for a marathon on your own. With enough personal discipline, good information, and a system for getting feedback on his performance, it’s possible for a motivated student to train for the big test by himself.However, most of us benefit from the expertise of a coach, trainer or mentor who can quickly spot issues with our approach, give specific feedback, and recommend course corrections. That’s the role of our tutors here at AJ Tutoring. Our tutors are experts on the SAT and ACT who can efficiently figure out how to improve their students’ scores with targeted feedback.Test prep at AJ Tutoring includes completing several full-length practice SATs or ACTs, preferably proctored and timed at our office. During the following tutoring session, the tutor grades the practice test and reviews it with the student. We dig into the problems the student missed, looking for patterns and common mistakes, and find ways to keep those mistakes from reoccurring.As we’re reviewing a student’s missed questions on a practice test, we pay attention to why a student is missing a question. Generally the missed question falls into one of two categories: a careless mistake or a content mistake (or sometimes both).A careless mistake can take a few forms, but it often involves misreading the question or doing the math incorrectly. This is a problem the student knows how to do, but goofed on the mechanics. A content mistake, on the other hand, arises when the student doesn’t actually know how to do the math required by the problem. By discerning why the student is missing the problem, we get a step closer to addressing those issues on future practice tests and on the real thing.That’s the goal of deliberate practice. Deliberate practice done well means that students can take “only” 3 or 4 full-length practice SATs or ACTs and still be very well prepared for their test. And fewer practice tests means more free time for other important things whether that’s schoolwork, sports, or just daydreaming and sleep.

General Test-Preparation Strategies - Private Tutoring

General Test-Preparation Strategies BobbiM Apr 21, 2014 Getting ready for testing time? Cramming to study for finals? In general, you should: -Start early. Be sure that you have completed your assigned reading at least several days before the test. Remember that reading and studying are not the same thing. All of your reading should be completed before you begin studying. -Get organized. Organize all of your studying tools and strategies-notes, annotations, study strategies-so that you can dig right in. -Distribute your time. Rather than trying to cram all of your studying into 1 and 2 days, distribute your time over several days. Spending a total of 6 hours studying spread over 5 days is much more effective than trying to spend 6 hours studying the day before, or even 3 hours a day for 2 days before the test. -Break up the work. If you begin studying several days in advance, you will be able to break up the information you have to study into chunks of major concepts. In other words, dont sit down to study with the idea in mind that you will study every chapter and every page of notes. Study groups of information that seem to fit together, or at least identify which concepts you want to learn in a particular study session. This helps you stay more focused on the task at hand. -Stay healthy. Eat properly and get enough sleep. Try to remain in a studying routine rather than staying up all night cramming. Eat regular meals and exercise if that is part of your normal routine. As part of staying healthy, its also important to monitor your emotional health by evaluating your stress level. When you get too stressed out, it influences other aspects of your performance and becomes a vicious cycle. -Self-test. Its important to have a firm understanding of what you know and what you dont know. Remember that self-testing involves asking yourself questions about the material, saying the information to yourself or to someone else, and then checking to see whether you are correct. -Study with a classmate. Studying with another serious-minded student has great benefits regardless of what kind of test you will have. One of the most successful models for studying with another is for individuals to study in their own and then to get together to ask each other questions a day or two before the exam. Both parties can then find out which concepts they know very well and which ones they need to spend more time in. -Look at old exams. Talk to others who have previously taken the class. Finding out as much information about the test as possible, whether its from looking at old exams or by talking to others, is simply a smart thing to do. Its not cheating; its being an informed consumer, so to speak. If professors permit students to keep their exams, you can fairly certain that they will not be giving that same test again. But its probably also a safe bet that the kinds of questions asked will be similar. When talking with students who have already taken the class and the professor, its a good rule of thumb to find out specifics about the level of questions and grading. Many of these general tips are common sense. But they are tips that students often overlook as they get caught up in exam preparation. In the next section, we will focus more specifically on preparation for and taking objective exams. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.