Having trouble scoring high on GRE Verbal?

The key to scoring high on the GRE Verbal portion is to give yourself plenty of time to study lots of vocab, including definitions, word roots, synonyms, and word in context.
Remember, the GRE exam format is changing August 1, 2011. Your study materials will need to reflect this change, as much will be different about the revised exam.

What to expect with the New GRE exam

Some helpful study prep resources I recommend are displayed below:

Tutor-Tested Worksheets - Links Now Updated

The very popular STAR Tutoring Worksheets webpages have now been updated with new links in Reading, Math, Handwriting, ESL, and Standardized Test Prep --

Worksheets, Games, and Extras:  http://www.startutoring.com/worksheets.html
Standardized Test Prep (ACT, SAT, GRE, GED, ASVAB, etc) Materials and Worksheets:  http://www.startutoring.com/testprepstuff.html

Links are added on a regular basis. Check out and bookmark these great webpages now!

It dawned on me recently ...

... in comparing the students I've tutored who have scored high on previous attempts at standardized tests and those who have achieved an average to low score. I had been offering each set of students the same basic lesson plan, namely timed practice sets, error review, and strategy discussion and implementation.

When the lower-scoring students weren't responding as well as the high-scoring students, I began mulling over the reasons. Typically, they don't achieve high grades in school, either, so I reasoned they lack interest, motivation, aptitude, or even personality factors, such as fortitude and a drive for success. (By the way, both types of students usually are extremely busy in their personal/academic/social lives which seems to be the #1 reason they see a tutor, to help with time management.)

However, I'm coming to believe that one of the primary reasons low-scoring students, in particular, see a tutor is for the personal engagement, and that this is the key to their success. Once I figured this out, I altered sessions for lower-scoring students to include brief tutorials on a specific subject, inviting back-and-forth interaction on use of and success with strategies, and discussion regarding available and efficient use of study time to meet individual goals.

The varied lesson plan that includes ample "face" time keeps lower-scoring students engaged and on task. The comments I receive after these modified sessions have been overwhelmingly and sincerely positive in contrast to the requisite "Thanks, it helped a lot".

While higher-scoring students may or may not appreciate extra "talk time", I find that the systematic, goal-driven focus prevalent in high-achieving group goes a long way towards helping them achieve their objectives.

Think you've tried everything with your low-scoring student? "Try a little tenderness", as they say, as the extra attention may make all the difference in helping this student to excel.

A comparison of high achievers' and low achievers' attitudes, perceptions, and motivations.(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Academic Exchange Quarterly

ASVAB Scaled Scoring

As a tutor for the ASVAB,  I am often asked how to obtain an AFQT scaled score for practice exams. Although I have found methods online for doing so, the results have not been useful. The formula I most often see is:
AFQT Scaled Score = 2VE + AR + MK, where VE is obtained from a WK+PC conversion chart.

In addition, AR and MK apparently are weighted scores that only the Department of Defense can calculate, and that depend on the difficulty of questions answered correctly.

Have you found an AFQT calculation method that gives meaningful results? If so, please post here ... I'd welcome this information, as would other ASVAB tutors and test-takers, I imagine.

By the way, I've used both Master the ASVAB (link at left) and ASVAB: Your Total Solution by REA, and have found Master the ASVAB to be more thorough in its coverage of most subjects, particularly the Word Knowledge section, which is pretty sparse in REA's Your Total Solution.

I recommend finding flashcards for vocab study to speed up the process. Here are 533 terms and definitions for practice:
http://quizlet.com/4536961/asvab-word-knowledge-flash-cards/

Other materials I've used with decent success can be linked to through the images below. Happy Studying!

Want to study more effectively? Mix it up.

How about a fresh take on effective study methods? This one is worth a look!

Want to study more effectively? Mix it up.

GRE Tips: Overall and by subject

Working with my GRE student over the past couple of weeks, we've tested and implemented highly effective strategies for scoring high on practice problems.
I've located a link that sums up these strategies quite nicely. Take a look at: http://www.testinfo.net/gre/gre-tips.htm#overall

As Kaplan is one of my favorite publishers for standardized test prep, I've included a image link (left) to one of the resources I currently use. I will continue to post materials for the current GRE exam until August 1, 2011, when the format and content of the exam will change.

Questions about the current GRE exam or study methods and strategies that really work? Just ask!

Good Grades, Poor Standardized Exam Scores ... Why??

Parents are often perplexed when their child gets top grades in school, but can't seem to crack an average score on the standardized exams. Unfortunately, performing well in high school classes and achieving high scores on the standardized exams are outcomes that do not necessarily go hand in hand for a number of reasons.

First, while working through a prep manual, and perhaps using flashcards, are the typical methods for improving the standardized exam scores, a student can learn the required material for high school classes by taking and reviewing lecture notes, studying from the text, discussing topics as a small group, and preparing for exams that focus on narrowly-defined topics. The student can use diverse study methods to fine-tune and enhance the prep work.

On the contrary, the student does not know the specific content of a standardized exam. Given the time constraints many students have due to academic, athletic, or social commitments, the exam prep study plan usually consists of a general review of many topics.

In addition, many students simply panic in the testing environment and, consequently, may submit a sub-standard result. Consistent practice in a simulated test environment and careful review of errors are essential habits for any exam prep student to develop, but this is especially true for the average and below-average student.

Finally, an unspoken, but most effective trait of the high-scoring standardized exam taker is confidence. Many students score low on standardized exams because they mistakenly think they can get by on the bare minimum of study time: a practice exam here or there, or a half-hearted review of select portions of the 2-inch-thick study manual. But this is what high-scoring test-takers know: Make a study plan and keep it; allow plenty of time for practice; test and implement strategies for responding to questions quickly and accurately; and chart progress to pinpoint weak areas and keep motivation high.

The average student or weak test-taker can do well on standardized exams by considering a new approach to test-taking that includes using several methods of study, prioritizing exam prep among competing commitments, consistently reviewing and practicing of concepts, and building confidence by preparing well in advance of test day. The outcome of a standardized exam often sets the stage for opportunities in higher education or a career, so it pays to make the most of your exam prep.