What are Chemistry and How Is It Used?

What are Chemistry and How Is It Used?Chemistry is a natural tendency that people have to develop while spending time together as they get to know one another. From this natural human tendency, more people are becoming interested in chemistry as it is an avenue to make an interaction with others pleasant. Also, it gives the chance to connect more with one's environment by indulging in activities related to chemistry.At first, you would find that the words 'chemistry'chemical reaction' can be really confusing to the common public. Chemicals are actually reactions of two types of atoms and these reactions are called 'acts'. However, we would not be able to define all the acts as the above mentioned words are often used in ways of reactions. Actually, the main purpose of chemistry is to create useful substances and that is why there are classes of reactions. These classes can easily be listed as follows:Class 1 - Chemical Reaction is where the two components of a substance combine in a certain way to form a new compound. This is sometimes known as collocation. In this process, one substance is changed into another by addition of a chemical catalyst. The molecules of the two substances are chemically bound to each other, thus, the combination results in the creation of a new compound. In many cases, this type of chemical reaction will occur through adding hydrogen or carbon atoms to a compound.Class 2 - Atomic or molecular reaction is where the atoms of a substance are transferred to another substance through a particular process. It is usually done through chemical bonding, but in some cases, the atoms can be pushed through other means, as well. This process is not permanent, which means that the atoms are not transported back to their original state. That is why the atom and its bonds are moved from one form to another. Some examples of this are those bonds that can be broken with heat or oxygen atoms are shared between elements. In addition, new elements can be formed through the use of unstable isotopes.Class 3 - Metathesis is where the two elements are combined to form a new compound. In many cases, the former element is extracted and reused to make a new compound, however, in others, the former element is not recovered. The former element is used to form a new element, but the entire process is irreversible. This is where chemical reactions can occur.Class 4 - Full maturation is where the material is formed into a new compound, or a new element, which is an old compound but has changed forms. Usually, the substance that is extracted will be used to form a new compound. In this process, the old and new compounds will be mixed together. This could involve the use of either of the compounds.As you can see, this process is basically considered as a big mess, however, it is also highly profitable and the possibility of making money through this process is still around. Indeed, the process of science also uses a lot of these processes to crea te new substances. Hence, this is how chemistry is similar to the process of science, especially for those who would like to understand what chemical reaction is all about. Some might wonder why we need chemistry, after all, there are people out there who are creative enough to figure out different reactions.

10 French Words and Phrases You Already Use Every Day

10 French Words and Phrases You Already Use Every Day Suzy S. If youre a beginning French student, you might be surprised when you notice how many words and phrases you already sort of know in French. French tutor  Lizzie S.  shares 10 of the most common French words English speakers might already know Since arriving in the US, I have been surprised to find a little bits of French words and expressions everywhere.  Why do so many words look like a mix of English and French and why are some phrases taken completely from the French? First, its important to understand that French actually played a big role in the formation of the English language after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. The upper classes injected a lot of French vocabulary into an Anglo-Norman language which would become, several hundred years later, modern English. Thats why today 45% of English vocabulary comes from French. There are many examples of anglicized French words such as police, money, publicity, etc, that are pronounced according to English phonetic rules. On the other hand, we find everyday in the English language French words and phrases pronounced the French way. These generally entered the lexicon later. They have been borrowed from fields where France set the standards such as in cooking, fashion, the arts, literature, and philosophy. Today, Id like to share with you 10 of the most common French phrases youll find in America, plus a little more about what they mean. 1. RSVP: Répondez Sil Vous Plaît:  You probably recognize this French expression from fancy invitations. It translates to, Response Please. 2. sans: Without. In French the last s is silent except if the next word starts with a vowel. In this case the final s sounds like a z. 3. à gogo: derived from the latin meaning in abundance, galore. At first, this expression was used in popular culture, especially in the fields of music and dance. 4. à la mode and  Ã  la carte : Something à la mode designates in French the way somebody or a city used to do something. For example,  des habits à la mode meant  fashionable clothes and  tripes à la mode de Caen  means tripe of Caen. When you order    Ã  la carte,  you are asking for the item just as it appears on the menu. 5. amuse-bouche: This is a one or two bite-sized hors d’Å"uvre which literally translates to mouth amuser. It is usually smaller than an hors d’oeuvre and is pre-selected by the chef who offers them for free. 6. au contraire: The French for on the contrary is often used in English with the aim of giving a humorous, ironic, or dramatic effect. 7. au pair : This designates the person taking care of the children of the familly. Etymologically au pair means at par or equal to because the au pair becomes a part of the family rather remaining separate as a traditional domestic worker. 8. café : In French, this word designates the beverage (coffee) as well as the coffee shop. In 1802, the French café coffee, coffeehouse, came from Italian caffe coffee. The beverage was introduced in Venice by 1615 and in France from 1650s by merchants and travelers who had been to Turkey and Egypt. The first public café may have been the one opened in Marseilles in 1660. 9. cliché : In printing, the plate cast from movable type was thought to make the sound cliché (kli-shay) when it was used. This printing plate is also called a stereotype. In the machine, the letters were set one by one so when a phrase was used repeatedly it was cast as a single piece of metal. Cliché came to mean such a ready-made phrase. 10. Chef : In French chef means boss. When used in English, it refers to the chef de cuisine, the director or head of a kitchen. The haute cuisine of the 19th century introduced many French words such as this one into the English language, along with words like entrée, crème, and amuse-bouche. Get more help studying French by working with a French tutor. Tutors are available to teach one-on-one private lessons in-person or online via Skype. Search for your French tutor today!  Lizzie S. is a French teacher in Orange, CA. A native speaker, shes been teaching students of all ages for 2 years.  Learn more about Lizzie here! 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 Matthew Mendoza

Combinations And Permutations - Math Online Tutoring

Combinations And Permutations - Math Online Tutoring Combination Formula is a useful tool to find a way to choose several things out of a large group. In combination order of things does not matter. The formula for combination is n! = n (n 1) 2 (1) C (n, r) = n! / r! (n r)! In case of permutation it is a tool that helps to select objects in which order of objects matters. Formula for permutation is: nPk = n! / (n-k)! Example 1: How many ways can 3 students from a group of 9 are lined up for music? Solution: There are 9P3 possible permutations for 3 students from 9 = 9P3 = 9! / (9 3)! = 9! / 6! = (9 x 8) x 7 = 504 = Answer: There are 504 ways 3 students from a group of 9 may be lined up for music. Example 2: Computer the number of 6 car groups possible from a 30 collection of cars. Solution: There are 30 choose 6 possible combinations of 6 cars from total set of 30 in all. = Combination of 30 choose 6 is given as = 30! / 6! 24! = (30 x (29 x 28) x 27 x 26 x 25) / (6 x 5 x (4 x 3) x 2 x 1) = 593775 Answer: There are 593775 possible combinations of 6 cars possible from a set of 30 cars.

ACA Associated Chartered Accountant

ACA Associated Chartered Accountant The Benefits of Becoming An ACA Chartered Accountant ChaptersGetting Through The ACA ExamsWhere Can An ACA Qualification Take You?How Do I Start Studying Towards The ACA?If you’re looking at a career in accountancy, tax, business, or finance, then you may want to consider whether it’s worth studying for the ACA qualification.Being known as an ACA qualified accountant can bring a huge range of benefits when it comes to advancing your career prospects, as you’ll have the relevant experience and professional knowledge to help you succeed within your chosen career.While it can take a long time to get the ACA qualification, and there’s certainly a lot of hard work that goes into getting the qualification, the advantages of having those letters after your name are often found to be worth it.So whether you work for one of the “Big Four,” a top-20 professional services firm, a small accounting practice, or you work in an industry, there are plenty of reasons why the ACA qualification might be right for you.Have you thought about ta king accounting lessons online?You will have to make time to commit to many hours of study if you want to successfully pass your ACA exams. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, congerdesign, Pixabay)Assurance;Management Information;Business, Technology and Finance;Principles of Taxation; andLaw.Professional Level ExamsThere are a further six exams at the professional level stage:Financial Accounting and Reporting;Audit and Assurance;Business Planning;Tax Compliance;Business Strategy and Technology; andFinancial Management.Advanced LevelAt the advanced level, there are only three final exams to pass:Corporate Reporting;Strategic Business Management; andThe Case Study.The ACA exams are difficult, there’s no getting around that fact. But there is plenty of support available throughout your studies. Whether you prefer to learn the modules in the ACA via distance learning or group study, the ICAEW offers a number of flexible study options to suit most preferences.Equally, if you think that you’d like to study the ACA in the future, but you’re not sure whether your knowledge of basic maths is up to scratch, then you could also reach out to a maths or accounting tutor London at Superprof for advice. They could provide some additional support, advice, and study tips to help you on your way.Find out also how Superprof could help you prepare for your ICAEW qualification exam...You will likely become very familiar with using a calculator during a large number of your ACA exams! (Image Source: CC0 1.0, moreharmony, Pixabay)Where Can An ACA Qualification Take You?Having the letters “ACA” after your name can offer huge benefits if you’re looking at having a career in the accounting or professional services industry.Being ACA qualified means that you’ve successfully completed the extensive examination process that comes with obtaining the award. As a result, an ACA accountant will be well-versed across a number of different technical areas, for example:IFRS accounting stand ards;The taxation of individuals and companies within the UK; andThe different ways of evaluating the value of businesses, and how to assess how a business is performing based on its financial position and performance.In addition, anyone with an ACA qualification will have to have completed a rigorous amount of practical work experience, meaning that an ACA accountant has had a good amount of time in industry or in practice and will have gained experience working with a wide variety of clients.You may also be interested in sitting the CPA exam...This experience and knowledge are often highly sought by employers. Indeed, many ACA qualified accountants that work in practice find that they are approached by recruiters more frequently once they are qualified to see whether they would like to change jobs and take up a position in an  industry.Often, such moves also entail a pay rise and promotion, although many ACA qualified accountants also decide to remain in practice and rise through the ranks of professional services firms such as Deloitte, Ernst and Young, PWC, KPMG, and many others.The other benefit of having the ACA is that it’s an accountancy qualification that is recognised internationally. According to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), who issues the ACA award, there are “membership recognition agreements in place with CAANZ in Australia and New Zealand, HKICPA in Hong Kong, SAICA in South Africa.”So, whether you’re looking to stay within your current position within an accounting firm, are looking to start your career in accountancy and taxation, if you would like to have a highly-respected and internationally mobile qualification, then the ACA can be a great choice.Even if you stay in the UK for the full duration of your career, the skills that you learn while gaining the ACA qualification can set you up for success, even within the wider business world, as many board members of top companies in the UK have an ACA qualification or equivalent.Would you be interested in becoming a certified fraud examiner?An ACA qualification is internationally recognised in many different countries and can really help boost your career prospects, both in the UK and abroad. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, GDJ, Pixabay)How Do I Start Studying Towards The ACA?There are a number of different entry routes into the ACA, but typically you would find an employer that is willing to pay for you to study towards your ACA exams, while you work for them and gain the relevant practical work experience that you need.There is no typical ACA candidate, as no university degree is required to study for the qualification. Even if you have been to university, the background of candidates varies widely. For instance, many ACA students may have studied finance, accounting, or business studies while at university, whereas others may have studied unrelated subjects, as diverse as:Law;Modern languages;Engineering; orHistory.While an accoun ting graduate may have an initial upper hand over other candidates when it comes to modules such as accounting, ultimately you’re at no major advantage or disadvantage when it comes to completing the ACA exams, as everything in each module is taught from scratch, and many of the ACA course covers topics that aren’t likely to be taught in an accounting degree course at university.However, if you’d like to combine your degree studies with the potential to study for the ACA, there are university courses out there that offer modules that are accredited by the ICAEW.This means that, if you pass these modules during your degree, you may be entitled to a credit for prior learning in respect of a relevant module within the ACA course. Note that such credits only apply to certain exams within the ACA qualification, so you will still need to sit some exams to complete your ACA.Also discover what a certified management accountant does...ACA And CTA Joint QualificationIf you’re looking to work within the area of taxation or have a particular interest in tax, then one potential option is to study for the combined ACA/CTA joint programme, which has only been available as a programme for the past few years.CertifiedAre you interested in joining the Certified Financial Analyst Institute?Previously, tax professionals, particularly at larger professional services firms such as Deloitte, would generally complete their ACA qualification first, before separately studying for the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification, which is its own qualification awarded by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).While you can still choose to obtain both qualifications separately, students can now choose to study for the ACA and CTA qualifications at the same time. Joint programme students generally will study the same modules as a pure ACA pathway student, although there will be some differences in the number and type of exams you take. Further information on the joint qualificati on can be found here.Passing the ACA exams can be tough, but once you’re ACA qualified, a lot of career opportunities open, and all the effort becomes worth it. Often, people working through the ACA find it difficult, and understandably so, but then once they have the letters after their name, they often feel that all their hard work has paid off, and they now have a qualification that they can be proud of that should help them advance in their career.If you feel like you need to improve your understanding of accounting concepts or want some additional support to improve your accounting knowledge, then you could consider hiring a personal accounting tutor to help you. A tutor can be especially helpful if you’re currently studying accounting at school or university and would like some extra help when it comes to preparing for your end of year exams.Just enter your postcode to find local accounting tutors near me who are happy to offer lessons on a one on one basis. Equally, if yo u’d prefer to have remote lessons, then remote accounting tutors are also available on Superprof. It’s just a case of finding the best tutor for you!Now discover the many ways you could put your accounting degree to use!

Online Tutorials What to Expect

Online Tutorials What to Expect What Are Online Private Tutorials Like? ChaptersChecking Your Equipment Before an Online TutorialDefining the Objectives of Your Online Private TutorialsThe Structure of an Online TutorialHow Are Online Tutorials Different to Face-to-Face Tutorials“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” - Anthony J. D'AngeloThe private tutoring market continues to grow but it’s difficult to find information on what percentage of students are taking online tutorials via webcam. However, with technology advancing and the market growing, it’d be safe to say that more students are probably opting for online tutorials as well as face-to-face ones.It might be difficult to find face-to-face tutorials if you live away from a large city. In this case, online tutorials via webcam are a great way to avoid paying for the tutor to travel to you since they’re often cheaper than face-to-face tutorials.But are the same as face-to-face tutorials? What are online tutoring services like? CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsChecking Your Equipment Before an Online TutorialThe first thing you need to do before getting online tutorials is checking that everything works fine. Before you start your lessons, make sure that everything works fine. (Free-Photos)Your tutor won’t be next to you but you will need to ensure that they can see and hear you. Poor communication can ruin a good lesson. Similarly, you’ll waste time and the lesson will be less effective.Here are our three tips for ensuring you’re ready on the day of your first lesson.Check the quality of your webcam and consider getting a new one if the quality is really low. You can also use a camera plugged into your computer as a webcam if necessary. Make sure that you’re in a well-lit room and avoid glare.Check your microphone: call a friend or family member over Skype and ensure the sound quality if good. It’s important that the teacher can you as clearly as you can hear them. If your microphone isn’t very good, you can get decent microphones for under £20. If you can’t hear very well, you might want to use headphones.Check your internet connection: if the call regularly drops or the video freezing, your internet connection may not be quick enough. You can use resources like Speedtest to check.If you’ve got everything working fine, you can then start looking for an online private tutor. Make sure you turn your computer on at least 15 minutes before the lesson in case it has any updates to install or you need to check your equipment again. The right equipment will make your online tutorials better.Before your first online tutorial, ask the tutor which video conferencing software they prefer. Download and test it before your first lesson. More often than not, tutors will opt for Skype or Google Talk. In some cases, private tutoring companies will use their platform and software.Make sure you check the quality of the call before you start any online tutorials. Find a quiet place where you won’t get interrupted or distracted.Now you’re ready to start your online private tutorials.Defining the Objectives of Your Online Private TutorialsDuring your first online tutorial, your tutor will probably want to know about your level in the given subject, your learning objectives, and establish a methodology that will work well with your learning style and goals. Your tutor will plan your lessons according to your objectives. (Source: StartupStockPhotos)Your first session will be used to establish the best course of action and is a great opportunity for the tutor and student to get to know one another a bit. You’re more likely to just chat with each other rather than do an actual lesson.Your tutor will probably ask you questions like:What is your level?What is your goal? Catch up, preparing for an exam, learning a new language, preparing for a job interview, etc.Do you need help in the long-term or short-term?When are you available?Of course, there’ll also be questions specific to the subject you want to study. This first meeting isn’t just about getting to know one another. It’s also about working out how your tutor can teach you, how much time they’ll need, and what they’ll need to teach you. Of course, this isn’t all set in stone and can change over time.Discover how much online tutorials cost.The Structure of an Online Tutor ialYour lesson will be just like traditional one-on-one tutoring in many regards. Of course, unlike home tutoring, your supplemental instruction will be provided using a webcam. You might want to keep a note of your online tutorial schedule. (Source: Free-Photos)Going Over the LessonIn any academic support tutorial or private tutorial, you’ll need to first go over what you’ve previously learnt to ensure that the knowledge has been consolidated. They’ll check that you’ve remembered the stuff from the last lesson or what you’ve been studying in school, for example.You’ll need to either send your tutor notes or materials from your classes via email, Dropbox, or Google Drive or via the video conferencing software you use. They’ll use this information to plan future tutorials and exercises.They’ll also be interested in your notes as they’ll be able to help you improve your note-taking. Poor note-taking can hinder your learning in a giving subject. If you can’t follow your notes or the lesson, it’ll be harder for you to learn.Your tutor is there to help you with all this.ExercisesAfter you’ve gone over previous lessons, the tutor will take you through some exercises to check your understanding of certain concepts. These can be speaking or writing exercises. At this stage, you might need a few tools to help you:Screen sharing: this allows you to show the other person what’s on your screen and it’s effective for correcting errors.Google Docs can be used to send documents to one another and also work on the same document simultaneously.GeoGebra is a useful tool for maths including geometry, algebra, statistics, and calculus.Each Lesson is UniqueNot each lesson will be the same and follow this revision, exercises, correction structure. The tutor can change and adapt the lessons according to your needs.  Don’t hesitate to tell them how you feel about certain activities and what you need to study.The lessons can change according to how you progress and your strengths and weaknesses. Trust that your tutor can guide you towards success.  Don’t hesitate to ask for regular feedback and assessment every month if your tut or isn’t already offering this. This will help you see how you’re progressing towards your goals.Learn how to find online tutorials.How Are Online Tutorials Different to Face-to-Face TutorialsAs you’ll have noticed, you have to prepare differently for online tutorials (scanning and sending documents, screen sharing, checking your connection, etc...). But other than that, there isn’t that much difference. The advantages of private tutorials are that the student isn't as shy about asking questions. (Source: weisanjiang)The academic support tutor is there to help the student to learn. Over webcam, you can still ask the same questions that you’d ask a tutor who’s there in the room with you.They can also show you different resources and make use of technology to make the lessons more entertaining and engaging.  They'll help you rediscover a passion for learning. You’ll learn more effectively through the learning approaches they can teach you. They can do this either via webcam or face-to-face.The tutor’s there to give you confidence in your abilities and support you through the learning experience. They may need to motivate you and ensure you don’t get distracted by everything you can find on the internet.  Whether you need help with test prep, study skills, test-taking, or a particular subject, you can find many talented and experienced private tutors on Superprof, many of whom offer free tutoring for the first hour.While it's true that anyone can become a tutor (as there are no formal prerequisites), the best tutors tailor their lessons to those being tutored, whether they're tutoring them online, in person, or as part of a study group.No matter what you want to learn, there are three main types of tutorial available: the online tutorials we were discussing in this article, face-to-face tutorials, and group tutorials. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and it'll be up to you to choose which works for you, your learning objectives, and your budget.Group tutorials tend to be the cheapest per person per hour since the cost of the tutor's time is divided between all the students attending. However, this means that you won't have the tutor's undivided attention during the whole class.Face-to-face tutorials are just between you and your tutor. The courses are tailored to you and as a result, you'll pay a premium for all the time inside and outside of th e class the tutors puts into planning and teaching the course. These tend to be the most cost-effective type of tutorials even if they're also usually the most costly.And you already know what you need to know about online private tutorials!

Breaks, Mini-Tests, and Multi-Task Avoidance Three Ways to Study Better

Breaks, Mini-Tests, and Multi-Task Avoidance Three Ways to Study Better Improving Academic Performance Few people like to do homework or study for a test. But it’s obviously important to do these things to perform well in school. And if you must engage in these activities, you might as well be as efficient and productive as possible. You want to get as much benefit from each hour you invest in studying as possible. In this article I’ll share three very practical, yet science-backed ways to get more out of every hour you invest in studying. #1 Know when to take a break. I’m not sure if it is widely understood that the brain has two main “modes” of thinking: Focused and Diffuse. I first learned about this concept in an online course called Learning How to Learn. When most people think about the process of studying for a test or going to a course lecture, they are envisioning “focused learning” where there is conscious effort to pay attention to a fact or concept and understand how it works. This is absolutely the primary way in which we learn. We apply reason and logic to understand how the pieces of a puzzle fit together, whether that “puzzle” is about history or algebra. However, there is another mode of learning called “Diffuse.” To understand this mode, which operates in the “background” of your brain, imagine you are struggling with a difficult math problem. You’ve been at it for 15 minutes, but there are 15 other problems you need to do for homework, so you just let it go and move on because you literally don’t have any more time. In the diffuse mode of learning you are not consciously thinking about a problem, but without realizing it, your mind is still working on it (in a sense). You know it’s something you’d like to solve or understand, and sub-consciously, your brain connects dots in the background and sort of “tests” a large number of potential linkages that might shed some light on the problem for you. It’s unlikely that the answer to the math problem will magically come to you at 9PM that night. However, when you crack open the book to do homework or sit down in the next class lecture, you may be surprised to somewhat quickly realize that you now understand the concept. The moral of the story here is that instead of continuing to struggle with a problem, sometimes it makes sense to take break and do something else, or at least move on to a different problem. #2 Stop underlining, start summarizing and testing yourself The brain retains more information when it is truly “activated.” Put differently, more learning occurs when you engage in “active” vs. “passive” studying. And, a great example of a “passive” activity is reading. Obviously, reading, as far as activities go, is a good thing to be doing and a very important part of learning and doing well in school. But, it’s important to try to get the most out of the time you invest in reading. Many studies have shown that simply reading about something is not a great way to learn or remember it. Reading passages and underlining them often feels good, because it seems like you are accomplishing something. But studies show little benefit. In this article on effective studying techniques by Annie Murphy Paul, she discusses several more effective alternatives to underlining. I will cover or have covered some of these ideas in other posts, but two strategies that are better than underlining include summarizing key ideas in your own words. This forces your brain to “activate” and re-formulate the idea before writing it down. Even better than summarizing, according to the article, is to use flashcards or other means to quiz yourself. Quizzing yourself is the ultimate way to truly engage with the material vs. passively absorbing it. This process of engaging is what researchers believe leads to higher levels of retention and learning. #3 Stop multi-tasking and start focusing You will learn a lot less and will find it more difficult and time consuming to understand and complete assignments if you multi-task. It’s as simple and clear as that. In an article in Inc. magazine, Larry Kim (@larrykim) writes about how multi-tasking lowers work quality and efficiency because it “makes it more difficult to organize thoughts and filter out irrelevant information.” He references a study at the University of London that suggest multi-tasking while performing cognitive tasks experienced IQ drops that were similar to subjects who hadn’t slept for an entire night or who had smoked marijuana. Multi-tasking is another topic written about very well by Annie Murphy Paul in her article You’ll Never Learn in Slate. On the one hand, you don’t need to overthink this one. Of course, when you try to do more than one thing at once, you are paying less attention to each thing. You’ll be more likely to miss important points altogether or not fully understand any given point you are hearing or reading about. Paul quotes a psychology professor at the University of Michigan who says “Under most conditions, the brain simply cannot do two complex tasks at the same time. It can only happen when two tasks are very simple and when they don’t complete with each other for the same resources…an example would be folding laundry and listening to a weather report on the radio. That’s fine…but listening to a lecture while texting or doing homework while being on Facebook â€" each of these tasks is very demanding.” Here are five research-backed results of trying to multi-task: Assignments/tasks take longer to complete, both because of time spent on the distracting activity and the need to re-familiarize yourself every time you re-engage You’ll experience mental fatigue from switching back and forth, and that will lead to mistakes Your memory of what you’re learning will be worse, as a direct result of having been switching back and forth across tasks when originally formulating the memory Our brains process information less efficiently when we are multi-tasking. In one study, students who multi-tasked remembered facts as well as non-multi-taskers, but were far less adept at extrapolating key themes to different contexts. Finally, some studies have simply shown that students who, in general, do more multi-tasking, simply have lower GPAs overall. Most likely as a result of all of the other issues we’ve already discussed. Summary There are many ways to start becoming a better student and a more efficient studier. Three important ones include: Knowing when to take a break Choosing more “active” ways to engage with what you are reading than simple underlining, and Avoiding multi-tasking at all costs when you are trying to learn or study something.

Frequently asked questions What should I bring with me to the SAT and ACT

Frequently asked questions What should I bring with me to the SAT and ACT Students often ask what they should bring with them to the testing center on SAT or ACT test day.   With the tests coming up on June 2 and 9, 2012, this is a very relevant question.   You can find a complete list on the College Board’s website, but I’ll summarize it here.   You should bring:Admission ticket â€" print this out the night before.   You need this to get into the test!Photo ID â€" your driver’s license or school ID works.   You also need this to get into the test.   Your receipt from Taco Bell does not count as an ID (this actually happened at my student’s test center, and the person in question didn’t get in).Calculator â€" either graphing or scientific calculators are allowed, but no calculators with full keyboards.   Make sure you replace the batteries a few days before the test!Number 2 pencils â€" no mechanical pencils allowed.   Bring several of them so you have backups.Extra eraser â€" to make it easier to erase cleanly on the scantron.Watch â€" this shou ld be an old-fashioned wristwatch that doesn’t beep.   Helpful to keep track of the time you have left on each section.WaterHigh-energy snacks for the break â€" think granola bars, bananas.   Anything that will keep you going for four hours!Driving directions to the testing center, or a GPS â€" if you’re from Palo Alto but you’re taking the SAT at Bellarmine, you might not know how to get there.   Be prepared!It’s also important to know what NOT to bring to the SAT and ACT:Your phone, iPod, any other electronic gadgets â€" you won’t be allowed to use them if you have time left over on a section, and you don’t want to risk them getting confiscated if you forget to turn off the sound.   Leave them in the car!Highlighters and pens â€" you can only use pencils.Notes of any kind â€" this should be obvious!Scratch paper â€" the proctor will provide this for you.Good luck from AJ Tutoring!