Top 10 Online Tutoring Schools

Top 10 Online Tutoring Schools With the internet penetrating and connecting every nook and corner of the world, the online platform has garnered a lot of popularity in various sectors such as commerce, finance, health and education. Particularly in education, this platform finds excellent use for students these days opt for online learning. With a lot of demand for round the clock help and expert support 24*7, many top notch universities and schools today offer online tutoring services. Here is a list of the top 10 online tutoring schools and the kind of services that they offer; read on. Binghamton University This popular State University of New York offers a variety of free online tutoring programs for students who have enrolled with the University. Qualified and proficient tutors are handpicked for these sessions and the lessons are offered in the following subjects: math, writing, accounting, biology and chemistry. These services are open for five days a week from Sunday through Thursday and taught from 7 pm till midnight. Students are sure to benefit from such classes as the subjects chosen for these classes are conducted are usually the problem makers for most students. St. Petersburg College This eminent college offers 24*7 online tutoring services for a variety of courses through its SmartThinking platform. There is an impressive ‘Drop in Tutoring’ feature that lets the students connect with a live tutor to work on their problem areas. This feature is available for a wide variety of subjects from arts and humanities to social and behavioral sciences. Yet another interesting feature is the Writing Center wherein a student can upload his/her paper or assignment and get it reviewed by subject experts. With such hands on help students are sure to get top notch grades in their exams and maintain a good GPA. UCLA Engineering UCLA Engineering offers free online tutoring to middle and high school students in the Southern California region. Students at UCLA Engineering are voluntary tutors in this program and it is designed to help students with tricky areas in math and sciences. Homework help, clarification of doubts, discussion forums and live interactions are the different learning options available to students in this amazing platform. Numerous schools are participating in this outreach program and have benefitted from it and students find it easier to communicate and learn in this platform as there are a number of innovative tools such interactive whiteboards that are employed to help students learn better. Fulton Schools of Engineering Fulton Schools of Engineering offers free online tutoring programs to students pursuing their under grad courses at the Arizona State University. The competition and difficulty at under grad levels are too high today and students find the need for additional help to cope with the stress and standards of today’s education. The online classes are open from 4-9 pm through the week and from 2- 9 pm on Sundays. Review sessions, workshops, options to interact with tutors without enrolling (as guests) and so on are available with these online tutoring sessions. The online classes are available for a variety of subjects and are conducted in a manner that is conducive to learning. Arizona State University The Arizona State University’s tutoring sessions are built around the concept â€" ‘Access Assistance Anywhere’. This succinctly captures the whole idea behind online tutoring and allows interactions with peer tutors (who have completed the classes on which the student seeking tutoring has currently enrolled. Innovative learning tools such as interactive whiteboards are employed in this forum and the tutors use power point slides and pdf documents to clarify doubts. Sessions are even recorded to allow for review later and the tutors are available from Sunday through Friday. On call assistance is available through the week and apart from this review sessions, online mentoring and online guides and videos too are available to help students learn better. New York Institute of Technology NYIT offers online tutoring services via Brainfuse and offers help in a variety of subjects such as math, physics, college writing, life sciences, business, accounting, resume help and computer literacy. Help for some of the subject areas are available throughout the day and round the clock with live tutors! With expert help being available 24*7 on a wide variety of subjects, students find it easier to cope with complex topics. Also, students have to be prepared with their questions in advanced to seek the tutor’s help and this ensures that they actually put in the requisite effort before connecting with a tutor. College of Staten Island Apart from drop in tutoring options, the College of Staten Island also offers online tutoring services. The online classes are free and students can avail them in the following subjects: English writing, History Core 100, Math, Physics and Spanish. These tutoring sessions serve to supplement class-room learning and any subject area that the student finds difficult can be addressed in these sessions. Tutors also offer help with essays, take-home exams and help students hone their presentation and writing skills so that they can turn in better assignments and essays. Math Tutor Math tutor is a website that offers innovative learning solutions to facilitate easier learning of middle school math. This is a free website and students get to enjoy the use of intelligent software tutors. Students receive step by step explanations and feedback and these software solutions were built at the Carnegie Mellon University after extensive research and thus provide for a rich and comfortable learning experience for students. The curriculum and content available is aligned towards NCTM Focal Points and Common Care Domains. Students find it rewarding and fun to learn with such intelligent software and this technology has a proven success record. MiraCosta College MiraCosta College provides live and mail based tutoring services as part of the Western eTutoring Consortium of Colleges Universities. Easy and fun to learn, this platform offers tutoring in many subject areas where students struggle to get good grades and they are: accounting, calculus, chemistry, physics, anatomy physiology, biology, economics, engineering, psychology, Spanish, web development, statistics, Microsoft office and math. A variety of options such as eChat, eQuestions, eWriting lab, student tutorials and resources are available to help students with their problem areas. Lorain County Community College eTutoring services are offered at Lorain County Community College and the college is a member of eTutoring.org. Classes are provided in a wide range of subjects from biology, chemistry, writing, math, accounting and calculus II. With multiple options for tutoring such as eQuestions, eWriting, eChat and resources, The LCC Tutoring Center does offer the students a lot of flexible options to choose from and this in turn helps them understand better as they can choose the right medium for themselves to learn and improve their GPAs. Tutor Pace is a leading online tutoring services provider with a wide array of professional tutoring services in a variety of subject areas. With a lot of interactive and innovative learning tools, eminent tutors and flexible learning options, Tutor Pace offers an excellent online learning platform for students at pocket-friendly rates. The assignment help services and homework help provided are top notch and students find it easier to voice their doubts and thus learn better and score high under the tutelage of the professional online tutors employed here.

A Day in the Life at Baylor University

A Day in the Life at Baylor University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Cheyenne is a senior pre-med student at Baylor University. She currently tutors in Austin, Texas, specializing in science tutoring, SAT Math tutoring, and a number of other subjects. See what she had to share about her experience at Baylor University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Cheyenne: Campus setting here at Baylor University is very simple. The campus is around 1,000 acres in size, and getting around to classes has been very easy for me. I used a bike for the first couple of years, but now I simply walk to my classes. It takes me around 20 minutes to walk from where I live (about a block from campus) to my classes. Buildings are arranged so that relatively the same subjects are taught within them, and each area of campus is both like the others and unique in their own way. Not to mention that the entire setting is beautiful! There have been numerous renovations over my experience here, and even before them landscaping was kept to perfection. There is no shortage of nice, peaceful outdoor settings to study in or even just relax, including gardens and fountains. There are buses that run around the campus as well, for students that do not prefer to walk or bike to their classes which can be useful for students who struggle to find a parking spot in time an d walk to class from there (parking has been increasingly limited and difficult due to increasing class size). I do feel safe on campus as I walk to class daily, and there are plenty of open spaces and great lighting once the sun goes down. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants at Baylor University? Cheyenne: Professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants are all very available, either by appointment or during their office hours in which a student will have the opportunity to discuss challenging concepts or really anything else they need to with a professor. Office hours for some of the larger classes (and for science majors, these are usually the most important and challenging ones), may seem like a waste of time, as students literally flood the office of the professor not even five minutes after their office hours have begun. These larger classes, however, very commonly offer supplemental instruction. Supplemental instruction occurs at a time set different from the regular meeting time for that class, and is led by a current student chosen by the professor and who has made excellent scores in that class previously. This helps students prepare for tests and improve their overall grade in the class by helping to clarify concepts they struggle with, as well as look into what exactly the professors expectations are. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Cheyenne: Dorm life for me was a little challenging, as it is for most students entering college for their first year. Baylor requires that each student enrolling freshman year live in a dorm on campus, unless requirements are met in order to be allowed to live off-campus. Of course, some dorms are better than others; there are two basic Mens dorms and two basic Womens dorms, as well as multiple (and much nicer and cleaner) honors dorms or living-learning communities that students can apply to live in based on their interests (like the outdoor adventure community) or their field of study (like Earl hall for students with a health and science background). It should be noted that, although one may apply to be in one of the specialized living-learning communities, some of them do require living there for two years. Although dorm life and quality may vary, dining options most definitely do not they are all wonderful. There is always lots of variety in all of the dining halls, they are k ept clean, and those working there are always very kind. Socialization with other students in the dorms was very easy there are plenty of social events planned and there is always a large turnout of people for these events. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Cheyenne: Business and science majors are usually the most represented majors, however, I feel that Baylor has an excellent program in whichever major field of study a student chooses to pursue. I chose my major to be Health Science Studies, as this is the major that you should choose for a pre-professional track such as pre-med or pre-dent. When choosing a major to being with, however, I did feel pressured to choose this major, and was not informed that I could still have a focus on a pre-medical school plan while choosing another. Orientation was very busy and hectic and I did feel a bit lost in the crowd; however, after I began taking classes, there were many tools and tips offered to me by the university that I could use to succeed. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Cheyenne: It was very easy for me to make friends as a freshman, as there are so many social events and traditions to take part in that you can only experience as a freshman. Greek life does play a role in campus social life, and a lot of university traditions, such as homecoming and Pigskin (a Broadway-style competition that is open to all groups), are very much centered on Greek life and Greek organizations. I did not join a sorority, and there were many clubs and associations that were available to me that I made sure to be a part of based off of my interests in the scientific community. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services at Baylor University? Cheyenne: The career center is very helpful in that students have opportunities to explore different careers that would work with their major. You can walk in at any time or by appointment to explore options and discuss passions and pathways with a member of staff. Many reputable companies recruit on campus, and there are multiple job fairs every year to attend. Approaching the fall of my senior year, I have been emailed at least five times with employment opportunities for after graduation from organizations that are looking specifically for Baylor students. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Cheyenne: Libraries are great and spacious; however, the areas in which volume level is not controlled get crowded very easily during the evening, as a lot of students use these areas for more of a social study time than quiet study time. That being said, I have never failed to find a spot to work alone, as there are many available areas other than just the library to hit the books. All you need to do as a student is find what setting works for you and then figure the time of day when that setting usually occurs; as students tend to swarm study areas in waves based on the time of day. Describe the surrounding town. Cheyenne: There are plenty of places to go downtown for (of age) nightlife, and during the day students can visit the zoo, museums, go shopping, hiking in Cameron park, or even explore downtown choosing from artisan shops and places to eat. Students go outside of campus a lot for entertainment, although there are plenty of recreational activities on campus to enjoy such as the Bear Trail and, when the weather allows, a marina that are cheap for students to use and rent out things like paddleboards or kayaks in order to explore the Brazos river. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes at Baylor University? Cheyenne: The student body here is no more than 15,000 students. I was okay with my class size as a freshman, but looking now at incoming classes, it seems they are increasing in size. Last year I remember hearing that there were more students admitted than there was room for housing on campus. Housing was eventually provided for these students; however, I feel that increasing incoming class size can eventually have a negative impact on the quality of educational experience. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Cheyenne: My best experiences were in small classes. Even though I am science major, my most memorable class experience would be during a required American Literature class I took my sophomore year. There were maybe twenty students in the class at the most, and even though there was structure in reading and writing assignments, it mainly focused on time and getting things done on time, leaving the assignment to be truly making some assertions about the material. My professor led the class as a discussion over what we read in preparation, and made sure to give historical context to everything we experienced. I feel that with this style of teaching I was really able to dive into the material, even though I am more of a scientific mind. I found the true value of literature as it relates to my own life and took with me after the conclusion of that class the ability to apply works of literature to the world around me, as well as examine it for assertions and observations about life as a h uman being. Check out Cheyennes tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Learn Indian Dance

How to Learn Indian Dance Our Tips for Taking Bollywood Dance Classes! ChaptersWhat Are Indian Dance Styles?Different Types of Indian DanceLearn Bollywood Dance with a TeacherTeach Yourself Indian DanceOnce you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it. - Rumer GoddenWhile contemporary dance, classical dance and ballet are dance students' bread and butter, many people are opting to embrace other cultures with Asian dance lessons. Bollywood remains one of the most widely-recognised styles of dance: to develop a dancer's sensuality and stage presence, it can't be beaten!So, find out how to dance like you're in India now!Even better, learning through apps allows you to broaden your musical horizons and even adapt the choreography to suit you: perfect for creating your own tailor-made dance routines!So, put your Sari on and start learning some Indian dance moves today!Remember to check our platform to find a dance instructor for Indian dance, Spanish dance or even Zumba class!Now you know all you can about learning Indian dancing, you no longe r need to trawl the Internet for 'dance classes near me'! Whether it's dance classes glasgow, dance classes London or dance classes Leeds you're after, you know where to look!

The Best Places in the US for Landscape Photography.

The Best Places in the US for Landscape Photography. The USA’s Most Amazing Landscapes for Photographers. ChaptersWhat is Landscape Photography?What Makes Good Landscape Photography?Grab Your Digital Camera: America’s Most Amazing Landscapes.The United States of America is huge. One of the top five biggest countries by land area in the world, in fact. It’s so big, actually, that it’s almost as big as all of Europe put together.Given this, the country boasts an awful lot of varied landscapes, views, and terrains. Again, it pretty much has all the different geographical landforms that you could imagine â€" from mountains to lakes, deserts to glaciers, dense forest to dry plateaus. Plus, a selection of the weirdest craters, canyons, and rock formations known to man.All of this makes the country an incredible place for landscape photography. Because the variety of the landscapes of America is what makes the country unique. Yes, Russia and Canada are bigger â€" and almost universally beautiful â€" but you know that you’re getting snow, mountains, lakes, and then some more.And so, for the landscape photographer, the USA is the perfect place. It has incredibly beautiful landscapes, yes, but it will also test your photography skills. Yes, you’ll take some spectacular landscape pictures â€" but then you have the opportunity to engage with a completely different beautiful landscape.So, let’s take a look at what some of the best subjects would be for your photographic explorations. We’ve listed some of the best spots in the US to learn how to photograph.  Read about the best spots for landscape photography in Europe. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st l esson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is Landscape Photography?What do we think of when we think of landscape photography? Otherworldly places, spectacular views, a mountain range at sunset.Landscape photography is all of these things, for sure. But it is a whole lot of other things too. Think nature photography, street photography, a cityscape or seascape. Think about night photography or photos of the urban landscape. Think travel photography.All of these types of photography â€" and many more â€" can come under the notion of landscape photography, a field which is so broad that might not even be that useful as a term.Because landscapes are the most varied things around. And even if they have a human element, if they overlap somewhat with great photos from wildlife photography, if they are not even immediately pictures of landscapes, landscap e will still make up much of the compositional element of the image.Check out the best places for landscape photography in South America. Landscapes can have people on too.What is a Landscape?A more pertinent question here would be, what precisely is a landscape? And, interestingly enough, this is one of the most long-explored questions in the history of art.Landscape is not actually that thing that we immediately think of it as. The word ‘landscape’ conjures up images of a pure, unblemished nature â€" like a wilderness, with little man-made dimension.Yet, these notions of authenticity and purity are a bit dishonest. Because whilst landscape photography is not so posed as, say, portrait photography, it is not completely detached from the human.Landscape comes from the two words, land and scape, the latter meaning to shape. Before this word was used for paintings and photos, it was used to refer to the process by which land was shaped or cultivated, or made useful, by humans.In this respect, landscape, historically speaking, always plays out through the interaction of human and ‘nature’ â€" something which, outs ide of studio photography, pretty much always happens.Find the best spots for landscape photography in Asia.What Makes Good Landscape Photography?But landscape photography does not even rely on the presence of beautiful scenery that can be photographed. Some of the most beautiful images are of some of the most banal things.Rather, what makes landscape photographs good is much more about the work of the landscape photographers themselves than the landscape they photograph. For a photograph to be appealing and interesting, the photograph needs to take precedence over the thing represented.A professional photographer has a million and one photography techniques to make this happen. The shutter speed, the depth of field, the white balance, the width of angle and the length of exposure â€" and the natural light. All of this camera gear, and the subsequent photo editing software, contributes to make amazing photos.Finding an interesting landscape or an inspiring landscape is only half the battle of taking photos. The rest comes with knowing how to shoot.Grab Your Digital Camera: America’s Most Amazing Landscapes.As we said above, the beauty of the United States is in its infinite variety of landforms, landscapes, and sceneries. From endless plains to snow-covered peaks, from gorgeous coastlines to arid deserts, the range of geographical features is astounding.We’ve put together some of the best here â€" yet, ‘best’, necessarily, is a relative term.Ultimately, if you want to be a landscape photographer, you’ll have to leave behind the crowds and follow your eye. This is what makes photographers great: an ability to see the things others miss, a commitment to beauty and strangeness in all their visual forms.So, best of luck! We hope you find this a good starting point.New Hampshire’s White Mountains.New England is famous probably for one thing more than anything else â€" amongst travellers at least. That thing is its trees in autumn â€" which, amongst regi onal symbols, is one of the loveliest around.Considering that New England is essentially just forests, the changing of the leaves during fall is all-encompassing â€" and literally unmissable.Yet, if you are a budding landscape photographer interested in colour, light, and shade, there is no better place to hone your skills.Try New Hampshire’s White Mountains â€" one of the most famous places for autumn colours. The Kancamagus Highway is perhaps the most spectacular. Practice your photography skills on the colours of autumnal New England.Alaska’s Kenai Fjords.As Europeans flock to Norway to see the fjords, Americans head to Alaska. Quite simply, this might be one of the most beautiful places in the world, with glaciers, icy lakes, and snow-covered mountains.It’s not only that though. You should as much for the array of curious wildlife as much as for the scenery.Obviously, it’s cold as hell. But that’s a good thing if you are wanting your wilderness pics: that’s the only reason there are so few people. Remember to take some gloves and be prepared to do a bit of hiking.The Palouse, Washington.Now, of all the wonderful things that Washington state offers, the Palouse might be the most magical, dreamy, and unexpected.This isn’t spectacular peaks or jaw-dropping cliffs. Rather, the Palouse homes a range of hills, gently rolling and grass-covered. This might sound like the most boring of English landscapes, yet, honestly, the effect is qui te different.These rippling shapes seem to shimmer in the light, resembling more the crumpled surface of an ocean.For pure serene beauty â€" and a totally unique landscape â€" this is the place to come.The Colorado River â€" in Arizona.The Colorado River is a sight to behold â€" and to snap â€" at any point of its fifteen hundred mile length. Yet, perhaps, it is at its most famous â€" and most beautiful â€" as it passes through Arizona.Horseshoe Bend, a dramatic meander in the Colorado, may now be the most photographed river scene ever. However, there is much more to this river than this.Check out parts of the San Juan River â€" one of the Colorado’s tributaries â€" for one of America’s most dramatic landscapes. These hills in the Palouse are just gorgeous.Antelope Valley, California.California is a beautiful state. But maybe one of the most special places in the state is Antelope Valley.Known for its crop of poppies, the Valley blooms into a bright orange for miles and miles on end.Respected for its long and important native American history â€" and now a little swamped with tourists â€" do your research before you go. Because landscape photography is not the same when its dominated by Californian school kids.Utah: Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park.Having tried to choose just one nameable site in Utah, we had to give up. Because this state is breath-taking at almost every turn.Monument Valley is one of the most iconic sights of the American West, whilst the Arches National Park is home to some really remarkable, gravity-defying rock formations.Perhaps the most spectacular place in the state is Bryce Canyon, the geologist’s wet dream. Here, the landscape is dominated by s trange towers of orange rock. These, seen together, make something unforgettable.Acadia National Park, Maine.For a mix of richly dense forest, sudden seascapes, and huge and gorgeous skies, head to Acadia National Park in Maine. Whether in winter’s snow, autumn’s glorious colour, or the brightness of summer, you’ll find some spots away from the crowd to treat your camera to something lovely.  The Great Plains, Wyoming.Stretching through the middle of the United States are the Great Plains. As its name suggests, this area is flat, seemingly endless, and totally haunting.And if you’re brave enough, you can catch glimpses of some of the most extreme weather phenomena in the world.Find the best spots for landscape photography in Africa and landscape photography across the rest of the world.

Knock Out - Phrasal Verb of the Day

Knock Out - Phrasal Verb of the Day EDIT  1 BY PAULTodays phrasal verb of the day is: Knock OutInfinitive form: Knock OutPresent Tense: Knock Out/ Knocks Outing form: Knocking OutPast tense: Knocked OutParticiple: Knocked OutKnock Out is a separable English phrasal verb. It can be used in five different ways:When you hit someone hard enough to cause them to lose consciousness.1. Many Pacquaio knocks out his opponents in most of his fights.2. I once fell so hard while skateboarding that I got knocked out.When you are greatly surprised or impressed by something or someone.1. Harry is in love with Sally. I mean, its pretty obvious how Sallys smile knocks him out.2. I am knocked out by how many achievements youve had in such a short span of time.When you try very hard to achieve something or to please other people.1.  Stacey really knocked herself out in preparing for this event, so lets support her by being there.2. Dont knock yourself out trying to impress her, it may not be worth it in the end.When someone or somethin g destroys equipment and render it inoperable1. The communications tower in our area was knocked out by the awful storm.2. We better do something about that tree before it falls and knocks out the power line.When you produce something very quickly1. Tom is in great shape. He can knock out 50 pushups without sweating.2. The tobacco industry is knocking out hundreds,if not thousands of cigarettes in a day.Note: Knockout (n.) can be used as a noun. A Knockout is something or someone that leaves a lasting impression on your mindi.e.: The movie was a real knockout!The quote below is from the movie This is 40. The actor is talking fast, so youll have to listen closely, but the dialogue is really funny.iframe width=560 height=315 src=//www.youtube.com/embed/JY7mbWxVLcg?rel=0 frameborder=0 allowfullscreen/iframeExercises: Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.Fill in the gaps from the video above:Debbie: Cause youd be so weak and sweet and I could take care of you but whil e killing you. Pete: See, you know what I love about us? You can still surprise me. I figured for sure youd ____ me __ with one fell swoop. Youd poison me. Youd extend it over a series of months.How does Pete plan in knocking Debbie out?What was the conversation about?Complete the sentences below with the correct form of Knock Out.1.  He deserved the award. He practically ____ himself ___ day and night to finish the project.2.  Did you see that? That fighter just ____ ___ a man twice his size.3. Troy was brought to the hospital after he got ____ ___. Surprisingly, when he regained consciousness, he couldnt remember who _____ him ___.4. Jimmy is an asset to the company; he can ____ ___ hundreds of sales in a day.5. The soldiers _____ the enemys entire communication system ___ with their tanks and bombs.Change the example sentences above to negative sentences (or positive, if the sentence is already negative). Then change them to questions.

The Key to a 700 GMAT Score (or Higher) Multiple Levels of Strategy

The Key to a 700 GMAT Score (or Higher) Multiple Levels of Strategy GMAT MBA Admissions Blog There is just something about breaking that 700-score threshold on the GMAT that feels, and perhaps really is, very important when you are applying to business school. In this article, I’ll share a less “technical” view on how to approach the GMAT to improve your chances of scoring 700 or better. The title of this blog post says “multiple levels of strategy.” So first, let’s define the word strategy. What is a strategy? When I was a new analyst at a “strategy consulting” firm, fresh out of undergraduate business school, one of the first questions they raised in training was, what is a strategy? People would give long answers. Some might start talking about identifying attractive markets, or building better products, or having lower costs, or designing better processes, etc. But really, a strategy is just the plan you put in place for allocating various resources (your time, focus, money, people, etc.) to achieve a goal. In my first job, we were taught that “strategy” is about consciously choosing what you will and what you will not do. And we’ve previously written on this blog thatsuccessful people use strategies. They succeed because of how they think and plan, not because of innate talent. Why is having a “strategy” so critical when taking the GMAT? The GMAT is indeed a test of academic skills and so there are specific concepts and ideas you’ll have to understand, but more importantly it’s a test of flexible, creative, logical, and strategic thinking. It’s not a math test focused on specific concepts that you can cram for or master through memorization. The math concepts on the GMAT, by and large, don’t go beyond what most U.S. students learn in 10th grade. But, the GMAT covers a very wide range of math topics, employs a variety of question types, and asks questions in a variety of ways that force you to think logically to reason your way to the best answer. When I talk about the importance of strategy when it comes to the GMAT, I think there are three “levels” of strategy to consider. Level #1: Strategically creating your study plan If “strategy” is about choosing what you will and won’t do, then level one is about having a structured study plan that’s customized to your strengths and weaknesses and general situation. A strategic GMAT student will take a diagnostic test early in the process. He or she will then design a plan of attack that allocates more time to addressing deficiencies, and less time to areas where skills are already very strong. A solid, strategic study plan will also allocate more time to concept review and practice problems early on, and more time to practice tests and review of missed problems as the exam date nears. It will also be specific. As you design your study plan, set a test date and target score, determine when and where you will study week by week, and plan when you’ll take practice tests to track progress. If you don’t set a goal and work back in time to develop a plan to meet that goal, you are less likely to be happy with your eventual score. Level #2: Strategically attacking questions on the test Many people fail to realize that the GMAT is more like a game than a math test. It’s a crucial failure. You need to have a strategy for each question. Here’s an example of this. One of the simple formulas you’ll need to know for the GMAT is the Pythagorean theorem for lengths of sides of a right triangle. A^2 + B^2 = C^2. Now, let’s say the question says A = 3.2 and B = 4.2, so what does C = ? The answer choices are: A) 3.9 B) 4.9 C) 5.3 D) 6.5 E) 8.7 If you treat this like a math test and you remember the formula, you start plugging numbers into the formula. But, now you are working with decimals, it’s taking a little while, and you might make a calculation error. But, what if your strategy is to find ways to remove the need to use decimals, operating under the correct assumption that 90% of the time, the GMAT does not really want you to be working out multiplication on paper. It wants to force you to find creative alternatives to solve the problem. In this case, you would say well, 3.2 is pretty close to 3. And 4.2 is close to 4. If it was 3 and 4 I was working with, I’d know that 3^2 = 9 and 4^2 = 16, and then I’d be looking for the square root for 9 + 16 = 25, and that’s 5. Then, you’d say OK, so the answer has to be B or C. Finally, because you started with one number a little higher than 3 and another that’s a little higher than 4, the answer must be C. It would take you probably 30 seconds to work this through in your head, and you’d know for sure you were right. Many GMAT questions are like this. You can in fact answer the question correctly by just plugging the numbers into the formula. That’s one approach. But there are usually less quantitative but perhaps far more effective and strategic paths to the right answer. Level #3: Strategically managing your time during the test So, level 1 was about high-level strategy from a study planning perspective. Level 2 was about approaching questions strategically when you have a handle on the question. But what do you do on the test when you are faced with a question you really are not too sure about. You may think you know what to do, but you fundamentally feel stumped. The GMAT puts most students under intense time pressure which both a) leads to missed problems just because time runs out and b) raises most folks’ stress levels, which can sometimes lead to unforced errors. This raises two important “level 3” strategies. First, if you really don’t know, don’t spend time trying to figure out, on the spot, how to do the problem. Instead, spend your scarce resource (time) identifying how to increase the chances you’ll guess the right answer, and leave more time for working out future problems you do understand. So, take the question from the last section. But assume you don’t remember the Pythagorean theorem. You know there’s some sort of formula, but you are drawing a blank on what it is. You could quickly realize you’re in trouble because you don’t remember the formula. Then, you could look at the picture and say well, C has to be longer than A or B, so answer choice A is not right. And if B = 4.2, it doesn’t seem like C could equal 8.7. That’s too long. So, you choose B, C, or D. Now, your chances of getting it right are 1/3, instead of 1/5. That’s strategic guessing using process of elimination. Second, if you start to panic during the test because you are running out of time or just feel like you are performing poorly, though it may seem counterintuitive, you might want to just stop and breath for 30 seconds. This strategy allows you to calm yourself and more accurately identify when you do or do not truly know how to attack a problem. You’ll spend 30 seconds collecting yourself but may then find yourself better positioned to make the right decisions as you engage with the next few problems. In sum, remember that the key to success on the GMAT is strategy, and that applies to high level planning, thinking through specific questions, and time management on the day of the exam. For information on GMAT tutors and packages, click here.

The Most Distant Galaxy Has Been Discovered

The Most Distant Galaxy Has Been Discovered Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have made another amazing discovery: a galaxy 13.4 billion light years away from us. The galaxy, named GN-z11 is the most distant Galaxy ever found. The age of the Galaxy is estimated to be just 400 million years. It is located in the direction of the constellation Ursa Major. This discovery could lead scientists to question their understanding of the way that the universe developed. As a galaxy of such a size shouldn’t have been able to exist when the universe was so young. Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. But there are still many questions remaining about how our universe works and whether we are alone in it. I think it reminds us all why we love astronomy and why it is a fascinating subject to study. If youre interested in studying Astronomy you can contact a  great  Astronomy tutor near your home. Discovering new information about our universe is always an incredible experience. In addition, Astronomy is an excellent way of exposing your  mind to the thrill of scientific discovery.  Learn about our universe  from  Big Bang to  the present time at TutorZ.