(Psst, it starts earlier than you think!)
Midterms are approaching for many of our schools (we’re looking at you, Andover, Chapin, Collegiate, Fieldston, Lawrenceville, Nightingale and St. Bernard’s to name a few). Here are our best practices for preparing for cumulative exams:
1. Start Early
Preparing for cumulative exams takes more time than getting ready for a unit test. Students need to review much more information and need to improve upon previously weaker units.
Ideally, students start preparing as they learn each consecutive unit by studying hard, keeping careful notes, and reviewing material a little at a time. For those students who have January exams, we suggest starting in the coming weeks.
2. Get Organized
Before studying, students need to organize their past tests, quizzes and homework assignments, creating a chronological folder of assignments and notes. If your child struggles with organization, tutors can help with gathering materials, identifying anything missing, and making sure your child has everything in one place for each exam.
3. Practice Simulated Quizzes
Students need to practice with materials that replicate the real test. If the history test has multiple-choice questions, practice in that format. If your math teacher gives lots of word problems, make sure you are doing word problems when you practice.
Your child can find more practice in their textbooks and by creating Quizlet decks, and tutors can create practice tests and quizzes too.
4. Ask for Help!
Cumulative exams are tough, especially when your child is new to taking them. Parents, siblings, teachers, peers, and tutors can help!
Students should go to their teachers early and often to go over tough concepts, clarify the exam format, and ask for support. Parents can quiz their children on memorization-heavy subjects. Peers can collaborate on study guides, and tutors can help your child get organized, master difficult concepts, and provide practice materials.
If your child is currently working on SATs/ACTs/SSATs/ISEEs with a tutor, your tutor should also be equipped to help with all things academic. While we can’t speak for private tutors, at Tutor Associates our tutors provide support for both test prep and academic classes year-round.
Want to learn more about ways we can support your child?
Click below to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team! We’ll coordinate the logistics for any support your child needs.
