Ever seen a pinball machine? It's a game you play in which a little silver ball bounces around inside and you hit it off things to get points. About one-quarter of my students are taking the GMAT, GRE, GED, TOEFL, or IELTS as a result of what I call "pinball goals." Like a pinball in a machine, they have been bounced around by life and are now pursuing additional education because they were disappointed by something else. A common example is someone didn't get a promotion at work and has decided to quit his job and get an MBA. Sometimes students feel that their entire lives will change just by becoming a Canadian or Australian passport holder.

Getting an MBA because you were not promoted or seeking citizenship when you don't want to live in a country are examples of pinball goals for several reasons. These goals are a result of something that happened to you and not necessarily a genuine desire for the goal. This course of action seems like a better option than the one you have now, even though you would have not chosen it if you had gotten what you wanted. Just like a pinball, you are letting life bounce you around rather than choosing for yourself and going after your real goals.

Pinball goals are not necessarily what you want to pursue in life. Getting an MBA, for example, takes a lot of hard work. During the application process, you have to study for and take the GMAT, ask your bosses for references, and search inside yourself to prepare complicated application essays. Once admitted, you have to find money to attend (sometimes tens of thousands of dollars) and then do the work to finish the program. All of this takes lots of time and money. If you aren't serious about the goal in the first place, you may not work as hard as you need to or may stop half way. I have worked with students that prepare for and take the GMAT (which can be like having a part-time job for a couple of months) only to decide they don't really want to get an MBA.

Don't waste your time, energy, and money pursuing pinball goals. Decide what you really want in life and then go after it. If you're truly committed, taking the GMAT, GRE, GED, TOEFL, or IELTS will just seem like one step in a process rather than a scary task.

Need help preparing? Email or call the Dubai Tutor today!

We've finally come to the end of the series of the top test prep time wasters. In other words, things you don't want to do when preparing for your test. Here are the top 2:

Top Test Prep Time Waster #2: Focusing Only on Weaknesses

"If you think a weakness can be turned into a strength, I hate to tell you this, but that's another weakness." Jack Handy, Saturday Night Live

Trying to improve your weaknesses is necessary to get a good score on any standardized tests. Unfortunately, focusing only on weaknesses is more likely to limit your score improvement and not get the score you need. When you work hard only on math, for example, you math score improves but your verbal score remains roughly the same. Over time, you will have a lot of improvement in math but your verbal score may begin to decrease because you are not practicing verbal or are slowly forgetting score improving concepts. I began alternating math and verbal classes in my courses because students often performed well on practice tests only in the subject I had just taught. To maximize your score, vary your preparation and don't forget what you've learned!

And here is...Top Test Prep Time Waster #1: Taking but NOT Reviewing Practice Tests

Taking practice tests helps build your test-taking stamina and ease test day anxiety. Stable emotions on test day translate to higher scores.

You can get much more benefit, though, from the practice tests you take. If you review your mistakes on practice tests, you can from them and boost your score. Here's how you should review:

1. Don't review immediately. Take a day to relax after you take the test. You mind needs time to rejuvenate so that when you review the previous day's test, you reap the maximum benefit.
2. Correct your test with the short answers only. For example, if you marked B, find out what the correct answer was (ex. A.).
3. Figure out why your answer was wrong and why the correct answer is right. Often, this involves reworking the entire question. Be sure to use process of elimination to identify why answers are incorrect and find support for the correct answer in the reading passage, listening exercise, or concept review.
4. If you are unable to figure out the correct answer on your own, read through the correct answer explanation. Rework the problem using the explanation as a guide. Rather than just hoping to understand the explanation, continue to work through the problem yourself until you understand the concept. True understanding means you can apply what you have learned to a similar problem.

Don't waste your time preparing for the exam the wrong way. Email the Dubai Tutor and get started studying today!

If you've read my post titled "WARNING: Studying Vocabulary is a Waste of Time," you know I'm against excessive study of vocabulary words and lists just before a standardized test like the SAT or GMAT for several reasons:

1. There are more than 750,000 words in the English language according to AskOxford.com.
2. Vocabulary is not directly tested on the SAT, GMAT, IELTS, and TOEFL.
3. You have more important things to do with your time, such as understanding the different components of the tests and practicing.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. If you fall into one of the following categories, you should take a look at some vocabulary lists:

* You're taking the GRE. The analogy and antonym questions on the GRE, about one-half of the verbal section, are direct tests of vocabulary. If you do not have a wide vocabulary, it is very difficult to do well on the verbal section of the GRE. In addition to studying word lists, learn about Greek and Latin word roots as well as prefixes and suffixes.

* You have more than 8 weeks to study the SAT, GMAT, etc. If you have a lot of time to study for your test, it won't hurt to memorize about 10 words a week. However, be sure to focus your preparation on the test and NOT on vocabulary.

If you should study vocabulary as part of your test preparation, here are some resources to get you started:

* How to Expand Your Vocabulary: Great tutorial that includes tips on memorizing words, word lists, and summary of roots and prefixes.
* GRE Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes List: This website will help you decode the antonym and analogy questions on the GRE.
* SAT Word List: Only about 90 words included but if you learn these, you should be able to figure out the definitions of words like them.
* SAT Word Parts List: Learn the word parts as well as word definitions to boost your vocabulary.
* Extensive Vocabulary List: Print and make into flashcards for the SAT, GMAT, or GRE.
* Online TOEFL Vocabulary Tests: Use these 120 online tests to help build your vocabulary. Click the links in the Select Word by Meaning and Select Meaning by Word to begin. Be sure to make flashcards from any questions you get wrong.

The strategies I stress to all of my students is that is more important to know how to get the general meaning of the word in the context of the sentence and how to answer the question even if you cannot figure out what 1 word means. These strategies will help you much more than memorizing the definitions of words.

What's a bigger waste of time than procrastinating? Cramming. It seems counterintuitive: how can studying be a waste of time? It's not THAT you study, it's HOW you study.

Why doesn't cramming work?
Teachers have long hated cramming because students who cram do not retain the material long-term. However, long-term retention is not important for college prep exams. For example, if you get a good score on the SAT, you're only going to take it once and probably won't need the information again.

You should hate cramming for another reason: you can't really apply what you reviewed to the test. Why not? Cramming is essentially memorizing a large amount of information shortly before an exam. That's a good idea if the information is asked exactly as it was presented or in a similar form. On the SAT, GMAT, and the other tests, you won't be asked the same questions, see the same math problems, or read the same passages. These tests rely on your ability to analyze questions and think critically for which, unfortunately, there is no easily memorizable concept.

How you should study

1. Set a manageable study schedule and stick to it. Even one hour a day helps.
2. Focus on understanding HOW to do the problem, not just finishing the problem. Quality rather than quantity is important when sharpening your analytical and critical thinking skills.
3. Correct problems you got wrong by reworking them or going back to reading passages to understand why your answer is wrong and why the correct answer is right.
4. Take a look at one of my previous posts to learn How to Use Practice Tests (the Correct Way).
5. Form a study group with friends. A study group will not only be a good place to exchange ideas, it will help you keep your studying on track.
6. Work with the Dubai Tutor so you will be held accountable. We will set a schedule for our sessions that we will stick to. We'll go over homework and make sure you maximize you're studying.

Don't let this happen to you...say no to Red Bull and No Doze!

With the last SAT before May coming up and GMAT pressure building, it's important that you maximize your time and energy. Do things that will yield big results. To help you focus, the next 5 blog posts will focus on the top 5 time wasters when preparing for the SAT, GMAT, or just about any admissions test.

Top Test Prep Time Waster #5: Procrastination.

Okay this one is obvious but the longer you wait to start studying, the less time you have to adequately prepare. I recommend that students prepare at least 6 weeks for the GMAT and SAT, and as long as 8 weeks for tests like the TOEFL or IELTS.

Symptoms
Procrastination can take many forms, even if it seems like you are working, perhaps you aren't working on the tasks you should be working on. Here are some signs you are procrastinating:

* You check email a lot.
* You buy a lot of test prep books but don't use any of them.
* You're obsessed with surfing the web to find out as much about the test you're taking as possible.
* You're obsessed with surfing the web to find as many "helpful" resources as possible but you don't really use them.
* You schedule your exam for more than 3 months from now (the exception is SAT).
* You suddenly have absolutely no time in your schedule to study even though there are no big deadlines at work or school.
* You contact or visit more than 3 test prep centers around Dubai but still can't make up your mind (the Dubai Tutor is all you need!).
* You decide that it's more important to work on your applications than study for the admissions test (umm...your score is one of the things they ask for on the application!).

Treatment
Fortunately, there are cures for procrastination. Depending on the strength of your procrastination, I recommend using one or all of these ideas to get your test prep moving.
1. Create a study plan. Decide how much time you can commit to studying (even 1 hour a day helps) and stick to it. One hour a day done consistently is much better then an 8 hour binge on Saturday.

2. Start small. Pick one section of the test to begin with, buy a book, and try to cover one or two topics each time. Don't forget to end each study session with drilling (doing a set number of problems in a certain amount of time).

3. Email the Dubai Tutor. Nothing saves time and motivates like signing up for a small group class or getting private instruction with a tutor. Email me and we will work together to create a reasonable study plan to get your preparation going!

Happy studying!

When I was in college and studying hard for a big test, I often had a recurring dream that I woke up late on test day...and missed the test! Studying for a test but forgetting to register by the deadline is a lot like my recurring dream. Before you start preparing, be sure to register for the test!

Here are the upcoming test dates for SAT and GMAT:

SAT and SAT II Subject Tests
December 5, 2009
January 23, 2010*
May 1, 2010
June 5, 2010**

* If you are in your senior year and want to go to college in the U.S., this is the last available SAT before the registration deadlines.
** If you are in your senior year and want to go to college in the UAE, this is the last available SAT before the registration deadlines.

GMAT (based on application rounds)
Round 2 - early January 2010
Round 3 - late March/early April 2010
Round 4 - May 2010*

* As an international student, you should apply before Round 4 so that you can successfully obtain your F-1 Student Visa by the beginning of new student orientation.

Note: If you are taking the TOEFL or IELTS, these tests are administered quite frequently throughout the year so you don't really have to worry about registration deadlines and availability.

Any questions? Email the Dubai Tutor!

Want to take the SAT, TOEFL, or IELTS but afraid your English isn't good enough? Don't be sad...

Email the Dubai Tutor for help! I now offer foundational tuitions to help students build their English language abilities in:
* Reading
* Writing
* Listening
* Speaking
* Grammar
* Vocabulary

I can design a personalized study program for you at reasonable rates. Get a discount if you sign up with your husband/wife or school mates.

Email me and I will give you a FREE assessment to see what you would score on the actual test!

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Studying vocabulary for the SAT, GMAT, TOEFL, or any of these standardized tests is a waste of time. There I said it. Why is studying vocab a waste of time you ask? I'll give you not one, but three reasons:

1. There are more than 750,000 words in the English language according to AskOxford.com. Can any of these words be on your test? Yes. Do you really have time to learn the definitions of all of them? No.

2. Vocabulary is not directly tested. With the exception of a few questions on the SAT and TOEFL, there aren't really any questions that ask you "what does this word mean?". These questions are usually asked is indirect ways. Basically, the question makes it seem like you need to know the definition of a word to get the answer right. Well, you actually don't. You can always use context clues--the other words in the sentence or paragraph--to help you figure out the answer.

3. You have more important things to do with your time (and I don't mean watching TV). Considering that you should spend three months or less studying (not cramming) for the test, there are other concepts to learn that relate directly to the test. Suck at probability? Well, it's on the SAT and GMAT. Use your time to improve it. Can't write an essay to save your life? Well, you have to write one not matter which test you take so learn how.

Teachers, test prep companies, and the test maker do not want you to know that learning vocabulary for tests, like the SAT and GMAT, is useless. Why not? Is there some global conspiracy to get students to read and study hard? Of course not. Vocabulary is easy to teach. Vocabulary flash cards fill books. Vocabulary adds to the mystery of the test. Focus on the important stuff and leave vocabulary out of it.