JazzyMom Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 DS is taking DE courses for the first time year. He is doing all assigned reading, end of chapter quizzes, note-taking, etc. He gets A’s on writing assignments, HW, and projects, but he scores poorly on tests. Last semester he scored low to high 70’s on 3 economics tests and managed a final grade of B. He just had his first government exam and got a 67. (If he does better on the next few tests, he should be able to get a B in the class.) All of his test scores have been right around the class average, but I think he can do better. I did not give him many tests while homeschooling, and I think the problem is his study skills/test-taking skills. Any sugggestions for specific ways to teach him how to study/take tests? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daijobu Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Cal Newport has a lot to say about building study skills. Trouble is, I can't remember which book it's in. Try to find a library copy of his "A+ Student" or "Win at College." http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/04/28/monday-master-class-the-study-hacks-guide-to-exams/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gstharr Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 How old is your son? Has he had a lot of honors classes prior with live exams? Seems like he can do the work when he has unlimited time. But reading, thinking, and answering under time pressure at the college level is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzyMom Posted March 15, 2019 Author Share Posted March 15, 2019 (edited) He is 18. This is his senior year and is his first experience with live exams other than the SAT. I do think you’re right about the problem. He had to prep hard for the SAT, and on the reading section, he could answer the questions correctly, but just couldn’t finish the section in time. (Thankfully, he did really well on the other teo sections.). I’m not sure how to help him figure this out. Edited March 15, 2019 by JazzyMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gstharr Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 If it were math or science, I would suggest getting Schaum;s workbooks and doing problems under time restraints. Government. Is he using a text? If he reads the text carefully, he could learn to anticipate the questions that might be asked and have answers already mentally prepared. I mean read every word on the page: the writing under the pictures, the footnotes. Pay particular attention to "the reason why....", "contrasted to...." type language. Then have have a thought out mental answer to any question anywhere in the chapter or at the end of the chapter. If his college text is not set out like this, maybe he could get a high school that covers the same material. Almost all major high school texts have these questions. This is how my 8th grader preps. I would estimate that at least %75 of the test questions can be anticipated. Test taking takes practice. good luk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzyMom Posted March 15, 2019 Author Share Posted March 15, 2019 (edited) Thank you!!! This is the kind of advice I need. I am going to work with him on this on Saturdays. I am not as concerned about the grade he gets as I am about him learning the skill of test-taking. I’m also going to have him practice essay tests. If anyone else has ideas, please share. Edited March 15, 2019 by JazzyMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal_Bear Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 I would actually suggest to go a step further and considering organizing his study notes from lecture, reading and homewrok using th Cornell method and writing out questions. Mental questions may not be as helpful for revision and study prep for a test if he is pressed for time. Then when you study, you can cover up the notes side/or fold it over and self- quiz on the questions and not have to spend time on figuring out how to self-quiz or what you don't know that you need to know. It would be easy to flag/highlight whatever he is shaky on as he goes along. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzyMom Posted March 16, 2019 Author Share Posted March 16, 2019 That’s a good idea. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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