TestPrepHQ

Your Test Prep Headquarters

By Leave a Comment

103 GMAT Tips and Test Taking Strategies: The Complete List

GMAT Tips

You can most likely remember some of the most well known GMAT tips and test taking strategies…

But can you recall them all?

Well you are in for a surprise because I have put together the complete list.

Some are mandatory.

Some are unique.

Others are so good that some people try to hide their existence.

But they are all here.

Exclusive Bonus: Download a free checklist that will give you a rundown of what you need to do the night before and bring the morning of the exam for GMAT SUCCESS.

Test Preparation Tips

GMAT Test Preparation Tips

1. Know What Types of Questions to Expect: There are many different question types that they will ask on the exam. Most of the question types are well known, so you can study specifically for them. Look them up online so that you know what to expect.

2. Practice With Problems at the Edge of Your Ability: It is a waste of your time to practice with problems that are too easy or too hard. Try to find those problems that are just right so that you are improving your ability without becoming too frustrated.

3. Take Breaks When Needed: Studying can sometimes become tedious and boring. Make sure to take breaks so that you can study for longer periods of time. The more you can study the more you will be prepared for the exam.

4. Go Over Your Mistakes: Being able to learn from your mistakes is one of the best ways to prepare for the exam. Knowing what you did wrong and applying that knowledge to later questions is one of the quickest ways to improve.

5. Turn off Your Cell Phone While Studying: Your cell phone can be a distraction during study time. Also, your cell phone is not allowed in the room during the actual test. So why practice with it when you cannot have it with you on test day anyway?

no cell phone

 

[Read more…]

By 2 Comments

127 ACT Tips and Test Taking Strategies: The Complete List

ACT Tips

You can probably recall some of the most common ACT tips and test taking strategies…

But can you remember them all?

Well you are in for a surprise because I have put together the complete list.

Some are mandatory.

Some are unique.

Others are so good that some people try to hide their existence.

But they are all here.

Exclusive Bonus: Download a free checklist that will give you a rundown of what you need to do the night before and bring the morning of the exam for ACT SUCCESS.

Test Preparation Tips

ACT Test Preparation Tips

1. Practice at the Edge of Your Abilities: Practice with problems that are not too easy or not too hard. If a question is too easy, then you are just wasting your time. If a question is too hard, then you become frustrated and are less likely to learn. Try to find that middle path.

2. Work on Your Weak Points Before Your Strong Points: You have a lot more to gain score-wise if you work on improving your weaknesses before your strengths. It may be tougher at the beginning, but by test time it will be worth it.

3. Practice All That You Can: Practice makes perfect and nothing will prepare you more for the exam than practicing example problems. By practicing all that you can you will be ready for whatever the test writers throw at you on test day.

4. Do at Least 1 Full Practice Test: Completing a full practice test is essential before taking the full ACT exam. Taking the practice test allows you to realize how draining the full test can be and how you can handle it in the future. Practice makes perfect.

5. Do Not Forget to Register by the Deadline: Do not make this often overlooked mistake! It would be a very frustrating day to show up for the exam and realize that you never completed your registration. A lot of study schedules make sure to end right before the exam to give the best results.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: ACT

By 1 Comment

IELTS vs. TOEFL: Which Should You Take?

IELTS vs TOEFL

Most English-speaking universities and immigration centers around the world require foreign students to take a standardized English test to judge whether they will be accepted into the university or country. The main exam for American universities is the TOEFL. But the main exam for the majority of British commonwealth countries is the IELTS. It sometimes gets a bit tricky for you to decide between these two options since in some cases you have a choice on which to take. In order to make the correct decision you have to take a lot of considerations into account.

Below we give an IELTS vs. TOEFL comparison table and go over the differences and considerations you need to take into account while deciding between the 2 exams.

IELTS vs. TOEFL Comparison Table

IELTS
vs.
TOEFL
2 Hours 45 Minutes
Reading - 60 min
Listening - ~30 min
Speaking - 12-15 min
Writing - 60 min
Test Format
~4 Hours
Reading - 60-100 min
Listening - 40-60 min
Speaking - ~20 min
Writing - 50 min
English language Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking
Content Covered
English language Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking
More focus on international English accents and less focused on "inform" articles and multiple choice questions.
Emphasis
More focus on North American accents and more focused on "inform" articles and multiple choice questions.
Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking scores will each range between 1-9.
Composite score is the average score of all sections (1-9).
Scoring
Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking scores will each range between 1-30.
Composite score is the combined of your scores on the four sections; ranges between 1-120
There is no penalty for guessing.
Wrong Answer Penalty
There is no penalty for guessing.
2,500,000+ test takers a year
Popularity
25,000,000+ test takers a year
Offered up to 48 times a year in test centers around the globe.
Offered When?
Offered up to 50 times a year in test centers around the globe.
IELTS
More Information
TOEFL

[Read more…]