Today, you have an opportunity like no other to dedicate as much time as you need to your ACT or SAT studies. School lessons are delivered online, recreational opportunities are scarce, and home chores are, frankly, more boring than ever.
On the other hand, studying at home can be challenging because of distractions. You may not have private space at home where you are shielded from the noise and not disturbed by the family members. Cabin fever can be a major challenge. Here are a few helpful tips:
- Take frequent but brief breaks to stretch, walk around, eat a snack or have a glass of water. Try not to get distracted by checking on social media, TV news or conversations with the family - it can eat time.
- Weather permitting, consider studying outdoors. Think if there is a safe and isolated space that you can utilize during the quarantine, e.g. the backyard or a balcony. Try to stay away from places frequented by other people, even if they seem empty at the moment. A bench in a park or the school playground may not be clean.
- Maintain a regular schedule. If school is on a break and you are tempted to stay up late, it is easy to roll into an insomniac schedule, studying at night and sleeping through the day. Resist it. A good way to prevent a burnout is to keep a daily routine. Choose the time that works well for you, e.g. 3 to 5 pm daily, and stick to it.
- Try to simulate the actual test conditions. Are you aware that several tests such as the GRE are already offered to be taken at home and other remote exams are in the works? Soon enough, we might be able to take ACT and SAT at home. Prepare for this possibility and take practice tests as if these were the actual test conditions. Time yourself, make sure your desk and chair are comfortable, move the furniture and the lighting to create a comfortable environment, and avoid having food or drinks on the table. Do not use a calculator unless allowed and do not browse Internet for help while taking a practice test.
- Remember that you can still study with other people! Whether a tutor or a study group, there are so many ways today to connect with other people online. Tutors - such as myself! - work with students using online tools such as Skype, Whatsapp, Google Hangouts, Zoom etc.
