#myadvice

A little trick for polishing your manuscript that might help! Do a search for words with the -ing suffix, and replace them with more specific verbs.

Running? Consider “sprinting” or “jogging.” Talking? Try “chatting” or “murmuring.” Looking? Maybe you mean “glancing” or “staring.”

Even something like “thinking” can be swapped for “pondering” or “reflecting”—what exactly is your character doing?

Hey guys!!!!! It’s me!!! I’m finally right back at you all with an all new organizational advice post that will make organizing for school a blast! I’m so sorry for not posting an advice post in a while! I’ve just been extremely busy trying to balance schoolwork, my new leadership position, volunteer hours, extra curriculars, and etc! I hope that you all can understand! I’ll try to post more advice post for often, but I can’t guarantee anything! I you have any questions or would like to talk to me, please visit my ask box! Anyway, if you guys don’t already know, I am doing the 100 Days of Productivity Challenge! If you would to see what I’m up to in that challenge, click here! Thank You all so much for the support, and I hope that this advice post was somewhat helpful! As always, I believe that you all can do it and I wish you all the greatest of luck this school year!

-Ben :)

Binders

Binders are probably one of the most common organizational systems here in the US! I’m not sure about other parts of the world, so if binders aren’t the most common organizational system where you live, then please share by replying to this post!  Binders can be really organized as you can just flip through them, but the downside is that they can get very bulky, you have to hole punch your papers, and tons of students tend to stuff everything in the front pocket just to name a few! Anyhow, binders are a solid option for most!

Pros:

+Can be organized

+You can flip through and find papers easily

+You can hold lots of papers and even a pencil pouch!

+Many types and sizes to choose from!

Cons:

-Bulky

-Need a hole puncher/hole punched papers

-Students tend to “stuff everything” in that front plastic pocket of the binder

-The closing and opening rings thing can be annoying sometimes

-Holes from punching tend to rip on papers

Folders

Another common way of organizing is using folders! I know that a lot of people use these in addition to using binder!  They are really effective, efficient, compact, and organized too! However, all lot of people tend to shove random papers in folders and they can hold that many papers for a class that has TONS of handouts!

Pros:

+Light/Compact

+Can separate classes into 2 sections

+Plastic ones tend to be super durable

+Don’t have to hole punch

Cons:

-Paper folders tear easily

-People still tend to get lazy and shove random papers in them

-Limited paper capacity

-You have to “search” the folder and can’t just flip like a binder

Expanding File Folders

You’ve probably seen these all around Tumblr! They go by many names, such as accordion files, expanding files, and much more! They are pretty uncommon, but are actually really organized, and in my opinion kind of is like a combination of a binder and folder (since there are sections like binder dividers and you just put the papers in with no rings). The really only downside is that it’s hard to find papers in it and it can can very bulky overtime! I know that Sareena from  @studyign and Jasmine from @studyquill use these and love them!

Pros:

+Pretty durable

+Light/compact

+Expands and holds tons of papers

+Don’t have to hole punch

+Usually comes with labels for the tab sections

+Has different sections

Cons:

+Limited sections

+Can get bulky if you put too many papers in it

+Harder to find papers

“Hybrid Systems”

I don’t know if this actually counts as an “organizational system”, but I will include it anyway! A hybrid system is what I actually use! It’s basically is using different organizational systems together and tailoring each to your own needs! For example, I use one big binder, folders for each class, notebooks for each class, and lastly an expanding file folder to store old work! You can learn more about how I organize in my How I Stay Organized Post (although my system has changed just a pinch since the making of that post)!

Pros:

+Customizable

+Can make your own system that fit your needs

+Takes the good parts of each system and mashes it into a MEGA AWESOME SYSTEM!

+Can be super organized

+Allows you to adapt to each class for the best organizational results

Cons:

-Can be hard to maintain

-Things can get lost between all the storage devices you choose to use

-Might have to invest in a lot of stuff

Anyway, I hope that this post help you out some how! If you have any questions, but don’t be shy and stop by my ask box (I will try to answer questions when convenient!)! To see more of my study tips and advice, click here! To see my 100 Days of Productivity Challenge for this year, click here! And lastly, if you would like to see how I organize (for inspiration, etc.) for the school year, click here! THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT GUYS! 

Hello! As promised, I'm going to continue my ACT advice posts. Just to remind you, I highly recommend taking the ACT if you can because it is a great way to boost your academics since most schools are test optional this season.

Before I list my strategies, I want to go over the material the ACT math section covers. As far as I know, this section can test on topics all the way up to precalculus. In other words, you need a solid understanding of Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, and Precalculus. However, the ACT focuses more on Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry.

Now that I've addressed the topics, I'll get into my strategies:

1. Your calculator is your best friend: I highly recommend getting a graphing calculator that is approved by the ACT. Getting a good calculator will make things much easier as you'll be solving problems much quicker.

2. Pace yourself: despite having a lot of time for this section, you have to make sure that you're going at a good pace. From my experience, the questions get harder as the test progresses, and the last ten are usually the hardest ones. Keep in mind that you'll need more time for the second half of the test than the first half.

3. Get familiar with the type of problems: if you're struggling on this section, try to identify the types of problems the ACT tests on. Although each test has different problems, the concepts that they use are the same for each one. Sure, there may be a few questions on each test that throw a curveball, but most questions are extremely similar to ones on other tests.

4. If you're aiming for a high score, know your Precalculus: to get a 36, you can usually afford to miss 1-2 questions, leaving little room for error. Every point counts, so you need to know every concept well. Here are a few precalculus topics that I have seen on previous tests: matrices (adding, multiplying, multiplying by a scalar finding the determinant), vectors (adding and subtracting), series (simple arithmetic and geometric ones), rational polynomials (graphing, oblique asymptotes), advanced trigonometry (trig identities, double angle), and logarithms (basic properties, change of base).

5. If you don't know, then don't worry about it: the ACT provides one minute per question in the math section. Although this is a generous amount of time, the second half of the test will definitely take longer than the first. If you don't know the answer, skip it and come back to it later. It's for your own good.

Resources: I personally did not use any prep books, but I heard the College Panda's ACT Math book was very useful. However, the best resources anyone can use are actual tests, which can be found on Crack ACT online.

Thanks for reading this post! I still have to address the Reading and Essay section, so stay tuned for more posts in the future.

A while back, I made a post on the ACT English section. Now that many schools are going test-optional for this college application season, taking the ACT is a good way to boost your academics (if your local test centers don’t cancel them). Today, I'll be debriefing the science section.

Before we start, I want to clear up one thing: you don't need much prior science knowledge. Of course, it's helpful to know Biology, Chemistry, and Physics beforehand, but its definitely not necessary. You only need to know a few basic things. I'll list some common topics you should know below:

1. Freezing, Melting, and Boiling Point

2. Erosion

3. Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes

4. Calculating Percent Error

5. Protons, Electrons, Neutrons

6. General Biology (mainly stuff on DNA, Genetics, and Ecology)

Now, I'll be going over some tips that I used when I took the test:

1. Do not read the passages: go straight to the questions and look what they're asking for. If the question talks about Table 1, then go to Table 1. However, you HAVE TO read the passage if you are doing the Conflicting Viewpoints passage (where multiple students/scientists talk about their hypotheses and theories). But you can ignore the text for all the other passages. TIMING IS KEY for the science section, so don't waste it by reading large chunks of text.

2. If you don't know, then you don't know: if you're stuck on a question, please don't stay on it for more than a minute. Just move on and come back to it after you finish the remaining questions. You have to solve 40 questions in 35 minutes, so you have less than a minute for each question. Remember, TIMING IS KEY.

3. Don't be intimidated by foreign topics: I remember being very nervous whenever I saw a passage about physics because I did not learn it in school yet. Don't have that mentality because all the information you need to answer the questions is provided. Have the mentality of treating each passage the same and don't let your nerves get to you.

4. Understand that questions get harder at the end of each passage: for each science passage, the last 1-2 questions usually end up being the most difficult. When you are practicing, make sure to get used to the questions at the end of each passage because most students make errors there.

5. Read each question carefully: I can't even count how many dumb mistakes I've made on practice tests because I didn't read the question carefully. I know that it is difficult to pay attention when you literally have no time to think, but every point is important on this section. The curves on science tests usually aren't too generous, so minimize your small mistakes.

Resources: I heard "For the love of ACT science" is decent, but I personally didn't use any books for the science section. I simply took multiple practice tests to improve my score. There are a lot of REAL practice tests on crackact (the best resource ever).

I'll most likely continue posting more content about the ACT. I still have to address the Reading, Math, and Essay Portion, so look out for those next!

Hello! I’m back with my second to last ACT section post: the reading section. For some people, this section is extremely easy because it naturally comes to them. However, if you are just like me, this section is the hardest one. Here are the tips I suggest if you are having trouble with improving your score:

1. Understand the format: you must understand how this section works. In the reading section, there are four passages and each passage has 10 questions. You have 35 minutes to complete all four passages, which doesn’t leave much breathing room - “if you notice yourself breathing, you’re not going fast enough.”

2. Practice the passage type you struggle with most: in the reading section, the four types of passages are literary/prose fiction narrative, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences, in that exact order. You have to take a few tests to figure out which ones you struggle with most. For me, literary/prose fiction narrative was the most difficult so I really honed in on it.

3. You can practice by reading anything: the great thing about this section is that you can practice with any material. Whether you read the New Yorker or a fictional story, you’re still practicing for this section by doing so. If you want to improve your score, get into the habit of reading more often, even if it’s only for 20 minutes a day.

4. Know what strategies work for you: some people read the entire passage, while others just go straight to the questions and look for evidence. For me, reading the entire passage was much more effective than skimming through it. At the same time, you can only figure out what works for you by taking tests.

5. The questions are very straightforward: for the most part, the answers to the reading questions are directly supported by evidence in the passage (almost word for word). This section is all about finding that evidence, almost like you’re playing “Where’s Waldo?” In other words, you don’t need a deep understanding of each passage. You just need an idea of the general message behind it and specific details provided in the passage.

Resources: Erica Meltzer has an ACT book for the reading section as well, but I’ve never used it in the past. Once again, I fully recommend just taking practice tests on crackact.

Thank you for reading my post and stay tuned for a possible post on the essay section!

I’ve been slowly previewing chapters for my AP United States History course I’ll be taking for my upcoming junior year. I’m taking three other AP classes as well so I thought it would be a good idea to get a head start so I won’t be overwhelmed when the fall semester begins. The ! grind ! never ! stops !!!

happy 2020 everyone and i hope you all had an amazing holiday season. fall semester of my junior year was super hectic so my family decided to take a trip to hawaii over winter break. it was so relaxing and nice, i’m really glad to be back though so i can work and grind harder. 

i feel like a lot of the time, i end up forgetting about my resolutions because they just don’t seem as attainable. so for 2020, i’m going to have less but realistic goals. 

my resolutions

1) start looking at college apps early so i can have them done by the end of this summer

2) continue to get a 4.0 for my junior spring sem and senior fall sem 

3) consume less sugary drinks (soda, juice, etc.) and instead drink more h20

let me know what your new year’s resolutions are, i can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store for all of us!