isnewyork-blog - Tumblr blog

[isnewyork-blog]

HTGAWM cast + Beyoncé

[isnewyork-blog]

[isnewyork-blog]

can someone please be proud of me like fuck I’m trying

[isnewyork-blog]

yo what are you always so stressed about?

me:

[isnewyork-blog]

Don’t tell your daughter that when a boy is mean or rude to her it’s because he has a crush on her. Don’t teach her that abuse is a sign of love.

[isnewyork-blog]

I got an 800 on the SAT II Math Level 2… and with this video, you can too! (Pun definitely intended.)

Prep books:

Barron’s SAT Subject Test Math Level 2

The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide

The Official Study Guide for ALL SAT Subject Tests

Princeton’s Review: Cracking the SAT Math 1 & 2 Subject Tests

Online resources:

SparkNotes SAT Subject Tests: Math Level 2

Practice questions

Even more practice questions

Khan Academy Trigonometry

Related videos:

SAT II’s: what they’re about, why you should take them, how they help you get into great colleges

subscribe // twitter

[isnewyork-blog]

So, the dreaded ACT. Or, the test that decides if you get into the college/university you want (if you live in America). I’ve compiled a list of websites and book reviews to help you prepare and review for the test, as well as some general test-taking tips.

So, without further ado, here’s how I have a 32 on the ACT (

Overview

“The ACT® test contains four multiple-choice tests: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The ACT with writing includes the four multiple-choice tests and a writing test.” (act.org)

So, basically, the test is around 4 hours long and begins at 8:00am with a 10 minute break in the middle. It’s a long one, but studying beforehand will ensure that you don’t have to take it as many times as I have (5 times ugh).

English

This is the first section and the one with the most amount of questions. You have 45 minutes to complete 75 questions asked about grammar rules and word choice in the English language.

Tips:

30% of the questions involve choosing the simplest answer. Don’t go for the one that says “Although, in a way, her ex-mistress began, in a lively manner…” No, choose the ones like “Her ex-mistress happily began…”

Remember “NO CHANGE” and “OMIT” are plausible choices! On this past ACT (June 2016), I found myself choosing that a decent amount of the time, so just remember that it is a choice!

READ THE QUESTIONS IN YOUR HEAD! “Well, duh, Shelby, you have to if you want to answer it!” No, I mean, give it feeling. Pretend you’re working at a big editing firm and dramatize every. single. comma. I’m serious. Take around 2-3 seconds on each comma, and trust your gut.

MAIN FOCUS: comma rules!

The ACT loves to ask about comma rules! Approximately (and this is my own guess so please don’t shoot me) 50% of the questions were about commas and comma placement, so make sure you review those!

Math

As the second section with the most time allotted, math is the most draining part. You have 60 minutes to answer 60 questions, progressing in difficulty from the beginning to the end. 

 Tips:

I know, beating a dead horse here, but draw a picture! Especially on geometry questions, this can make or break our understanding!

To save time, go through the answer choices on variable equations and plug them in using your calculator. This is how I finish on time. 

If you can’t answer it within a minute, skip it and and move on! You can always come back to it or guess the most reasonable!

MAIN FOCUS: geometry and pre-algebra!

A huge portion of the ACT questions in math ask about some kind of geometry, be it planar or coordinate, and super basic algebra (proportions, one variable equations), so just go back and review these things (especially basic area and volume equations).

BREAK TIME!!!!

Use these ten minutes to destress. You’re halfway through, and you only have 70 minutes left of testing (unless you’re taking the ACT with Essay [I’m sorry lol]). Ten minutes go by very quickly, so don’t loiter around talking to friends; take care of yourself.

Tips:

Eat a quick snack! Berries are especially good for your mind and memory!

Meditate! If you’re experienced with meditation, I do really recommend this, because it’ll bring you some peace in the middle of this stress.

Take a brisk walk! Even if it’s just pacing back and forth in the classroom, I’m urging you to move around. It gets your blood pumping and will help you feel more awake, because this is a Saturday morning: everyone’s tired.

PEE. Go to the bathroom. Please. It will save you getting distracted in the reading and science sections when you need to really concentrate.

Okay, back to the test.

READING

Four passages, 35 minutes, 40 questions. To a lot of people, this seems like the easiest, but then the scores come back and they’re surprised. There are only four kinds of passages: prose fiction, social sciences, humanities, natural sciences. 

Tips:

Decide which you can get the most points on (if you’re really good at analyzing nonfiction, choose one of the nonfiction, but if you’re a regular mortal like myself, stick with the order they give you.) and do it first. 

Make sure you read the question properly! Please don’t miss a “NOT” or “LEAST LIKELY” because you didn’t take enough time to read the question.

Don’t spend five minutes trying to pronounce something like “Domenikos Theotokopulos” because you can just call him Dom (Greek painter that moved to Spain, got famous, and got nicknamed “El Greco” or The Greek.)

What I do: I always skim the passage first, absorb a little bit of information, and then it makes it easier for me to reference the passage for specific details I missed.

MAIN FOCUS: Pay attention for transition words like “however,” “but,” “yet,” and others that make the focus shift. These are almost always asked about!

SCIENCE

Again, the science test has 40 questions to answer in 35 minutes, and this is where most people run out of time. Most of this test is being able to read graphs and charts, with a little bit of middle school science knowledge mixed in. There are three different kinds of passages: Data Representation (interpret info in charts or tables), Research Summaries (analyze the design of an experiment), and Conflicting Viewpoints (more like critical reading!).

Tips:

On this one, skip straight to the questions and then go back to find the answers. Reading and trying to understand the passage right off the bat will just waste time.

You don’t have to know even a little about what they’re talking about. Haven’t taken chemistry and there’s an entire passage about it? Don’t stress: just breathe and eliminate the choices you know are wrong using information given!

BREATHE. YOU’RE ALMOST DONE.

MAIN FOCUS: Relaxing and eliminating wrong answers! 50/50 is much better than 25/25/25/25!

ESSAY

Please don’t take everything I say about this too seriously because I can write really good AP essays, but I struggle a little with the ACT.

Each ACT essay prompt gives you three perspectives to analyze. Make sure you incorporate all of them into your essay. You have 40 minutes to write an essay, so make sure you use all your time to make it good!

GENERAL TESTING TIPS

Don’t just get good sleep the night before, get at least eight hours the entire week before! This will ensure that you aren’t too tired!

Answer every single question!!! Pick a letter and stick with it–B and G are apparently very popular answers…!

Eat a good breakfast! Berries and protein and carbs! Seriously, if you aren’t hungry during the test, you have one less thing to think about other than the test.

Don’t change your answer unless you can make a solid claim for it and against your original answer! This is how I always lose points. Don’t second-guess yourself!

Get your clothes and bag ready the night before. This will save you a ton of stress in the morning.

Think positive! If you go in thinking you’ll do well, you’re more likely to do well than if you go in thinking you’re going to fail, you probably will…

HELPFUL PREP LINKS

Official ACT Website

English Practice Questions

Math Practice Tests

Reading Practice Tests

Science Practice Tests

(ACT does an official Question of the Day if you sign into your account!)

PREP BOOKS

The REAL ACT Prep Guide Third Ed.

This is the one I used and I really liked it because it had five practice tests with explanations for the answers and scoring guides.

Cracking the ACT (Princeton Review)  (4.4/5)

This has 6 practice tests (four in the book and two online) and is the bestseller on Amazon.

Kaplan ACT   (4.1/5 stars)

Three tests in the book and three online.

Barron’s ACT 36   (4.5/5 stars)

It doesn’t say how many tests??? Also, a review says this one is very good for beginners.

Personal Message

Please please remember that this test isn’t a test of intelligence. It doesn’t define you as a student or as a person. That’s not to say it isn’t important, but remember there will always be another test date. Take care of yourself and try to relax. Don’t stress too much about your score. A 17 doesn’t make you stupid, just like a 36 doesn’t automatically make someone smart. I believe in you, and you’re going to rock it!

(If I got anything wrong, or you find something I can add, please let me know; I just want to help you all.)

[isnewyork-blog]

Hello, lovelies! This week, I talk about how I got a 2300+ on the SAT without any outside tutoring or prep classes. Yes, it’s possible, and I tell you how to do it in the video.

I also put together a masterpost of resources below. Even if you aren’t self-studying, a lot of these things might be helpful:

PREP BOOKS

Official College Board SAT Study Guide (The Blue Book)

Direct Hits Vocabulary (Volume 1) // Direct Hits Vocabulary (Volume 2) – What makes these books stand out from other SAT vocab books is the use of pop culture references to explain definitions. For example, the first word in Volume 1, ambivalent, is given the sentence: “In The Avengers, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, and Thor are initially ambivalent about joining S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Avengers Initiative.”

Barrons SAT 2400 – Fabulous book, helpful strategies. I didn’t read the whole thing or do all the practice problems; I only used it for extra help on the sections I struggled with.

Grubers SAT 2400 – Didn’t personally use it myself, but it was recommended by a lot of my friends.

CRITICAL READING

→ Non-SAT Critical Reading Advice

→ My favorite reading sources:

The Atlantic – mix of interesting articles

Variety – pop culture focus, but with more cultured language

New Yorker – very cultured, good place to pick up vocabulary

New York Times – classic SAT reading material

Boston Globe – I have a soft spot in my heart for their entertainment and style sections

National Geographic – exactly the sort of passages you’ll find on the SAT

→ Vocab Flashcards (mentioned in video)

WRITING

→ Top Writing Errors

→ Top Grammar Rules

MATHEMATICS

→ Khan Academy

[isnewyork-blog]

It’s never too early to start studying for AP’s! Here’s a list of all the classes we have taken or will be taking this year. These are credible resources and we hope they help you as much as they helped us. Good luck! (an asterisk* is used to indicate purchase is necessary)

AP Biology 

Barron’s Flashcards (either get these or the review book; both aren’t needed)*

Barron’s Review Book ($13 but worth it)*

Bozeman Science Videos (AP Bio Essentials Playlist, Labs, and Final Review)

Learnerator Guide

AP Calculus (AB and BC)

Calculus Cheat Sheet

Elaine Cheong’s Study Guide

Final Review Sheet

Guide to Self-Studying BC

Quizlet of Calc Vocab

Stuff You Must Know Cold (AB and BC)

AP Comparative Government

One Month Study Guide

Practice Exams 

Quizlet

Guide to Russian Gov

Study Guide by Ethel Woods

AP Economics (Micro and Macro)

No Bull Economics Lessons Video

Released Practice Tests (practice tests are KEY to doing well on this exam)

The Princeton Review *

15 Minute Final Review (Macro)

19 Minute Final Review (Micro)

AP English Language

Course Notes 

How to Study

Study Notes (sample essays and rhetorical terms)

The Princeton Review (2016 edition)*

What You Must Know

AP English Literature

AP Practice Exams (practice tests, vocabulary, example essays, flashcards)

College Board Released FRQ’s and Scoring Guide 

Youtube Playlist for Lit

AP European History

Comprehensive Study Guide by Steven Mercado

Crash Course Book (the only review book you need!)*

Flashcards

History Exam Review Page

Quizlet

Study Notes

AP French Language and Culture

College Board (pratice exams, frq’s, scoring information)

Practice Exam

Quizlet

AP Physics (Algebra-based)

Practice Exam (practice test, flashcards, review)

Bozeman Science Videos Physics Playlist

Learnerator Flashcards

AP Statistics (requested)

Cumulative AP Stats Study Guide

AP Statistics Review

Course Notes

AP United States Government

Government Review (142 pages… but it has a lot of valuable information)

One Month Study Guide

Quizlet

Study Notes

AP United States History

Barron’s Flashcards*

Barron’s Review Book*

Crash Course Videos (John Green!) 

Study Notes (topic outlines, practice tests, timelines, sample essays, vocab) 

AP World History

Cram Packets and Review Sheets

Course Notes

One Month Study Guide

Quizlet

Study Notes

World History 101

Hope this helps! Feel free to send us your favorite links here and we will check them out and add them!

[isnewyork-blog]

IF YOU ARE STUDYING FOR GLOBAL, HERE IS A BEAUTIFUL PACKET MY TEACHER GAVE ME.

[isnewyork-blog]

If flowers were people roses would be THAT BITCH…like sipping champagne on a balcony overlooking Paris at sunset in a silk nightie while their man makes dinner

[isnewyork-blog]

RIP Larnell (x)

[isnewyork-blog]

Reblog if you ARE a woman in STEM, SUPPORT women in STEM, or ARE STILL BITTER about Rosalind Franklin not getting credit for discovering the structure of DNA and the Nobel prize going to Watson and Crick instead.

[isnewyork-blog]

Bob Morley on Bellamy Blake’s relationship with Gina

[isnewyork-blog]

Beyoncé attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City.

[isnewyork-blog]

AP BIO MASTERPOST

My AP Bio teacher gave us a list of websites that are actually really helpful so I thought I’d share them just in case anyone is struggling out there. They are all the sources she uses to come up with lesson plans. You can repost this if you want because I didn’t come up with it! Anyways here you go good luck! Let me know if any links are jacked up.

tutorials, homework, and assessments for bio

magazine of the society & science of the public

latest research news

discussion boards for ap teachers

ted talks

interactive simulations for biology

use of miniposters in the classroom

biology animation library

the scale of the universe

full nova episodes

audience response polling website (idk why this is here but who knows)

nsta learning center

multimedia resources

proteins databank

howard hughes medical institute

collection of bioscience images

[isnewyork-blog]

School Masterpost

RESEARCHING

Google like a boss

NOTE TAKING

note taking techniques 

nice notes

How to effectively take notes

taking notes effectively and practically

guide to notetaking

online study resources

in class notes

symbols and abbreviations for note taking

various types of subheading

RANDOM TIPS

Back to school

ANSWERS

Every textbook answer ever

HEALTHY FOOD

Packed meals

what to eat before a workout

25 quick and healthy breakfasts

study snacks 

drink lemon water!! 

MENTAL HEALTH + WELL-BEING

Sleeping tips

Becoming stress free

How to be happy

How to remove toxic people from your life

how to wake up early

how to go to bed early & fall asleep

mornings tag

drink lemon water!!

what to eat during exams

keep a health tracker

vegan food on the go

how to drink more water

anxiety tricks

study snacks

self care masterpost

20 things you should do everyday

what to do on a bad day

tips for stressed out students

sounds to soothe anxiety

what to do when ur stressed

When do go to sleep

ORGANIZATION 

Organize the school year

5 ways to make your life more organized 

how to organize your school work

color coding

folder organization how i organize myself 

organize your life: notetaking edition 

organization guide 

study organization 

make your own syllable 

how to be organized 

how to get & stay organized 

keeping your notes organized 

how to make organized notes 

getting organized and keeping it up

keep your school bag organized

how to organize your desk

an app that organizes your time for you

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE 

How to get straight A’s

How to get top grades

How to improve your grades

How to apply to university

How to track your grades

Grade calculator

MOTIVATION

How to become disciplined

Stay focused: Train your brain

Stay motivated

Get motivated

Motivational quotes

Why motivation is important

ESSAY TIPS

How to plan an essay

Essay tips

How to write an introduction

How to write a conclusion

how to write an essay

essay writing tips

how to approach poetry analysis in an exam

guide on punctuation

Word will format your entire paper

do your eyes a favor and change the background color

tools for referencing

social media citation guide

100+ words for SAT

transition words

synonyms for “different”

synonyms for “shows”

synonyms for “suggests”

synonyms for “said”

synonyms for “increase” and “decrease”

synonyms for words commonly used in students’ writings

45 ways to avoid using the word “very”

MATH

How to ace a math exam 

how to study math(s)

Preparing for math exams

CHEMISTRY

studying chemistry 

Chemistry Tips

TIPS AND HACKS

15 days bts plan 

back to school tips

 back to school hacks 

bts tips and motivation 

5 things to do before school starts 

back to school series 

getting prepared for the year

preparing for school in the summer 

surviving junior year

tips that will make your school year easier 

getting prepared for school 

“how i survive school”

STUDY TIPS

how to start studying 

study methods

5 tips for mindmapping

what to do the night b4 an exam

mastering tests: draft a study plan

timed memorization

how to revise notes

things not to do when studying 

5 tips on keeping your attention in class

SAT/ACT

sat math tips 

free sat/ap prep materials

sat masterpost

sat tips

sat subject tests

sat study guide

sat tips

self study for the sat 

PRINTABLES

ANTI-PROCRASTINATION 

Anti-procrastination masterpost

websites/apps that will help you with procrastination

the science of procrastination, and how to beat it

how to overcome procrastination