Lots of people think they best way to prepare for a test is to read, take notes, and look over your notes again the night before you take the test.
Recent research suggests that these people are wrong. According to a pair of studies cited in Scientific American, the way to study for a test is to follow this simple formula:
The key point here is that taking a test and not getting the right answer primes you to look for the right answer when you're reading - so taking that test (and doing badly) helps provide you for the purpose for reading that you need in order to take good notes.
How this applies to us
One thing you can do based on this information is to take the mini-quiz in Barron's before you read the chapter, then take it again afterwards. This is a good strategy, but it has one flaw: it means that you'll just be focused on the information in the questions - when on the day of the SAT II, the questions might be about totally different information.
Soooooo, I suggest taking lots and lots of different practice tests. Fortunately, there are lots online!
Here are a few practice test sites to choose from:
If you keep on taking these quizzes in addition to the Barron's quizzes, and you read a full history book (whether Barron's, US History For Dummies, or something totally different), you should be in great shape for the US History SAT II!
Recent research suggests that these people are wrong. According to a pair of studies cited in Scientific American, the way to study for a test is to follow this simple formula:
- Take a practice quiz (even though you'll do really badly
- Read and take notes
- Take another practice quiz
- Read and take notes
- Take another practice quiz.
- And so on...
The key point here is that taking a test and not getting the right answer primes you to look for the right answer when you're reading - so taking that test (and doing badly) helps provide you for the purpose for reading that you need in order to take good notes.
How this applies to us
One thing you can do based on this information is to take the mini-quiz in Barron's before you read the chapter, then take it again afterwards. This is a good strategy, but it has one flaw: it means that you'll just be focused on the information in the questions - when on the day of the SAT II, the questions might be about totally different information.
Soooooo, I suggest taking lots and lots of different practice tests. Fortunately, there are lots online!
Here are a few practice test sites to choose from:
- College Board (these are "official" practice tests)
- Learningpod (nicely divided into chronological sections, but not "official").
- 4Tests (definitely not "official". If these questions seem inaccurate, they probably are! But if you can tell they're inaccurate, that means you're getting to know your stuff!)
- Varsity Tutors (same disclaimer as 4Tests)
- Finally, you can find lots more quizzes on my DP here.
If you keep on taking these quizzes in addition to the Barron's quizzes, and you read a full history book (whether Barron's, US History For Dummies, or something totally different), you should be in great shape for the US History SAT II!