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Test prep
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Reduce test anxiety
Cramming

• Don't use vague words
• Use active instead of passive verbs. Use the "to be" verbs only when no other verb can be used, for example:
  • am, was, being, are, were, been, is, be
• Action verbs
  • explained, emphasized, illustrated, portrayed

Be coherent

Using transitional phrases helps to carry over one sentence to another, one idea to another, or one paragraph to another.

• By comparison: whereas, but, on the other hand, except, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis
• By proof: because, for since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition
• By exception: yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes
• By sequence: first, second, third, etc., A, B, C, etc., 1, 2, 3, etc., next, then following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, after this, previously, antecedent to, preceding this, simultaneously, concurrently, at this time, thus, therefore
• By example: for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of..., proof of this, testimony of this, evidence of this

Use a variety of sentence patterns

Following are some suggestions to add variety to your sentence structure:

• Begin with an adverb: "Slowly the see reveals its secrets to us."
• Begin with a gerund: "Swimming in a pond is very relaxing."
• Begin with an infinitive phrase: "To protect our future on this earth we must protect the earth."
• Begin with a present participle: "Skimming the water's surface, pelicans search hungrily."
• Begin with a past participle: "Satisfied with the day's catch, the sun-parched fisherman went home."
• Begin with an adverbial phrase: "Whenever man sails away from his homeland, he is inevitabley caught by the romance of the see."
• Use an appositive: "The pacific, the largest body of water on the planet, touches the shores of six continents."
• Ask a question
• Use an Exclamation
• Use conversation: "The captain warned, 'All those with queasy stomaches should stay by the rail.'"