For students in the midst of their ACT or SAT prep, winter break can be an excellent opportunity to relax and refresh both the brain and the body. While some students choose to continue studying during their vacations, others pause their grueling daily routine, rest their minds and connect with friends and family.
However, there is one activity that all students can participate in during winter break that can keep their brains active and alert without adding to their stress: gaming.
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The following types of games use a variety of approaches to help students acquire the knowledge and skills critical for success on the SAT or ACT, and they also provide an enjoyable diversion. Experiment with them during this winter break.
— Test-specific games: There are multiple games available on a variety of platforms that can help you prepare for specific standardized exams. These can be more engaging than traditional study methods like test prep books.
For iOS users, apps like SAT Word Slam and SAT Vocab are excellent resources for vocabulary review that extend beyond simple flashcard shuffling. Students who intend to complete the ACT or who own Android devices might find fewer vocabulary gaming apps like these, but the categories below can supplement their study .
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— Logic puzzle games: The ACT and SAT are designed to assess the way you think just as much, if not more, than the knowledge you possess. For this reason our performance on these exams may also improve if you can train your mind to function more efficiently and in more complex ways.
There are numerous websites like Lumosity that provide games designed to train your brain in specific ways. Additionally, logic puzzles such as KenKen or Sudoku provide useful and fun mind exercises that can help you solve the sometimes complex math problems on the SAT and ACT.
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— Educational video games: Whether it’s computer games, console games, smartphone games or online games, it is not overly difficult to find a program that is both fun and educationally useful. When considering the idea of an educational video game, students should not only think of trivia games and word games, but also of games such as Minecraft or the Portal series, which are designed to build creativity and problem-solving skills.
Students should remember that playing games can help build their mental skills, as well as serve as a fun diversion with which to occupy themselves during winter break. Whether the games you choose are designed for test prep, other educational purposes or simply for challenging your logic and exercising your brain, there are a number of ways to keep your mental edge during this down time while still being able to indulge in a brief respite from the normal study schedule.
This is important, as pausing your typical review regimen over your vacation can be an important part of keeping yourself balanced during what can be a very stressful time.
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Get Gaming Over Winter Break to Improve SAT, ACT Prep originally appeared on usnews.com