So I have made the decision to go to school... finally. YAY!!! lol. But it's been a while since I graduated, and when I took a practice test I found out that I am miserably behind in math. I hated math in school, so it's really not much of a surprise to me that I'm horrible at it... but I wanted to study up a bit before taking my 'real' compass test. I have found one site called yourteacher.com that has free demo lessons, but they are only demos. I need REAL lessons!!! LOL! (you can subscribe for real lessons, but you have to pay for it.) I'm broke, (we will barely be able to afford the school, but feel that it will be worth the struggle when I'm done) so I need free lessons. Is there a website you just LOVE that teaches math? I need to focus on Algebra (Blegh) and Geometry (Yak.) I would prefer some kind of 'teacher' (the site with the demo has video clips of a teacher explaining the stuff, along with a couple practice questions... something like that would be perfect if I didn't have to pay for it!) but a do-it-yourself with an idiot-proof guide would be OK too. I tried the Compass test site, but they only have practice tests, not any lessons. (that I could find at least.) Thanks mommas!
~The compass test is a test that measures your skills... you answer one question, and if you get it right you get a harder question. Get it wrong, you get an easier one. It's for older people who haven't taken the SAT or ACT, but want to go to school.
OH NO!!! The site I have been using doesn't even do the free demos any more!!! Sad day!!! I just tried to do another lesson and it won't work. Sigh. So now I really need help finding something...
A friend of mine survived Calculus by looking up problems on youtube. They have alot of clips of professors explaining theories and problems in a classroom setting in front of a chalkboard. I'm sure you could find help for basic math problems there.
GL on your new venture!
First of all, just because you were not good with math many years ago, does not mean that you will not be good at it now. However, if you go into with an attitude of defeat, that is what you will find. how about checking your local adult education programs, perhaps contact your local high school and see if there is some way you can barter with a teacher of math for lessons. Barring that, there ARE combination workbook/lesson books available. Check a local book store.
You could try Teaching Textbooks. I haven't used it, but other homeschool moms recommend it. I use Saxon math for my kids. You can get it cheap on Amazon. That's just a textbook style course, but written well enough that my kids pretty much teach themselves. Hope it goes well - good for you! ( :
I teach remedial math at a university, and we use the COMPASS as a placement exam. From everything that I have seen, it does a very good job of placing you. Most of my students are straight out of high school, but I do have several non-traditional students this semester.
I don't know that you would be doing yourself any favors by trying to score higher on the COMPASS than you would right now. Yes, you might get placed in a lower level math class than you'd like, and that would mean paying to take a remedial math class. However, if you are placed higher than you are really ready for, you will most likely struggle because there will be concepts that you either do not remember or do not have the background for.
Several of my students have said that they were initially very disappointed by their placement, but after taking the class feel so much more confident about math.
Personally, I would recommend you take the exam and go with the placement. You will probably learn the material much better that way.
Go to youtube and type algebra help or geometry help in the search.
I found this amazing book called "Math Doesn't Suck" its written by the chick who played Winnie in the Wonder Years. It was really easy to follow and gave a lot of good simple advice on how to do the problems. I am a total idiot when it comes to math, but it totally got me through the CBEST!
I doubt that you'll find anything free that's comprehensive, unfortunately. I teach SAT and ACT prep and the company I work for charges $100 an hour for private tutoring. I'm not familiar with Compass, but if it's like other standardized tests, there's probably a big book that you can buy (or get from the library) with practice problems and a detailed answer section that explains the answers. Other than that, you can google one problem at a time and find very specific tutorials on particular problems. I sometimes do this when I have an ACT student because that test covers trig and I forget things like chords and altitude. If you have any particular questions, feel free to PM me and I can explain things. Good for you for pursuing your education, and don't let this get in the way of your dreams! Even if you can't really crack the code on this before taking the test, take it anyway and then enroll in a basic math class if they require you to do so.
I second Lisa S's recommendation of Saxon Math. I used these when homeschooling my kids. Each lesson is short, with a clear and brief explanation, sample problems and then a problem set that reviews previous lessons. The format is easy to follow and you can find the books used for about $20-25 per grade. They come with a textbook, tests and teacher key. Check with your local homeschool group because soon, families will be selling their used books from the last school year.
Could you go look at your local library for some old text books?
I had to take calculus after taking college algebra 22 years earlier. I feel your pain. Other than the class I didn't have to prove my math prowess until my GMAT.
What is a Compass test anyway? Maybe if I knew that I could point you in the right direction. My kids and I took the ACT and SAT, no Compass.
Don't know if you've tried YouTube already, but I have found lots of math help there. Some of the videos are from yourteacher.com, but if you've exhausted all those there are others posted by different people. The more specific you can be the better (i.e., instead of 'geometry' you can put 'pythagorean theorem,' etc.). Having said that, if you can find a real math teacher in your area, maybe someone who teaches jr. high or even remedial math, it might be worth a few extra dollars for a few basic tutoring sessions. I had a fear of math early on-- I mean I really sucked at it-- and it ruined me for a while, but in jr. high my mom insisted I be put in the remedial math class and it saved my life (I now have a PhD in a field that uses a lot of math!). Maybe you could check at the library-- they always know where the good tutors are. I see that you are in Cleveland, TN--is that right? Don't know where that is, exactly, but I am in Mississippi, and if you can't find anyone there I know an AWESOME math tutor just south of Memphis!
The Technical Colleges in Wisconsin offer GOAL classes, free. They are for non-traditional students who need to spruce up their skills. They offer them in math-reading-english and maybe a few more subjects. Contact a school counselor and see if they are offered in your area.
