Author: Graham Taylor

You may have started this week off with yawns as we set our clocks one hour ahead on Sunday. Although only one hour was lost, it could have some effects on how we function.

Perhaps you don’t need Daylight Saving Time to lose an hour of sleep. Maybe you come to the end of a day and need to study for the EPPP for one more hour before you go to bed. Don’t be so eager to get that late night caffeine boost to stay awake because time spent sleeping might be just as valuable as time spent studying. And time spent studying on less than seven hours of sleep might not be valuable at all.

As it turns out, yawning is not the only side effect of losing sleep. Continue reading →

In Daniel Goleman’s bestselling book Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence, he describes how the power to disengage our attention from one thing and focus on another is crucial to well-being and success.

Anyone who has spent long periods of time studying–whether for college exams or for the EPPP–probably knows that it’s easy to become distracted by worries, distressing thoughts and the emotional turmoil of our lives. Learning to disengage from these types of distractions can be extremely difficult, but it is the key to success.

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Two weeks ago we began exploring how to find motivation when it is lacking. We revisited and expanded on Dan Gilbert’s equation for expectation and value and discussed ways to find out what is blocking our much needed motivation to study for the EPPP.

 Once you find out what is blocking your motivation, you can take a step further to assess the cause of your lack of motivation. This step can leave you motivated to move forward with EPPP test prep. Continue reading →

Earlier posts in this series on procrastination looked at statistics showing that the greater a gap between when a person graduates and when they sit for the EPPP, the more likely it is they will get a bad score or fail altogether.

But if procrastinating on EPPP prep diminishes the likelihood of success, in addition to causing a delay in career plans, why do we do it? Why do so many people put off preparing for the EPPP, thus causing themselves more stress in the long run?

Until recently, the answer to this question was shrouded in mystery. At least as far back as the ancient Greeks, people knew that procrastination was a problem, but they didn’t know why some people seem prone to this weakness while others don’t. But after a long delay (no irony intended) scientists are finally beginning to understand the science behind procrastination. Continue reading →

Most, if not all, of us would agree that success in studying for the EPPP means getting a passing score. This outcome, however, is not instantly gratifying in that it requires dedicated hours of study. When it comes to studying, we experience what is called delayed gratification. This concept is the springboard for the three reasons I have found to be at the root of unsuccessful ventures in studying for the EPPP. Continue reading →

The beginning of this month marked a new year and, therefore, a fresh start at keeping the promises we make to ourselves. We gave you some tips on keeping your New Year’s resolution of EPPP test prep success in Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution: Getting off to a good start in EPPP test prep in 2016. To follow up, I want to point you to some of the psychology behind why New Year’s resolutions are known for failure and how to combat that failure. Continue reading →

Failure creates a strong sense of doubt in our abilities and leaves us feeling like we are not good enough. Whether you were unsuccessful in a practice exam or the actual EPPP, failing after hours dedicated to study can leave you less than motivated to try again. Failing discourages us from pressing forward because it leaves us afraid of more failure. It makes us believe that only someone innately brilliant can succeed. The belief that the EPPP is only for people who are naturally smart is popular but completely false. You do not have to be a genius to pass the EPPP. Continue reading →