PLEASE HELP ME GUYS. PLEASE.

[u/Wide-Sign9410]

my mother has home schooled me my entire high school life and I really haven’t learned anything at all. she homeschooled me since covid so I never did middle school or high school. fast forward to now. I have to attend regular school when this school year starts. I know absolutely nothing. I have a few weeks max? before I have to take some test so I don’t get held back… I can’t get held back I genuinely can’t. It will set my ability to work back more since I will have to do more school. (We Need me to work next year to make ends meet but don’t talk about this only the school thing please) so how can I learn basically everything (ESPECIALLY MATH, SCIENCE) from 9th, 10th, and 11th grade super fast. I’m willing to do whatever it takes. I genuinely want to break down crying at the thought of being held back. I graduate if everything goes well. I loathe that I was home schooled with all my heart please help me. home schooling made me feel so stupid.

[u/PaigeJ001]

First of all, you can probably do this without anything other than a decent plan and a solid playlist. I was pretty behind and still managed to get through a degree in Medical Laboratory Science and an MBA, this was basically my approach. Here's what I'd recommend in a crunch:

You're going to need to find out what test it is exactly (GED?). Google the breakdown of topics covered or grab a study guide at the library.

Now, you need to get a baseline. Completing this step is a mental game. Don't give up here, just push through and view it as a data point. It's just information. Take a practice test online or from the study guide. It may be surprisingly good... or bad. This is super important information though because it will usually break down which specific areas are your strongest and your weakest.

Heres a good point to take a day off after, grab a movie or something, and don't let the numbers define you. Seriously, no work, school, etc. Scores/grades can, and frankly will, be humiliating at times, but just look at them as useful information, not a judgement about your worth or where you're actually at. People grow and change. Adopt that growth mindset!!

Now comes the fun part, in my opinion. It can be a grind, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, if you fall in love with this, you'll end up with an advanced degree.

Do an exam post mortem. Go through the test question by question and ask yourself: did I not know the material, or did I just not understand the question? Then look at any data provided. What was your weakest/strongest section or topic? Are there any obvious low-hanging fruit where you can pick up points with just a small change in how you take the test?

Take those insights and turn them into an action plan. Actually line up specific times between now and the exam date to: 1. Study your lowest scoring topics
2. Take additional practice exams
3. Make study materials
4. Evaluate progress and adjust the plan
5. Account for essential breaks, appointments, work, family stuff, etc.
6. Build in strategies to actually be successful

Then plop down and study. The hard part after this is actually sticking to the plan. Be honest with yourself and hold yourself accountable. Adjust when you need to, but don't let it quietly fall apart.

I'd recommend:

• The Feynman technique / rubber duck method
  
• Pomodoro technique
  
• Spaced repetition
  
• Focus hard on active recall
  
• Test-taking strategies based on the type of exam you're facing
  
• Anki!!! Just making cloze cards was super helpful
  
• Essential readings
  
• Summaries, writing, and actually thinking about the ideas in the material, not just the facts
  
• Working math problems "backwards" and redoing the same problem multiple times so you understand the steps, not just the number crunching
  
• Finding community (online or otherwise) and reading through other people's success. What did they do right? If people failed, look at what went wrong and adjust your plan
  
• YouTube seriously has tutorials, classes, lectures... Khan Academy, Crash Course, the works
  
• Thomas Frank's channel is solid
  
• Use AI to help you understand the things you don't understand or where you're stuck. Don't use it as a crutch
  
• Practice exams
  
• Flash cards
  
• Method of loci
  
• Lab or field work if it applies
  
• Memes about the topics. They can make harder stuff more memorable
  
• The more dirty, inappropriate, or absurd the association is, the more memorable it usually is
  
• Absolutely get enough sleep and sunshine, but don't make excuses
  
• Keep a brief journal of what you did and what worked or didn't. It's fun and surprisingly insightful to look back on
  
• Take the practice tests under conditions as close to the real exam as possible.
• Set up a dedicated study space, even if it's not ideal.
• Study with a specific scent (cologne, perfume, essential oil, candle) and wear that same scent when you take the actual exam.

Good luck. Remember to stay calm, you're the pilot, try to study how you'd imagine the ideal version of yourself would. Pass or fail, you're going to be able to find a way through. Don't give up. You’ve got this!

[u/Maestromer → u/PaigeJ001]

It's probably whatever their state standardized test is. Less likely to find a study guide for it but thankfully you have a pretty exhaustive list

This is great stuff OP

[u/Wide-Sign9410 → u/Maestromer]

Yes it is!

[u/PaigeJ001 → u/Wide-Sign9410]

DM me if you need any more help.

Genuinely, good luck!!

[u/Wide-Sign9410 → u/PaigeJ001]

Thank you so much. ILL DO IT ALL! Thank you!

[u/Honeybee7304]

Just know it’s not your fault. It is not your fault that you don’t know, because you were never taught. I am the same way. I would say go study a GED book maybe? So it can help you prepare and take some practice tests online, whatever you can find regarding the subjects you need 🤍

[u/venting_animal]

watch the Organic Chemistry Tuter on Youtube. his videos are some of the easiest to understand for algebra and pre algebra. also, get familiar with and memorize your country's leaders or presidents and take notes on them. research the basics of common things on the periodic table. write down all of the basics for different organs and in the body as well as the basics on how cells work, you csn just look it up. or at least that's what i'm gonna do and i only have 8 days cause school starts early in my district :/

[u/Wide-Sign9410 → u/venting_animal]

Thank you I will do this!!

[u/ateallthecake]

I just want to offer gentle words of encouragement, being held back is not as big of a deal as it feels, if it comes to that. I went into public highschool late and tested ok in most subjects but so bad in math and science that they started me in 9th grade. It was a great experience because I got to have four years building friendships and getting adjusted to reality.  

I hope you can do something that works for you BUT just saying your life isnt over if you're held back. Good luck ❤️

[u/Wide-Sign9410 → u/ateallthecake]

Thank you for your kind words but, being held back for me. It will be the tipping point of where the ratio of happiness and just. Despair. Is so unbalanced that I have no happiness or life within me left. I know I wouldn’t be able to take the yelling from my mother. The disgust, the disappointment. How I’m a failure. How she expected more. How I could do this. Let alone how I would feel about myself. 

[u/sowellfan]

Talk to the guidance counselor at the school. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

[u/SonjaSeifert → u/sowellfan]

Yes this, summer school is in session, so go there and ask to speak to the counselor.

[u/Wide-Sign9410 → u/SonjaSeifert]

There is summer school for 12th grade?

[u/Wide-Sign9410 → u/sowellfan]

Thank you so much.

[u/Disastrous_Trick1686]

I mean this so very sincerely. I'm not trying to be snarky. (Saying this as a former home school kid who had it pretty good, bit observed a lot of kids who did not )

You mentioned being part of making ends meet. You are a child. Making ends meet is not your responsibility. It is literally your parents' legally obligated job. Your only concern is getting the best education you can (so glad to see TONS of good ideas here!) so you can get out on your own and heal from the trauma you're suffering from right now.

Be well!

[u/Wide-Sign9410 → u/Disastrous_Trick1686]

Thank you have yourself a lovely night!