QUESTION:  I am 50 years old and have been in school for a year and a half. I just passed my 75 wpm test and my fellow students which are younger passed much sooner than me. Is age a fator in learning? I'm putting in about 3-4 hours a day practice, do I need to do more to keep up with them?

ANSWER:  Dedicated practice that is directed towards your shortcomings is needed.  You are already putting in more time than is necessary.  Instead, think about what happens during a drill or a test.  There is a reason why you are not passing.  It could be clarity, test nerves, carrying, big words, phrases, etc. 

Clarity must be a constant.  You must always have it.  Test nerves must be faced and dealt with.  Test nerves keep us from writing to our full potential.

Carrying is a subject that is not understood.  Essentially, carrying should be kept to a minimum.  Keep reading the blogs to find out all about the subject.

Almost everything else is minor, but nevertheless, they must be dealt with.  If you want to know more briefs or phrases, start a list and review it constantly.  If you have trouble with big words, find some thick material and drill slow.  If you don't like certain strokes in your Theory, you will have to review those over and over.

It is not a problem of speed.  Your tests are not asking you to write very fast.  They are asking that you keep your hands moving.  If you can't think of the brief, then write the word out.  If you can't think of the exact stroke, use a good phonetic stroke.