Should You Take the PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT

Should You Take the PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The two tests are very similar, but not identical. So which one should you take? Back in my day (when dinosaurs roamed the earth), there was just one version of the PSAT, a.k.a. the Practice SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. But now, the College Board has multiple versions of the PSAT, including the PSAT NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) and the PSAT 10. So what are the differences between the two tests? And which one should you take? Read on for an exclusive guide. What's the Difference Between PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT? Before we give you any advice on which version of the PSAT to take, we're going to quickly review the difference between the PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT. Seeour in-depth post about the PSAT 10 here. So What’s the PSAT 10? You’ve probably heard of the PSAT NMSQT – it’s the practice SAT that also gives juniors a chance to qualify for the National Merit competition. (Read more about National Merit over here.) So what is the PSAT 10? Like its name implies, the PSAT 10 is another practice SAT. It has SAT question types and the same content: Reading, Writing, and Math. But the PSAT 10 is specifically designed for sophomores, whereas the PSAT NMSQT is written with juniors in mind. We’ll go over some of the similarities and differences between the tests to help you decide which one to take. Similarities Between the Tests There are more similarities than differences between the PSAT 10 and the PSAT NMSQT. Both tests are SAT practice tests. That means both are shorter than the â€Å"real† SAT but contain similar question types to help you prepare for it. The timing of the tests is also the same. Both the PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT are two hours and 45 minutes long. The Reading section is 60 minutes and has 47 questions. The Writing section is 35 minutes long and has 44 questions. And finally, the Math section is 70 minutes long and has 48 questions. And while two hours and 45 minutes is a long time, it's a walk in the park compared to the marathon experience that is the SAT. Both tests present each sub-area (Math, Writing, and Reading) as a single section, like the SAT. Additionally, neither test has an essay, unlike the SAT. Both tests are primarily designed to introduce students to SAT content, so the question types and content are very similar to the SAT. However, both tests are easier than the real SAT. The Math section won’t be as difficult (expect less trigonometry, plus easier geometry and algebra questions), the Reading passages will not include college-level texts, and the Writing section will have more straightforward passages. The two tests also have the same scoring scale: you will be scored between 320-1520 for PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT, as compared to 400-1600 for the â€Å"real† SAT. This comes out to between 160 and 760 per section. Differences Between the Tests There are two differences between PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT: The first is difficulty. The PSAT 10 is designed for sophomores, and PSAT NMSQT is designed for juniors, so the PSAT NMSQT is slightly harder. Unfortunately, while College Board has released some specifications as to what the new SAT and PSAT questions will be like, they haven’t gone into detail about how the difficulty level varies between tests. In general, you can expect the PSAT NMSQT to have harder math including geometry and trigonometry, reading passages designed for 11th graders as opposed to 10th graders, and trickier grammar rules. For a more detailed breakdown of what you can expect on the PSAT 10, see our post. The second difference between the tests is the National Merit Competition. Only taking the PSAT NMSQT during your junior year can qualify you for the National Merit competition. Taking the PSAT 10 will never qualify you for National Merit, even if you take it as a junior. And taking the PSAT NMSQT in any year other than your junior year will also not qualify you, even if you get a high enough score. If you’re hoping to qualify for National Merit, that goal will be a pretty big part of your decision between the two tests. We’ll look at both your options in detail and help you decide which test to take. Should I Take PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT? This advice varies by grade level, so find your current grade below to get our advice. The College Board recommends that juniors take the PSAT NMSQT, sophomores take the PSAT 10, and freshmen take the PSAT 8/9 (yep, there is yet another version of the PSAT designed for even younger students!). We’ll go over some reasons why you might want to take a different PSAT level than College Board recommends. Get a step ahead. Decision for Seniors You should not be taking any version of the PSAT at this point! Study for the SAT! Decision for Juniors The vast majority of juniors should take the PSAT NMSQT if they take any version of the PSAT. Even if your school allows students to take the PSAT 10 as a junior, the NMSQT is your best bet. Even if you think you won’t do well, this is your shot at qualifying for National Merit, so you might as well take it. Plus, regardless of how well you do, the PSAT gives you practice for actual SAT questions – and the PSAT NMSQT is the hardest PSAT you can take. That means it’s a great way to either jump-start your SAT studying, or continue it if you’ve already begun. You can use your PSAT score to help create goals and guidelines for your SAT studying. (Read more about how to get the most out of your PSAT score here.) This can help you get the best possible score on the SAT, which opens doors to selective colleges and scholarships. In rare cases a junior might consider the PSAT 10 – since it’s slightly easier, it might be a good option if you’re an English Language Learner and want an easier introduction to the SAT (particularly the reading section), or if you’re seriously behind in one subject. The PSAT 10 will still introduce you to SAT content and question types and help prepare you for the SAT. If you’re a junior but think you might benefit from a slightly easier introduction to the SAT, talk to your guidance counselor to see if your school will let you take the PSAT 10 instead of the SAT NMSQT. Want to improve your PSAT score by 150 points? We have the industry's leading PSAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today: Decision for Sophomores Sophomore year is the year you will probably have the hardest time deciding which test to take. You could feasibly take either the PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT, depending on your goals. I called College Board and verified that sophomores can take the PSAT NMSQT as long as it’s ok with their high schools. So make sure to double check with your guidance counselor whether or not you can take the PSAT NMSQT as a sophomore before proceeding! Take the PSAT NMSQT If: You’re a high-achieving student aiming to get into Ivy Leagues or similarly competitive schools. You’re aiming for a National Merit Scholarship. You have any previous exposure to high-stakes testing (for example you took the ACT/SAT for a talent competition in middle school, you took AP tests freshman year, or you have already taken the PSAT in some form). Why is the PSAT NMSQT better for high-achieving tenth graders? Because taking the PSAT NMSQT gives you more rigorous SAT practice early on, and increases your chances of doing well enough on the PSAT NMSQT to qualify for National Merit your junior year. I actually took the PSAT NMSQT as a sophomore (this was long before PSAT 10 existed). Although my scores were much lower sophomore year than junior year, having that extra practice run helped me score well enough junior year to qualify for National Merit since I knew what was coming for me junior year. While you can definitely get good practice with the PSAT 10, getting previous exposure to the National Merit qualifying test can be more helpful. Take the PSAT 10 If: You’re not aiming for a top 20 school but you’re still looking to score well enough on the SAT to get into other good colleges and/or get scholarships. You don’t have any previous exposure to high-stakes testing and want an easier introduction to SAT content and question types. In terms of qualifying for National Merit, keep in mind that you can take the PSAT 10 and still study for the PSAT NMSQT for junior year. However, you should study extra hard to be prepared for the slightly harder PSAT NMSQT in junior year. Decision for Freshmen For freshmen, the choice is between the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 (The PSAT 8/9 is an easier version of the PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT, with very similar question types and content). The PSAT NMSQT will likely have content beyond your reach and be frustrating. It will be more productive for freshmen to take a test designed for their grade level, or close to it. You’ll still get excellent practice on the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 and build up to take the PSAT NMSQT for the first time sophomore year. Take the PSAT 10 If: You’re a high-achieving student aiming for a top college. You took the PSAT 8/9 in eighth grade and want a bigger challenge. You have past exposure to high-stakes testing (for example, you took the SAT or ACT for a talent competition in middle school, or tested into a competitive school or gifted program). Take the PSAT 8/9 If: You haven’t taken the PSAT 8/9 before. You don’t have any exposure to high-stakes tests yet. You want an introduction to the SAT without quite as much stress. Though College Board has yet to invent a stress-free test. Maybe that will be in the next batch of assessments. And remember, if you're just a freshmen, qualifying for National Merit and taking the real SAT aren't immediate concerns. Whichever test you take, remember that it's just practice. And focus on doing well in your core classes, especially math and language arts, so you can build the skills you'll need to do well on the SAT in a few years' time. Bottom Line The PSAT NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 are all quite similar - their only difference is the slightly ramped up difficulty for each successive test. That means each test is going to give you excellent practice for the real SAT. You should aim to take the harder test for your grade level (PSAT NMSQT in 10th grade, PSAT 10 in 9th grade) if you are set on getting a National Merit scholarship and/or getting into a top college. Otherwise, taking the test designed for your grade level is a great way to get introduced to the SAT and prepare for the college admissions process. What’s Next? The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 were created as part of an expanded line of SAT assessments, including the new SAT. Read about the new SAT to get a detailed breakdown of what it tests and how it asks questions – these specifications apply to all the new SAT assessments. Early achievers, are you already thinking about when to take the SAT? Learn the optimal time in your high school career to take the SAT. Also hoping to fit in AP or IB courses to your high school career? Read about how many AP courses you should take and the difference between AP and IB. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Personal Retirement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Retirement - Assignment Example The personal retirement planning is a disciplined and step-by step procedure that ensures a secured future retirement life. Problem Formulation and Determination of Objectives The first step in planning personal retirement is to determine the current and future objectives. For instance, among many options that are available, the most preferable option is the growth in income. On the contrary, others might consider the safety of principal investment and they prefer investment in less risky assets. Sometimes situations might require fixed periodical earnings. There is another option left for personal retirement and that is adapted by many smart individuals who prefer to invest in a basket of securities in order to diversify investment rather than concentrating the entire investable fund in single option (Goetzmann & Kumar, 2008, pp.1-10). Some individuals with higher risk appetite might also prefer investment in relatively risky securities in order to earn higher returns in future (Sta tman, 2004, pp.50-51). Hence, it is possible that the requirement on one individual will not be the same as other thus the requirement objectives are likely to vary from one individual to another (Grinold & Kahn, No Date, p.2). So, if I prefer higher current consumption assuming that the future is uncertain, others might like to create a safer future for their family and children (Montana State University, 2010) and the reverse scenario is also applicable. For my personal retirement problem I plan to efficiently balance and allocate current consumption and future consumption by vesting the available investible fund in various retirement options and thus bring certainty in future earnings. Determination of Investible Funds My post retirement income may come from sources such as pensions, social security, trusts, or annuities. The remaining required amount that I might fall short of (for purchasing assets or sudden contingent requirements etc.) may be covered by accumulated savings be fore retirement or through investment. In order to formulate my personal retirement plan I need to make two important assumptions as follows: Assuming that I have a fixed investible amount of $50,000 and my current earnings are $2000; Assuming that I would not require consuming any part of fixed investible fund unless there is an emergency requirement. Hence, according to this basic framework it can be said that I would like to carry out my daily activities financed by my current income and for any other purpose such as asset purchase, medical treatment, education fee payment, etc. will be funded through investment or owed funds. Determination of Retirement Age and Expected Future Earnings According to the RES (Retirement Eligibility and Services) and Federal Employee Retirement System that assesses the eligibility criteria for the annuity benefits for individual, the social security administration (SSA) benefits will be available to an individual as and on the day he or she retires . So, from the above discussion and eligibility criteria I would prefer my minimum age of retirement to be 60 years in the personal retireme

Entity's ability to continue as an going concern Research Paper

Entity's ability to continue as an going concern - Research Paper Example The company will have to settle its dues by selling off all tangible assets. Intangible assets become worthless then (â€Å"The Going Concern Principle†). Going concerns are the only type of entities that can secure loans from banks and other institutions. Investors will only be interested to invest in a business that is expected to run for a long time in the future. A going concern is based on the idea that by continuing its operations in the business, a firm can yield the money that has been invested in the assets. In this way, profits will be generated and dues will be settled. It is important for a company to realize importance of the going concern concept in business and include this aspect in annual reports and statements (Hanif 3.3). Therefore, the objective of this research is to identify what a going concern is and ways in which an organization can effectively decide whether it is a going concern or not. The research is done on the basis of data provided by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the subject matter of going concern. Certain guidelines issued by the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) have also been referred to. Based on information collected, analysis was done with the help of books written by various authors as well as online resources. The analysis was designed in a manner so as to understand; the meaning of going concern; the different ways in which a firm can identify whether it is a going concern or not; the advantages of being a going concern; and the uncertainties that renders a firm as not a going concern. This research involves primary analysis of data based on qualitative method and rationale. The research is done on the basis of guidelines laid down by IFRS and GAAP standards. The IFRS and GAAP standards are considered in order to ensure whether a company can be regarded as a going concern or not. It is necessary to study a company on the following parameters (â€Å"Going

The Construction of News Essay Example for Free

The Construction of News Essay What makes the use of visual and verbal strategies in news construction so important? The answer has to do with the fact that what makes any good news item attractive is its ability to capture and retain the attention of the audience. There are many ways you can use to get your audiences attention, but visual and verbal strategies have been tested and proven to be the most effective. Any news item in the print media, radio or television, however news worthy it might be, will not be taken with the seriousness it deserves if visual and verbal cues are not used. The human mind reacts to more readily to statements which are accompanied by powerful verbal and visual connotations than it does blank, or what Simmons calls ‘imageless’ statements. News papers utilise pictures as a means of capturing attention. Televisions on the other hand make use of moving images, or what is commonly known as video. Pictures speak a thousand words, moving images speak millions. Images, whether still or moving, are indispensable in the media industry. These are not only appealing to the eye and/or ears, but they also help the reader, viewer and listener to grasp the message better. Television journalists usually use videos taken from the source area of the news material. It would be very monotonous and even tiring if TV news lacked live shots of their news. These videos serve the same purpose as picture serve in newspapers. They are a powerful means of capturing and retaining the audience’s attention. War scenes have always had more impact on the viewer because of the images used. The coverage of the war in Iraq managed to elicit a lot of strong, albeit differing views and emotions. This can be attributed to the effectiveness of the kind of images that were used by news channels in broadcasting this news. According to Pfau and Haigh, the use of images in television war stories is very influential. They say that television news provides viewers with a â€Å"front row seat to view combat†. In other words, it gives the audience a feeling of presence, like they are a part of the combat out there in the battle field. Abrahams argues that television news communicates more emotion than other news venues. This tendency is even more pronounced with graphic images of war which he says are â€Å"among the most powerful visuals known to humankind Not all images taken from a scene are used in the final news item. The images are usually edited to suit the needs of the audience. Dramatic images often make interesting news material and video journalists will always strive to the best part of a video clip to show to the audience. This kind of news presentation has been criticised in the past for being partial. Brown, in his Video Aid techniques book, says that news makers usually look out for the most bizarre, which also happens to be the most negative part of a video shootage to use in their news. This has a way of making people misunderstand a situation. For example, many news channels, while covering the Iraq war, usually depicted the brutality of the terrorist insurgents over civilians, yet they failed to report the brutality of some of the American soldiers to the same civilians. Many people thought that the Iraqis actually liked all the American soldiers and yet the situation on the ground was far much different. Film and television have also had a big role to play in how images are used in the other news media. The pictures used in newspapers and magazines reflect what the reader had already watched in a film or on television news. The pictures that journalists use are put in such a way that the message they contain will be reinforced in the readers’ mind. News broadcasters also use creative language to hold their audience’s interest in a particular news story. They do not use the normal street language, nor do they confine themselves to the formal language. Rather, they construct their news in such a way that the words they use are appealing to the listener. The verbal strategies have to be used hand in hand with appropriate non-verbal cues in order to achieve to the maximum, the desired effect. Radio journalists only have their voices to rely on when presenting news to their audience. They usually use sophisticated, yet understandable languages. They have to use high levels of creativity since their presentation is only verbal. In most cases, journalists are able to present a news item to the listener in such a way that the listener feels like he/she is part of the events happening in the news. Images in the news media are also important in the presentation of societal norms and expectations. The media, most often than not, depicts what is happening in the society. Therefore, many news editors prefer to use images that people can relate to or are used to. Conclusion Journalists have had a major role to play in writing and reproducing major occurrences in the history of human kind. Today, it is possible to get a video clip from the Second World War due to a journalist’s efforts. It is also possible to access newspaper articles from long as the 1800s. There are many images depicting past events that should never be forgotten. These are preserved in various museums and media houses for posterity. Therefore, it can be said that journalist have over the years utilised the development of images to preserve the history of humankind. Journalists have also used visual and verbal strategies to showcase the social injustices that are plaguing much of the world today. It is through the images presented in our media that we are able to appreciate and grasp what is happening around us. The media showed the world what was happening in Darfur, and the world was able to act fast to avoid another Rwanda episode. The famous photographer, Mohammed Ali, received worldwide acclaim for highlighting the Ethiopian famine which was killing hundreds of people in Ethiopia. Though journalists have used images for the good of people who are viewing them, there needs to be some regulation on how they present these images. For instance, they should use images that show both sides of the story in order to avoid misplaced understanding among the audience.

Homeless and Alienated in Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot Essay

Homeless and Alienated in Waiting For Godot    Jean-Paul Sartre (1957) once said "Man is condemned to be free; because, once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does." (23) Whether this is good or bad is not an issue, whereas the implications derived from this are profound. Life, in this case, has no fixed purpose, and we are free to give it one; perhaps it is more appropriate to say that we are condemned to give it one, instead. One look at today's western modernized society makes it seem as if we strive to learn about everything and invent the ultimate tool to carry out all conceivable tasks for us (however artificial the task may be.) Writers, like Albert Camus, describe how waiting, or more generally, boredom, causes the individual to put serious effort into thought of questions regarding one's identity. It is easily seen, thus, that with the way our society has developed, it was inevitable that things like the existential philosophical movement and the literary absurdist movement would eme rge from an era of modernism. Perhaps one of the more famous absurdists was the 1969 Nobel Literature Prize winner, Samuel Beckett. His most popular play, 'Waiting For Godot,' is easily classified as an absurdist work by its properties, or lack thereof, as pointed out in a 1955 review of the play: "Beckett defies every known law of playwriting, his play is about nothing... Each Act is interrupted by a big bully and a fool he keeps on a chain... That is all. There is no climax, no sense of anticipation and the situation becomes obvious in the first five minutes." (Barker, qtd. In Butler 22) This reviewer naively added "I think that people are wrong in trying to read a philosophy i... ... us aside, making us feel homeless and alienated no matter where we are or try to go, "For reasons unknown." Works Cited: Astro, Alan (1990). Understanding Samuel Beckett. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press. Beckett, Samuel (1954). Waiting for Godot. New York: Grove Press. Beckett, Samuel (1958). Endgame. New York: Grove Press. Beckett, Samuel (1974). First Love and Other Shorts. New York: Grove Press. Butler, L. St. J. (ed.) (1993) Critical Essays on Samuel Beckett. Brookfield: Scolar Press. Jeffares, A. N., & Bushrui, S (Eds.). (1981) York Notes on Waiting for Godot. London: York Press. Sartre, Jean-Paul (1957). Existentialism and Human Emotions. New Jersey: Citadel Press, Inc. Sartre, Jean-Paul (1946). No Exit and Three Other Plays (Vintage 1989) Webster Online Dictionary, (1986) Formatted 1994.

Dove: Advertising and Body Odor

When considering the product Dove it is a deodorant which gives extra protection for people who have body odor and it helps when a person needs it to protect from getting body odor, therefore Dove deodorant won't make the move, the tag line that Unilever use for Dove will be used by unity Consultant to promote the product by using a new promotional campaign. Basically Dove has wide range of antiperspirant deodorants to protect people from getting body odor and it gives 24 hours protection, further, it gives physically freshness and mentally confident, even in the toughest moments. . 1 Target Market The promotional campaigns of Dove was mainly focused on it’s primary consumers who were young adult females involved in sports, and of course the working population of women and not-working women 16-45 who want to stay fresh and have an active life style and have the confidence to spend the rest of the day without having to worry about body odor. . 4. 2 Communication Objectives â₠¬ ¢Increase Dove brands market share by 10% within one year. Create awareness among the target group within one year to 30%. †¢Create positive feelings about the brand among 30% and preference among 15% of the target audience. †¢Communicate key benefits of the Dove deodorant that appeal to the target market. (www. uniliversrilanka. lk) 4. 3 Campaign Idea †¢ Increase brand awareness. †¢ Build brand image. †¢ Increase customer traffic. †¢ Increase inquiries from end users. †¢ Provide information Increasing consumption of an established brand They followed IMC tools as follows, 4. 4 Advertising The main objective in advertising this was to create awareness and provide information about Dove and to make Dove the best product in the deodorant industry. Every major medium had been used to deliver these messages, including television, radio, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, carrier bags and billboards.

Debate in Hip hop culture - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 609 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/08/08 Category Music Essay Level High school Tags: Hip Hop Essay Did you like this example? When we look at the lyrics of Hip-Hop songs, we mostly can see that rappers were telling stories that they were faced with such as street crime, alienation, rage, drug trade, prison life or violence which was a way of complaint about their lifestyle or how they were threatened as well. We have to accept that rap artists were influenced, and they were the products of the life that they grew up in. However, it was a huge problem for new generation because the violence that was told in lyrics by rappers were ridiculed and seen as bad impact on teen listeners. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Debate in Hip hop culture" essay for you Create order Seeing rap artists as role models caused an imitation life styles and similar characteristics on teens as well. Hunt who did the documentary had a trip to Spring Bling which is a rap festival in Florida. (Hunt)His point was to analyze teen rappers and listeners and, see young men and women to talk about how manhood is displayed in hip-hop culture. After he let some young rappers to sing, he realized that their lyrics were consist of gunplay, killing other man, being tough and invulnerable, feminizing other men, and putting fear into another mans heart. Those violent-portraying lyrics and horrible real-life examples that were reflected in songs at the beginning of Hip-hop culture caused young African-American community negatively. Hip-hop was created in the ghettos who are poor African Americans, Jamaicans and West Indians. Instead of breaking stereotypes by the time, new generations adopted the hip-hop culture that they saw from older generations. The gun became the outlet for the aggression and the rage that young black and brown men feel. Masculinity was an issue for them because there was a whole lineage of black men wanting to deny their own frailty which forced them to be violent, misogynist, and a different person. In an interview with Fat Joe who was the rapper in Bronx, Hunk asked why is it so important to be hard in hip-hop? And he complained that everybody transformed to different person when they get the microphone in night clubs (Hunt). Also, he added that people hate each other instead of dancing and smiling each other when they were influenced by being hard all the time. In another interview with Mos Def and Talib Kweli, he was willing to learn why rappers projected an image of toughness and inv ulnerability in hip-hop. Def pointed out that every male want respect and he claimed toughness and invulnerability as a part of mans life. Kweli added that hip-hop was a very ego-driven thing and it encouraged people to assert themselves (Hunt). These arguments show that hip-hop culture created a forced environment which occurred masculinity, violence, misogynistic, and hatred among people. People are undoubtedly influenced by rappers. Teaching young people that real man is tough, violent, control women, cannot show weaknesses under any circumstances hurts teens personality traits and their potential as well. Rose touches upon the rehabilitation and community projects to fight against violence for a positive resolution. By, she argued that following policies in rehabilitation and community projects must be a solution to stop violence in these neighborhoods. (Rose pg 59-60) The hip-hop depicts African-Americans as poor, violent, drug dealer, and thugs which demonstrates the hip-hop music as a cultural violence and create a negative stereotype of African American community because hip-hop music contained all negative forms that influence young generation badly. However, to understand the hip-hop culture , it is necessary to analyze the systematic political and economic oppression that they were faced with which was accepted as a main problem of violence in hip-hop because it is a resistance to the system of subjugation.