Why SAT SuperScoring means you should retake the SAT.

Why SAT SuperScoring means you should retake the SAT. SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In this article, PrepScholar cofounder and statistics expert Dr. Fred Zhang explains why the SAT superscoring means you can get huge points by retaking the SAT. Many of you know that colleges often take the best SAT score in each section, but do you know how much you can gain by just a re-take? Do you know how to do your retake to max your score? Many students know about the Superscore concept in the SAT: the fact that many colleges only look at the best score in each section in admissions.For example, suppose you take the SAT twice with the following outcomes: Test Date Math Score Reading Score Writing Score Total March 620 600 760 1980 October 740 720 610 2070 SuperScore 740 720 760 2220 Even though you only increased your session SAT score from a 1980 to a 2070, and improvement of 90 points, your SuperScore increased by 240 points. I will tell you why this is incredibly important to your test taking strategy! More Times Matters Because you are getting the maximum of your SAT score over multiple sessions, then it is clear that the more often you take it, the higher your maximum score will be. Imagine if you were running a 100-meter dash, but only your best time mattered doesn't it make sense to run it more than once. Variation Matters When you retake the test, besides trying to do well, you also want to try to increase the randomness of your score what statisticians callvariance. The more varied your score is, the more likely your superscore is higher. This is actually quite subtle, so I'll repeat it again. Even if your score stays the same, you want to increase variation. For example, suppose your last SAT Math score was 600, which one of the below strategies would you take: A) A strategy that gives you a 50% chance of getting a 590 and a 50% chance of 610. B) A strategy that gives you a 50% chance of a 500 and a 50% chance of a 700. Take a moment to think about this. Done? If you chose B, you're correct! With the superscore, you care about only the upside, not the downside. The 50% chance of a 700 means much more than the 50% chance of a 610. How much can you gain? College Board has released thorough data about student score improvements between different tests. The key data: College Board shows that re-taking the test results in a variation of about 50.86 points in each section that's a huge amount of natural variation! It also means that riding off of this variation alone, I used Monte-Carlo simulation to prove that if you go from taking the SAT once to taking it twice, your superscore will go up in expectancy by 78 points! Supercharge the Superscore Okay, so that's awesome, but can you improve on that more? Yes! PrepScholar's training includes SAT test taking strategy as an important component of the prep process. Using our strategies, we'll show you how to increase the variation so your expected point increase is even higher, up to 100 points plus! And this is based on pure variation we also train you so your raw expected score goes up as well. With the two components combined, you can achieve hundreds of points of improvement. But the base story still holds: variation means you should take the SAT multiple times if you have the chance, and you should increase your test variation.

Recognize and Use Clauses in English Grammar

Recognize and Use Clauses in English Grammar A clause is the basic building block of a sentence; by definition, it must contain a subject and a verb. Although they appear simple, clauses can function in complex ways in English grammar. A clause can function as a simple sentence, or it may be joined to other clauses with conjunctions to form complex sentences. A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. It may be either a complete  sentence (also known as an independent or  main clause) or a sentence-like construction within another sentence (called a dependent or subordinate clause). When clauses are joined so that one modifies another, they are called matrix clauses. Independent: Charlie bought a 57 Thunderbird. Dependent: Because he loved classic cars Matrix: Because he loved classic cars, Charlie bought a 57 Thunderbird. Clauses can function in several ways, as outlined below. Adjective Clause This dependent clause (adjective clause) is also known as a relevant clause because it usually contains a relative pronoun or relative adverb. It is used to modify a subject, much as an adjective would, and is also known as a relative clause. Example: This is the ball that Sammy Sosa hit over the left-field wall in the World Series.   Adverbial Clause Another dependent clause, adverbial clauses function like an adverb, indicating time, place, condition, contrast, concession, reason, purpose, or result. Typically, an adverbial clause is set off with a comma and subordinating conjunction. Example: Although Billy loves pasta and bread, hes on a no-carb diet. Comparative Clause These comparative subordinate clauses use adjectives or adverbs such as like or than to draw a comparison. They are also known as proportional clauses. Example: Julieta is a better poker player than I am. Complement Clause Complementary clauses function like adjectives modifying a subject. They usually begin with a subordinating conjunction and modify the subject-verb relationship. Example: I never expected that you would fly to Japan. Concessive Clause A subordinate clause, the concessive clause is  used to contrast or justify the main idea of the sentence. It is typically set off by a subordinating conjunction. Example: Because we were shivering, I turned up the heat. Conditional Clause Conditional clauses  are easy to recognize because they usually begin with the word if. A type of adjectival clause, conditionals express a hypothesis or condition. Example: If we can reach Tulsa, we can stop driving for the night. Coordinate Clause Coordinate  clauses usually begin  with the conjunctions and or but and express relativity or relationship with the subject of the main clause. Example: Sheldon drinks coffee, but Ernestine prefers tea. Noun Clause As the name suggests, noun clauses  are a sort of dependent clause that functions as a noun in relation to the main clause. They are typically offset with that, which, or what. Example: What I believe is irrelevant to the conversation. Reporting Clause The reporting clause is more commonly known as attribution because it identifies who is speaking or the source of what is being said. They always follow the noun or noun clause. Example: Im going to the mall, shouted Jerry from the garage. Verbless Clause This kind of subordinate clause may not seem like one because it lacks a verb. Verbless clauses provide tangential information that informs  but is not directly modifying the main clause. Example: In the interest of brevity, I will keep this speech short.