Why Take the SAT 10 Important Reasons

Why Take the SAT 10 Important Reasons SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The SAT is a daunting exam. Plus, it's not a direct part of your schooling, so why take the SAT? Well, as it turns out, there are plenty of good reasons. On of the most significant reasons ishow the test affects your college options, though there are other considerations, too. In this article, we'll talk about all the reasons totake the SAT, including why it might be a better test for you than the ACT. #1: Most Colleges Require SAT Scores If you're applying to college, you will almost certainly need to submit SAT (or ACT) scores. Now, any college that requires these scores will accept the SATor the ACT (or both, if you're so inspired). No school will accept one, but not the other. You should also be aware that there's a growing number of test-optional andtest-blind schools out there- schools that either don't require or else don't even want your test scores. However- and I really want to stress this point- these schools remain the exception, not the rule. For the most part, schools want (and even demand) to see those SAT or ACT scores. Taking the SAT or ACT thus means keeping a considerable number of options open that would otherwise be closed to you. #2: Some Scholarships Are Based Off SAT Scores Some schools guarantee significant scholarship money based on qualifying SAT or ACT scores. This ishuge: college price tags are not cheap, and you may as well give the SAT your best shot if it stands a chance of netting you a huge chunk of cash- or maybe even a full ride. Despite what this picture suggests, money does not simply grow on trees. #3: Some Jobs Require SAT Scores This doesn't apply just tojobs in the test prep arena, either; asurprising range of companies askjob-seekers,from entry-level consultingapplicantsto senior-level banking applicants, to cough up old SAT or ACT scores. It may not be standard practice, but you don't want to pass on the perfect job because an employerwants test scores and you don't have them. #4: The SAT Does Not Have a Science Section So far, we've focused on reasons you should take a standardized test, but this is one of the big reasons you might prefer the SAT specifically: itdoesn't include a dedicated science section- while the ACT does. Granted, the SATdoes include some scientific reading passages and a little bit of data to interpret, but if every science class is your own personal nightmare, it might be wise to skip the ACT's 40-question, 35-minute Science section and take the SAT instead. For those who are not scientifically inclined, it's definitely the lesser of two evils. #5: The SAT Is Taken at a Slower Pace Now, the SAT is alittle bit (and I do mean alittle bit) longer than the ACT: five minutes longer without the essay, fifteen minutes longer with the essay. Given that, though, consider the following data on how many minutes and seconds are allocated to each question on either test. What you'll seeis that the ACT is much more rushed. SAT ACT Minutes per math question 1:23 1:00 Minutes per reading question 1:15 0:53 Minutes per writing/English question 0:48 0:36 If you get nervous or overly stressed under time constraints, the SAT is the test for you. You'll still have to compete with the clock, but it won't be as frantic as the ACT. Time is precious on a standardized test. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today! #6: The SAT Organizes Its Reading Questions SAT Reading questions come in the order of the progression of each passage, complete with line numbers to help you find the point of reference. The ACT is lacking these features; it involves a lot more scrambling to situate what the questions are even discussing. If the extra help that the SATprovides is important to you, consider taking the SAT rather than the ACT. #7: The SAT Is Heavy on Algebra, Light on Geometry and Trig Geometry and trigonometry are present on the SAT, but they are not as prevalent as they are on the ACT. Algebra, on the other hand, takes center stage on the SAT. Almost everyone has some preference between algebra and geometry; if algebra is your favored subsection of math, the SAT will let you shine. #8: The SAT Doesn't Cover As Many Math Concepts For instance, logarithms, matrices, and graphs of trigonometric functions are all absent from the SAT (but present on the ACT). If you strugglewith a few nitty-gritty topics like these but have mastered algebra reasonably well, the SAT might be the perfect test to take. #9: The SAT Essay Is a Literary Analysis Task You don't have to argue a personal opinion or pass a judgment about any argumentativecase's moral superiorityon the SAT essay. Instead, you're producing commentary on a piece of source text.With the ACT, on the other hand, you have to argue the relative merits of solutions to complex issues. If you excel at literary analysis but shy away from debates, the SAT may just be the way to go. Some people thrive on debate; others do not. #10: Some States Require the SAT If you're living in a state that requires the SAT, you don't have a whole lot of say in the matter - you'll have to take it. Since you'll likely spend some time class time practicing, you'll probably want to focus your test prep on the SAT as well. You can reference our complete list of states requiring the test to see if you live in one of these states. Conclusion: So Why Take the SAT? Today, taking the SAT (or ACT) seems to bethe decision most college-bound students make. There is, in fact, very good reason for this pattern; as discussed above, these tests can help you find your way into college, get a scholarship to pay for college, and even land a job down the road. There are also some distinct reasons that the SAT may serve many students better than the ACT. Whether you're wondering whether to take any standardized test or second-guessing your past decision to sign up for the SAT in the first place, you can use this article to review and consider the many merits of the test. What's Next? Wondering what all this means for the ACT? Take a moment to read about whether you should take both tests or only one. This article has touched on how the two tests are different, but do also take some time to investigate the issue in more detail. We've got a comparison chart that should do just the trick. Since math is a point of especialconcern for many students, you may want to read a more detailed analysis of how ACT and SAT math are the same and different. 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:

Do Third-Party Social Media Tools Impact Facebook Organic Reach

Do Third-Party Social Media Tools Impact Facebook Organic Reach â€Å"So, does Facebook penalize posts from your tool?† This is a common question we get asked. Typically, it’ll be sparked by underperforming posts. Or, a curious marketer will stumble upon rumor claiming posts third-party tools receive diminished organic reach. It’s easy to see why this issue causes concern. You put a lot of work into building your social media presence. While scheduling posts manually is very nearly impossible at scale, you don’t want to risk your business with tools that hurt more than help. Let’s answer this question once and for all. What You Need to Know about Social Media Tools and Facebook Organic ReachCan I Get a Yes Or No Answer? If you’re busy, the short answer is no. Facebook does not penalize posts from third-party tools. The posts you create with (or any other tool) will perform as well as those posted manually. While it’s true that Facebook used to penalize such tools, that changed in 2011. When that announcement came out, the folks at Buffer had it covered. Here’s what Facebook development consultant Matt Trainer had to say: â€Å"†¦we recently made a fix that added more signals to detect good quality posting behavior. This should improve the situation with the distribution of posts coming from third-party apps in the News Feed.† *cue deep sigh of relief* And with that, we’ll let you get back to work. *cue deep sigh of relief* And with that, we’ll let you get back to work. The Source of the Problem Facebook organic reach has been declining on brand pages for a long time. That much isn’t a secret. In fact, Marketing Land reported back in August of 2016 that organic reach was down 52%  for brands at that time. It certainly hasn’t gotten any better since then, either. What brands can actually do about it, though, is another matter. The fact is there are no easy solutions for marketers to succeed on Facebook. It takes strategy, creativity, and a lot of hard work. No short cuts. When it comes time to report metrics though, marketers need answers for their organizations. â€Å"Reach is down, and we don’t know why† isn’t something any business owner wants to hear. Even if your organic reach is hitting the slopes, you still need two things: A compelling answer for what’s going on. A plan to mitigate the technical challenges to marketing on Facebook. In trying to address the issue, the tools involved are bound to be questioned. Sometimes, rumors die hard. The old yarn about Facebook penalizing third-party tools refuses to go away. And as long as reach declines, it’ll likely remain in the discussion. The truth is that Facebook has explicitly said posts from third-party tools aren’t penalized. In fact, data from Buffer  and this report from AgoraPulse supports this. So, If My Reach Still Looks Low, What’s the Real Issue? There could be at least a couple factors at play. Everyone’s situation is different, though. It’s tough to guess at why one page may underperform while another excels. But, here are two different areas where we’d recommend taking a look. Do People Like Your Content? Engagement (likes, clicks, and shares) can help give your reach a post. Facebook wants to reward content people enjoy, after all. If people aren’t interested in your posts, engagement is naturally going to drop. In this case, it might be worth reassessing your Facebook content strategy. Mixing it up with different types of messaging, or different forms of content  might help. For example, you might try posting more videos. Or, perhaps multi-image posts might be more appealing. These are just some examples. Of course, there could be other intangible elements of your content to investigate, too. Here are some things to consider: Are my images strong?  Visual content is important on Facebook. Analyze images that have done well in the past, and reverse-engineer your own success. Is my copy off-target?  It’s possible your messaging might not be resonating with your audience, either. Try approaching this the same way you would with your visuals. Take a look at posts that have done well in the past, and see if you can identify any common themes. Do all of my posts include links? Facebook is an important platform for driving traffic back to your blog or website. However, not every post necessarily needs to have a link. Facebook wants you to spend more time on their own platform, right? So, feed Facebook creative content that can stand on its own without a link. You might not always get referral traffic, but you can still reinforce your brand message. Are You Posting At the Best Times? If reach is partially influenced by engagement, then you need to be posting when your audience is most active. So, if your social posts are underperforming, it could be that your posting times aren’t optimized for your audience. mitigates this problem with our Best Time Scheduling feature, which intelligently schedules posts at the best times for your audience. Take a look at your Facebook Insights and see which times appear to perform best. Or, if you’re setting times manually for your posts in , take a look at your Social Engagement Reports. Dig through your past 20 or 30 posts or so (to have a decent sample size), and make note of which times appeared to perform best. You might learn your audience is more active at certain times, or on certain days. Recommended Reading: What 16 Studies Say About the Best Times to Post on Social Media How to Use Social Media Analytics to Create the Best Content How to Make the Best Social Media Images the Easy Way (+84 Free Images) How to Write for Social Media to Create the Best PostsIs your #Facebook #reach declining? Heres what to do about it.Are Your Posts Overly Promotional? Facebook cracked down on promotional posts back in late 2014. What is a promotional post exactly? Promotional posts are most easily categorized as organic posts that sound like ads. If your posts Include hard calls-to-action (ex: Buy Now, Read This, etc.). Incorporate dollar signs or other dead giveaways that youre directly selling something. Promote contests without creative context (ex: Like this post to win a free iPad) then you can expect your posts to be demoted in the newsfeed. Heres the official word from Facebook: According to people we surveyed, there are some consistent traits that make organic posts feel too promotional: Posts that solely push people to buy a product or install an app Posts that push people to enter promotions and sweepstakes with no real context Posts that reuse the exact same content from ads And heres an example of what Facebook considers a promotional post: So, whats a marketer to do? Put your users first. Think, What would my audience want to see on Facebook? Get creative. Create Facebook content thats entertaining and connects with your audiences interests. Pay to promote posts or run Facebook ads. If you want to directly push products on Facebook, then pay for those posts. If youre just getting started with Facebook advertising, check out this guide from Neil Patel. We also recommend this guide from Convince And Convert on promoting posts, too. There You Have It, Another Case Closed You now know that third-party tools aren’t penalized by Facebook. In addition, you now have some starting points to help you improve your organic reach on the platform, too. If you have any lingering questions, comments, or concerns, drop us a comment below!