How Does ACT Superscoring Affect Your Test Strategy

How Does ACT Superscoring Affect Your Test Strategy SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many colleges now use Superscoring for ACT scores as well as SAT scores. It’s important to know whether the schools where you’re planning to apply use Superscoring and how you can take advantage of this policy to demonstrate your best performance on the ACT. In this article I’ll give a brief overview of Superscoring and tell you what it means for you in terms of your testing plan. What is ACT Superscoring? ACT Superscoring is when colleges calculate your highest possible composite ACT score based on subscores from several different tests.They will take your highest ever score from each section and then average those scores together to arrive at a new composite score that represents your best performance. This chart shows how it might work across three test dates: English Math Reading Science Composite Test 1 30 28 31 20 27 Test 2 32 25 30 28 29 Test 3 29 23 35 25 28 Superscore 32 28 35 28 31 As you can see, this student’s composite Superscore was higher than any of the composite ACT scores for individual test dates because Superscoring combined all of the highest subscores. Superscoring benefits colleges because it puts them higher up in the rankings in terms of average scores of their admitted students.It also benefits you! If you do poorly on a section on one test date, it won’t affect you with colleges who use Superscoring, as long as you get a higher score for that section on another test date. Check the websites for the colleges where you plan on applying to see if they use Superscoring for the ACT, or take a look at this list that we’ve compiled of Superscoring schools. There are now nearly 100 schools that superscore the ACT! What Does This Mean for You? Superscoring should affect your studying strategy and registration timing for the ACT. Here are a couple of pieces of advice that you should follow if the colleges where you're planning on applying use Superscoring. Start Testing Early Superscoring means that you should definitely plan to take the ACT for the first time early in your junior year so that you can have enough time to improve your scores.If you don’t do as well on the first test, it will give you the opportunity to learn from your mistakes, and those lower scores won’t count in the long run after you take the test again. If you score very well on one section but don’t do well on one or two other sections, that means that you can focus your studying for future tests on your weak sections and not worry too much about the section you aced.Colleges will still incorporate the first score into your Superscore if it’s the best one you ever end up getting for the section. Take a look at these ACT test dates for the upcoming fall if you’re heading into your junior year so you can plan ahead. Take the ACT More than Once As a follow-up to the previous point, Superscoring definitely means you should plan on taking the ACT more than once (unless you reach your target score on the first try!). Taking the test two or three times means that you are likely to improve at least some of your subscores from test to test, especially if you put significant time into studying between test dates.Even if you manage to improve just one of your scores, that higher number is the one that will count for your Superscore. Practice Focused Studying This is probably the most essential takeaway from Superscoring.If you take the ACT and are unsatisfied with one or two of your section scores, you can direct all of your energy towards studying for those subject areas on future tests.Once you get a section score that you are happy with, you won’t have to worry about that part of the test in the future because that score (or potentially an even higher one) will become a part of your Superscore no matter what happens on the next test. The really great thing about Superscoring is that it means you can focus completely on improving weaker section scores and not worry about preventing already great section scores from decreasing. This book smells amazing. And I'm learning so much. Don’t Get Stressed! You should always take each test date seriously (you paid to register, after all), but Superscoring can take away a lot of unnecessary anxiety.Doing poorly on one test doesn’t mean you won't get into your top choice school. If you completely screw up a section of the test on one date but do well on another section, that’s also ok. With Superscoring, that one high subsection score means the time you spent taking the test was still worthwhile, and you can work on doing better on the section you bombed next time! Overview Superscoring for the ACT means that schools will calculate your best composite score by averaging all of your highest subscores across the tests you send them.Superscoring is great for you and for colleges because it reduces stress, lets you show your best possible scores, and allows schools to rise in the rankings in terms of average test scores. If you’re applying to schools that Superscore the ACT, you should: Start testing early Take the test more than once Practice focused studying Not freak out! Follow all of this advice, and you’ll be on your way to a SUPER Superscore! What's Next? Want more details about how exactly the ACT is scored? Read this articlefor an in-depth description. If you're not sure whether you should take the ACT again, take a look at this guide to help you decide. If you're trying to figure out when to take the ACT, read our guide to figure out the best test date for your circumstances.

HL

The Best IB Chemistry Study Guide and Notes for SL/HL SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips IB Chemistry may not be quite as easy as this penguin makes it seems. So to help you out, I have compiled the best FREE online IB Chemistry Study Guides and Notes into one helpful article. I've organized this IB Chemistry Study Guide using the order laid out in the IB Chemistry Syllabus. How to Use This IB Chemistry Study Guide If there is one specific topic that you need more help with, use the Command + F function on your computer to search this guide for that subject. So, if you hope to read about The Mole Concept, use Command + F to bring up the search function. Type in â€Å"Mole Concept† and it will bring up all of the study materials for The Mole Concept. If you are looking for summary material to help you study for the IB Chemistry papers, check out the Overall Reviews section for great overall study resources. I've listed the notes and guides by topic. You should glance at this article during the school year to help you study for in-class tests and quizzes if you need more assistance or if you struggled to understand certain lectures in your IB Chemistry course. If you want additional help, read our article on the best IB Chemistry books to find additional study resources. You should be learning the material over the course of the school year and not cramming right before the IB Chemistry papers. Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Common Errors IB Chemistry Students Make When Studying Many students struggle with IB Chemistry SL/HL. There are so many subjects to learn, and you cannot fall behind. You need to be learning during the school year in order to ace the IB Chemistry papers. Common errors students make when studying are: #1: Avoiding the topics you didn't fully comprehend in class. If you did not learn it in the classroom, you need to seek additional assistance whether through this IB Chemistry study guide, IB Chemistry books, or through tutoring. #2: Only studying a week or two before the IB Chemistry Exam. There are way too many topics to master in only a week or two (which is why the course is taught over one to two years). So, master the subjects as you learn them in class. Use this study guide if you need more help comprehending the topics you cover in class. Otherwise, you will be as nervous as this kid during the test. Core- 95 hours for SL and HL Both IB Chemistry SL and HL have the same core requirements. They consist of 95 hours and cover the topics listed below. Topic 1: Stoichiometric Relationships- 13.5 hours for SL and HL Notes on Mole Concept and Avogadro’s Constant Notes on all of Stoichiometry Stoichiometry Videos and Notes 1.1: Introduction to the particulate nature of matter and chemical change notes 1.2: Mole concept notes 1.3: Reacting masses and volumes notes Topic 2: Atomic Structure- 6 hours for SL and HL Notes on Atomic Theory Atomic Structure Videos and Notes 2.1: Nuclear atom notes 2.2: Electron configuration notes Topic 3: Periodicity- 6 hours for SL and HL Notes on Periodicity Periodicity Videos and Notes 3.1: Periodic table notes 3.2: Periodic trends notes Topic 4: Chemical bonding and structure- 13.5 hours for SL and HL Notes on Bonding Bonding Videos and Notes 4.1: Ionic bonding and structure notes 4.2: Covalent bonding notes 4.3: Covalent structures notes 4.4: Intermolecular forces notes 4.5: Metallic bonding notes Topic 5: Energetics/Thermochemistry- 9 hours for SL and HL Notes on Energetics Energetics Videos and Notes 5.1: Measuring energy changes notes 5.2: Hess's Law notes 5.3: Bond enthalpies Topic 6: Chemical Kinetics- 7 hours for SL and HL Notes on Kinetics Kinetics Videos and Notes 6.1: Collision theory and rates of reaction Topic 7: Equilibrium- 4.5 hours for SL and HL Notes on Equilibrium Equilibrium Study Guide Equilibrium Videos and Notes 7.1: Equilibrium notes Topic 8: Acids and Bases- 6.5 hours for SL and HL Notes on Acids and Bases Acids and Bases Study Guide Acids and Bases Videos and Notes 8.1: Theory of acids and bases notes 8.2: Properties of acids and bases notes 8.3: The pH scale notes 8.4: Strong and weak acids and bases notes 8.5: Acid deposition notes Topic 9: Redox Processes- 8 hours for SL and HL Oxidation and Reduction Study Guide Redox Processes Videos and Notes 9.1: Oxidation and reduction notes 9.2: Electrochemical cells notes Topic 10: Organic Chemistry- hours for SL and HL Organic Chemistry Study Guide Organic Chemistry Videos and Notes 10.1: Fundamentals of organic chemistry notes 10.2: Functional group chemistry notes Topic : Measurement and Data Processing- 10 hours for SL and HL Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds Study Guide Measurement Videos and Notes .1: Uncertainties and errors in measurements and results notes .2: Graphical techniques notes .3: Spectroscopic identification of organic compounds notes Additional Higher Level (AHL)- 60 hours for HL You will only study the ten topics listed below if you're in IB Chemistry HL; the standard level doesn't cover these topics. Topic 12: Atomic Structure- 2 hours Atomic Structure Study Guide 12.1: Electrons in atoms notes Topic 13: The Periodic Table: Transition Metals- 4 hours Periodic Table Study Guide 13.1: First row d-block elements notes 13.2: Coloured complexes notes Topic 14: Chemical Bonding and Structure- 7 hours Chemical Bonding and Structure Notes 14.1: Covalent bonding and electron domain and molecular geometrics notes 14.2: Hybridization notes Topic 15: Energetics/Thermochemistry- 7 hours Notes on Energetics 15.1: Energy cycles notes 15.2: Entropy and spontaneity notes Topic 16: Chemical Kinetics- 6 hours Videos on Chemical Kinetics 16.1: Rate expression and reaction mechanism notes 16.2: Activation energy notes Okay, you may not get to do this. Topic 17: Equilibrium- 4 hours Notes on Equilibrium 17.1: Equilibrium law notes Topic 18: Acids and Bases- 10 hours Notes on Acids and Bases 18.1: Lewis acids and bases notes 18.2: Calculations involving acids and bases notes 18.3: pH curves notes Topic 19: Redox Processes- 6 hours Notes on Oxidation and Reduction 19.1: Electrochemical cells notes Topic 20: Organic Chemistry- 12 hours Notes on Stereoisomerism 20.1: Types of organic reactions notes 20.2: Synthetic routes notes 20.3: Stereoisomerism Topic 21: Measurement and Analysis- 2 hours Videos on Measurement and Data Processing 21.1: Spectroscopic identification of organic compounds notes Option- 15 hours for SL and 25 hours for HL Unfortunately, there are no free online study guides for the options, but look at our article on IB Chemistry books to find books that review the options topics. Overall IB Chemistry Reviews IB Chemistry HL 31 Common Mistakes: Richard Thornley, the author of this video, has several other helpful videos on IB Chemistry SL and HL available for free on YouTube IB Chemistry Web: This site goes over the syllabus in-depth and explains key definitions and facts you need to know. What’s Next? Want more of a review of what you'll learn in IB Chemistry? Then check out our in-depth guide to the IB Chemistry syllabus: SL and HL and our tips on balancing chemical equations. A prep book can be an extremely useful study tool. Learn which are the best IB Chemistry textbooks by reading our guide. How much do you know about the chemical properties of everyday things? Discover how to use muriatic acid to remove rust from your pots and pans and the effect of adding and removing certain ingredients to create the ultimate slime. Are you hoping to squeeze in some extra IB classes? Learn about the IB courses offered online. 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