Sat-2021-masterspace-class
30 Apr
BITSAT, SAT

SAT Score Calculator

SAT Score Calculator

Sat_Score_calculator_Masterclassspace

It is often said that hard work is important but not the only component for ensuring success. Strategy plays an equally important role in the same. One can start from scratch and improve up to some level through hard work, but to make the last mile, one has to strategize.

In SAT Preparation too, the above discussion holds equal merit. After taking some lessons and strengthening concepts, one must time and again keep on attempting mock tests to gauge his/her preparation.

Having said that, merely taking a sample test won’t be effective if its analysis is left. A proper detailed analysis explaining the strong and weak areas would be an ideal package.

We, at Masterclass Space, have come up with a unique SAT Score Calculator which not only gives you scores depending on your inputs but also shares feedback with you.

It takes input from the user about the number of right answers in Reading, Writing and Math section separately and based on that it generates a result using its algorithm.

The calculator along with result generation is also designed for identifying the weak areas which need the most attention. It also gives feedback based on scores and areas to work upon. Not only that, it gives a detailed method for improvement and the best possible path ahead.

In all, this calculator is not just a number emitter, it is a complete package to boost your performance!

You can get your feedback right now
For the more blog visit our blog site.

Happy learning!

26 Feb
BITSAT, SAT

BITSAT 2021: Application (Started)

BITSAT 2021: Application (Started)

The wait for BITSAT 2021 is over finally!!

Application form of BITSAT 2021 has been released. The exam will be held by the Birla Institute of Technology and Science. This is a university-level entrance exam held every year to offer admissions into various Integrated First Degree Programmes. Admission will be offered to the candidates into B.E., B. Pharm, and M.Sc. programs after qualifying this admission test. Candidates will get admission to BITS campuses located in Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad.

Candidates interested in admission can register for the test. BITSAT Exam occurs in online mode. To know more details about the entrance exam, candidates can visit official website of BITSAT. The process of applying for BITSAT 2021 is completely online. It has to be through https://www.bitsadmission.com/ only

Deadline for application along with payment is 29 May, 2021 at 5:00 PM. Interested candidates should register well before deadline to avoid last minute rush.

Application Fee:

Application Fee for BITSAT 2021 is Given Below:

1) Male Candidates – Rs 3400

2) Female Candidates – Rs 2900

3) Applicants opting for Dubai center – Rs 7000

The application fee can be paid via different modes such as Debit Card, Credit Card & Net Banking.

BITSAT 2021 Eligibility Criteria:

For First degree program except for B. Pharm:

1) Candidate must have passed their 10+2 level or its equivalent exam from any recognized board/University.

2) Applying candidates must have passed their 10+2 level exams with the main subjects of Physics, Chemistry, and Maths. Also, he/she must possess adequate proficiency in English.

3) Candidates must have scored an aggregate of 75% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics subjects. In each of the subjects, he/she must have secured 60% marks.

4) Candidates appearing in the 12th level exams in 2021 can apply and those who have passed their 12th in 2020 are also eligible for BITSAT.

For Admission into B. Pharma:

1) Applying candidate must have passed their 12th level exams or its equivalent exam from any recognized board/University.

2) He/she must have passed their 12th level exams with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Mathematics as the main subjects. Also, he/she must have adequate proficiency in English.

3) Candidates must have scored an aggregate of 75% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics subjects. In each of the subjects, he/she must have secured 60% marks.

BITSAT Exam Pattern:

1) BITSAT 2021 entrance test will be conducted in online CBT mode.

2) The question paper will contain four sections – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology, Logical reasoning, and English proficiency.

3) Total of 150 multiple choice questions will be there in the paper.

4) The question paper will be available in the English language.

5) The time duration of the exam will be 3 hours.

6) For each correct answer, 3 marks will be awarded. 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer.

Preparation Tips:

1) Make short notes covering all the important points and concepts to revise at the last moment.

2) Check the BITSAT 2021 Syllabus online before starting the exam preparation.

3) BITSAT Test series by Masterclass Space has been prepared by the experienced BITS alumni. You may enroll in it and prepare yourself.

4) Whichever areas candidates are weak in, focus more on that part, and prepare accordingly.

5) Questions in exam are not very difficult but speed and accuracy play the most crucial role there. Trying lots of online mock tests through BITSAT Test Series is the best way to nourish this skill.

6) BITSAT Cutoff of previous year exams give fair idea about preparation during Mock Exams. BITSAT Cutoff of previous years can be accessed through https://www.bitsadmission.com/bitsatmain.aspx?id=11012016

7)  As BITSAT paper is never released, so the papers you ever get to attempt are purely based on memory of students who attempted those papers. In this case, those papers which are prepared by BITSians themselves are the best. Masterclass Space has a team comprising of dedicated faculties who are alumni of BITS Pilani and an intern team of BITS Pilani college students.

8) Online BITSAT Test Series of by Masterclass Space is carefully designed to match the exact difficulty level of exam. Online preparation of BITSAT is best assured using this method

Good Luck!

20 Feb
BITSAT, SAT

ACT Schedule & Registration

ACT Schedule & Registration

Just like many parts of the college application process, taking the American College Testing, ACT (and even using your ACT scores) means an assortment of fees. The good news is that a lot of these fees are unnecessary and avoidable. Read to the end for tips and strategies on saving as much as possible on the ACT.

Upcoming ACT Test Days in 2020-2021

Below, we’ve created a table with the ACT international test dates. We’ve also included the regular and late ACT international registration deadlines, so you know when you need to sign up for each test date.

ACT International Dates

Registration Costs for the ACT (2019-2020)

Registration charges are mandatory if you are planning on taking the ACT. These extra services could be useful in special circumstances.

Here’s a chart outlining mandatory registration fees:

And here’s a chart outlining optional add-on fees:

After you take the ACT, you’ll want to receive, analyze, and send out your scores. This chart outlines all possible post-test services and their costs.

Sample International ACT Testing Schedule A: Early Starter

Thinking about getting the ACT out of the way early? Follow this testing schedule to get started the sophomore year and leave yourself plenty of time in between tests to study (if you need to take it more than once).

Test 1: Sophomore year, take the ACT either Sept 12, 2020 (register by Aug 14, 2020) or Oct 24, 2020 (register by Sept 18, 2020).

Test 2 (optional): Junior year, take the ACT December 12, 2020 (register by November 6, 2020) or February 6, 2021 (register by January 8, 2020).

Test 3 (optional): Junior year, take the ACT June 12, 2021 (register by May 7, 2021) or July 17, 2021 (register by June 18, 2021).

Sample International ACT Testing Schedule B: Frequent Tester

Are you planning on taking the ACT multiple times to max out your superscore? This schedule is for you.

Test 1: Junior year, take the ACT either Sept 12, 2021 (register by Aug 14, 2020) or Oct 24, 2020 (register by Sept 18, 2020).

Test 2: Junior year, take the ACT December 12, 2020 (register by November 6, 2020) or February 6, 2021 (register by January 8, 2020).

Test 3: Senior year, take the ACT September 12, 2020 (register by August 14, 2020) or October 24, 2020 (register by September 18, 2020); last dates for students applying early decision/early action.

Test 4: Senior year, take the ACT December 12, 2020 (register by November 6, 2020)

Sample International ACT Testing Schedule C: Senior-Year Testing

Only decided to apply to colleges in the US the summer before senior year (or later)? You still have a few chances to take the ACT.

Test 1: Take the ACT September 12, 2020 (register by August 14, 2020)

Test 2: Take the ACT October 24, 2020 (register by September 18, 2020). If you took the September ACT, you probably won’t get your scores back until after the regular registration deadline, but if you don’t mind paying the extra $32 you can wait to see how well you did before registering late for the October ACT (late registration deadline: October 2, 2020).

Test 3 (optional): Take the ACT December 12, 2020 (register by November 6, 2020). This is the last test date for most colleges’ regular admissions’ deadlines.

What next

Having understood the process and detailed (probable) schedule of planning and preparation, an equally important component left is guidance. The right guidance can make a lot of difference, especially when time is limited.

At Masterclass Space, we ensure that each and every child get the attention, care and guidance he/she deserves. Students at MCS have performed really well in the ACT exam with the highest score of 35.

Further, there has been score improvement in 96% cases when the student has re-appeared for an exam after taking ACT course with Masterclass Space. At MCS, student satisfaction matters more than anything else.

If you wish to know more, feel free to connect with us. We will try to help you in every possible manner. Good luck with your exam!!

20 Feb
BITSAT, SAT

Studying for the SAT – Books, Tutors and Courses

Studying for the SAT – Books, Tutors and Courses

So you’ve decided to go to college. Now you need to appear for the SAT examination. The Scholastic Aptitude Test is one of the most influential papers you will take in your life – it decides your college, field of study as well as your scholarships. If you are studying for it, let’s do it the right way.

The best way to study for the SAT is a holistic approach that combines conceptual learning and practice questions along with timed practice papers. You should know not only how to solve these questions but how to solve them in a given amount of time

Q: Can I just pick up a thick book?

A: There are more books on SAT preparation than there are writers with a good SAT score. If you go to the bookstore and look at the shelf, you’ll see books that you know about because they’re old or because they are marketed heavily. Moreover, once you start a book, you could realize that different books have different strengths – the reading skills

part could be good in one book, while another one has better content for Math, and a third book has a lot of practice questions. Above all this requires tremendous amount of the self-discipline as well as determination since you will have to push yourself through many monotonous questions.

 

Pros:

 

1. You get to study at your own time and pace.

2. You have a diverse material to consult.

Cons:

1. Such an approach to study possesses lack of accountability. You need to have tremendous self- discipline. NOBODY is there to keep a check on you when you study on your own.

2. The quality of content is variable, and questions can be repetitive.

3. The solutions manuals can be very expensive.

4. Time management becomes a real challenge with increased sources.

Q: What about a holistic learning course such as Masterclass Space?

A: These integrated programs present with most advanced and comprehensive method of studying for a contemporary examinations. Human interaction helps you identify your own strengths and weaknesses, so that you can plan your studies accordingly. All topics can be covered, and you get to understand the concepts behind the questions in the SAT. Timed tests are taken to simulate the actual exam experience and to instigate improved time management.

Features of Masterclass Space:

1. Comprehensive course that takes care of SAT preparation as well as school papers.

2. Variable course lengths to suit your study requirements.

3. Doubts solving sessions.

4. Curated content packages so that optimum amount of time is spent on each question.

5. Test series to develop strategies for attempting the paper.

6. In depth analysis of results and counseling when applying for universities.

7. The faculty profile of MCS is very high. All the faculty members are from top notch Indian universities – IIT, IIM & BITS-Pilani

THINK SAT, THINK MASTERCLASS SPACE!

20 Feb
BITSAT, SAT

The Definitive Guide to choosing an AP Course

The Definitive Guide to choosing an AP Course

So, you are taking up an Advanced Placement course. This article does not deal with the why; it instead will help you consider if you will actually benefit from it. These advanced courses will require commitment and hard work at your end, maybe even some prerequisites. It is important to decide which course you wish to take and how to study for it, so that you can reap the benefits of your hard work.

What Advanced Placement courses are available?

A list of resources is provided on the College Board website

 https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/course-index-page .

At the time of writing this article, the following courses are being offered:

 

1. APResearch

2. AP Seminar

3. Art History

4. Biology

5. Calculus AB

6. Calculus BC

7. Chemistry

8. Chinese Language and Culture

9. Computer Science A

10. Computer Science Principles

11. English Language and Composition

12. English Literature and Composition

13. Environmental Science

14. European History

15. French Language and Culture

16. German Language and Culture

17. Government and Politics (Comparative)

18. Government and Politics (US)

19. Human Geography

20. Italian Language and Culture

21. Japanese Language and Culture

22. Latin

23. Macroeconomics

24. Microeconomics

25. Music Theory

26. Physics 1: Algebra-Based

27. Physics 2: Algebra-Based

28. Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

29. Physics C: Mechanics

30. Psychology

31. Spanish Language and Culture

32. Spanish Literature and Culture

33. Statistics

34. Studio Art Drawing

35. Studio Art 2-D Design

36. Studio Art 3-D Design

37. US History

38. World History

These are courses for which you can give the final AP examination. Consult with your high school to find out which courses are offered there. Or, you can go for Integrated Preparation Courses such as by Masterclass Space.

Which one should I not choose?

Some of these courses require a lot of prerequisite knowledge, such as Calculus BC and Physics C. This means you need to have taken a few lower level courses to be able to do these courses easily. If you have not studied the prerequisites before, it is unwise to take such courses.

A few of the other courses are tough because they have a lot of memorization involved – these include US History, Biology, Chemistry, and European History. They require you to remember facts like dates or processes properly, and their MCQ system can be hard on those who are unprepared for it.

Some language courses are extremely hard due to the complexity of the language, such as Japanese and Chinese. If you do not speak these languages or you think you do not have an interest in learning them, you can skip them.

Are there “easy” courses?

NO.

AP tests are designed to be challenging. It is not wise to consider a course easy and slack off in preparation. Do not think that the final test will be easy just because people said it is: it’s made for a smarter than average student. However, some courses are relatively easier than others due to some factors.

If you already know a language listed as an AP course (or better, is a native speaker), you’re bound to find that course easier than others and score better. This is why, even though Chinese Language and Culture is considered to be a tough course, it has an extremely high pass percentage. Note that if you do not have prior experience with a language, taking an AP Language course is a bad idea.

If you are good at a particular subject and have the required prerequisites, you can take it. For example, if you are a history buff, you would enjoy World History. If you find math to be easy and can understand question asked in Statistics, it becomes much more comfortable to work with. If you have a background in the field of computer science, you can go for Computer Science as a subject.

Which courses are considered the easiest then?

• Less content to study or memories, easy to apply:

◦ Human Geography

◦ US Government

• Needs the ability to memorise things,:

◦ Psychology

• Better if you have a background:

◦ Computer Science

◦ Macroeconomics

◦ Microeconomics

• If you think you’re good at English

◦ AP Language and Composition

◦ AP Literature and Composition

How can I self-study for these?

It is a good option to study yourself for Human Geography, Psychology, and courses that you’ve a background in. For foreign language courses, it is better to study with a good teacher than to study yourself. Teachers know common pitfalls and places you can get stuck, and can help you out. Language courses have essay components, and a teacher can help you judge your texts.

You can similarly study a lot of history courses yourself, provided you put in the effort, and if general courses overlap enough. However, DO NOT SELF-STUDY FOR COURSES WITH A LOT OF MATHS OR SCIENCE! Chemistry, Biology both benefit immensely in terms of time if you have a good teacher. Mathematics courses are not easy to do on our own and teachers can help out by clearing questions and guiding you through the course.

Instead, you can come to Masterclass Space and discuss it with our dedicated counsellors. Here, you can identify your strengths and get help in choosing a course. With tutoring from our brilliant teachers, you can improve your SAT/AP courses a lot with minimal wasted effort.

AP Courses and college applications

Colleges know which courses are considered easy to study for. If they see a bunch of easy courses on your transcript, they’ll see through it. Admission committees prefer to see that you have challenged yourself and started working towards your desired major instead of blindly shoring up college credit. So, it is better to do a series of course that build upon each other than a scattered group of courses

Also, while you “pass” an AP course at 3/5, you are much better off with a 4 or a perfect 5. A lot of universities will only award college credit for a 4 or a 5 in the AP test. This is an important consideration in your scores. For example, while Spanish has a high pass percentage, the number of people with a 5 score are much less.

How can Masterclass Space help me with AP courses?

• Masterclass Space helps you prepare for college, including SAT and AP courses.

• It helps you improve your concepts with the help of top teachers so that you can improve your grasp of the subject.

• Masterclass Space provides specialized, industry-leading preparatory material for studies condensing the syllabus as much as possible without sacrificing possible points.

• Dedicated sessions with counsellors to help you select colleges, majors and AP courses to take for the same.

                                                                                            THINK AP, THINK MASTERCLASS SPACE

20 Feb
BITSAT, SAT

What’s the fuss about AP courses anyways?

What’s the fuss about AP courses anyways?

You’re looking up college applications, and all the pages keep asking about AP courses. It seems to be the ‘smart-kid’ course, at least in your school. It’s hard, but it seems colleges love this. You’ve heard your guidance counselor talk about it. But how exactly is it useful for college?

What is an Advanced Placement course?

The College Board, which organises the SAT/ACT exams each year, runs the Advanced Placement courses program to give high school students the opportunity to take introductory college-level courses. It was created in 1952 to cover the gap between college and high school education. It allows high school students to experience college-level education and deadlines. Grading for this is through the nationwide AP Examination that is conducted by the College Board. Every year, more than a million people sit for this examination in high school nationwide. It is held in the month of May each year.

NOTE: If you take an AP Course, also give the examination. However, you need not take the course to give the final paper, which is great if you’re home schooled or if your high school does not offer the AP course of your choice.

 

How do I benefit from taking an AP course?

1. If you’re applying to a demanding major, reviewers look for hard courses that you have taken to challenge yourself academically in high school. Taking an AP course does exactly that.

2. College degrees have a lot of benefits, but they are also incredibly expensive. Being able to do some courses earlier lets you complete your degree requirements faster, and pursue one of three things :

• Graduate Early: You save on a lot of debt and time by graduating early, and get a head start on your career. An early graduation also shows that you can consistently manage a good workload, impressing potential employers.

• A Double Major or a Minor: When you have the free time, why not take up some extra fun courses or gain another specialization? Having a minor or a double major makes your skillset much more interdisciplinary and lets you improve your critical thinking and industry application ability.

• Specialization: You can specialize in your major, for example take more Machine Learning courses if you are pursuing a Computer Engineering major. These are fun courses that will help you get more advanced positions when you apply somewhere, or even start your own enterprise!

3. You can explore advanced courses that you would be majoring in when you go to college. This is extremely helpful because many things are taught differently in college than high school – physics, chemistry, mathematics, etc. It makes sense to understand the structure of your course before you do this.

4. A college admissions committee will judge you by your transcript. Even a 4/5 in AP English might seem better than a 5/5 in Psycology. However, be sure to discuss this with a dedicated counsellor such as at masterclassspace.com before doing anything.

5. If you apply for merit aid, these courses might give you a small head start and let you get higher aid. You still need to work hard to maintain it, mind that, but these courses help you get reviewed favorably.

How does Masterclass Space help me with my AP exams?

The thing to understand with AP courses is that the examination probably matters more than the course. For getting university credit, or to impress reviewers, it is important to pass those exams along with a good SAT course.

At Masterclass Space, you have access to:

• Dedicated counsellors to help you choose AP courses that you can score better in

• Mock tests and coaching for SAT/ACT/AP exams to improve your score

• Help with college applications

• Interactive Online classes and doubt solving by teachers for your AP course

• Specially developed course material and notes for quick revision and efficient learnin

THINK AP, THINK MASTERCLASS SPACE

20 Feb
BITSAT, SAT

Choosing the correct AP Physics Course

Choosing the correct AP Physics Course

Physics courses are almost an integral part of high school, as well as a lot of college courses. All STEM courses would teach you at least an introductory physics course. Therefore, the AP Physics courses are an especially attractive course for students of all branches. A lot of colleges grant credit for AP Physics courses. Moreover, physics AP courses are considered rather advanced, and look good on your college applications.

College Board offers four physics Advanced Placement Courses –

● AP Physics 1

● AP Physics 2

● AP Physics C:Magnetism and Electricity

● AP Physics C:Mechanics

However, it is generally agreed that four AP physics courses is definitely overkill. You would miss out on a lot of other courses in trying to do these courses, and if a general physics course offered by your school covers the same syllabus, then you’re not gaining anything with the AP course. Therefore, it is important that you decide which courses to do and which not to.

An overview of Physics 1:

It is essentially the AP version of introduction to physics. It only requires a knowledge of algebra, so it is advised that you take this up in the first year of high school, after completing or concurrently with an algebra course. The topics covered are given below:

Unit 1: Kinematics

Unit 2: Dynamics

Unit 3: Circular Motion and Gravitation

Unit 4: Energy

Unit 5: Momentum

Unit 6: Simple Harmonic Motion

Unit 7: Torque and Rotational Motion

Unit 8: Electric Charge and Electric Force

Unit 9: DC Circuits

Unit 10: Mechanical Waves and Sound

Keep in mind that not all colleges offer college credit for this course. A lot of institutions with good engineering or core science programs such as MIT will not give credit for this course, while others like Notre Dame would only give credit to a score of 5.

An overview of Physics 2:

This course uses algebraic techniques to cover more advanced topics than AP Physics 1. The mathematical background needed for this course is still algebra and geometry. It can come after AP Physics 1 or any general introductory course, and is recommended as a second year course. The topics covered are given below:

Unit 1: Fluids

Unit 2: Thermodynamics

Unit 3: Electric Force, Field, and Potential

Unit 4: Electric Circuits

Unit 5: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Unit 6: Geometric and Physical Optics

Unit 7: Quantum, Atomic, and Nuclear Physics

Keep in mind that not all colleges offer college credit for this course. A lot of institutions with good engineering or core science programs such as MIT will not give credit for this course, while others like Notre Dame would only give credit to a score of 5.

An overview of Physics C: Mechanics

Physics C – Mechanics deals with Newtonian mechanical concepts in detail. The College Board recommends that the student should have completed or concurrently be taking a calculus course before pursuing this course. Because of the use of calculus, students can delve into concepts in much greater detail than AP Physics 1 and 2. While AP Physics C is divided into two completely separate courses, a lot of schools teach it over two semesters – Mechanics in the first semester and Electricity and Magnetism in the second semester. Exams are offered back to back for the combined set of courses.

The syllabus covered in Physics C: Mechanics is

Unit 1: Kinematics

Unit 2: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power

Unit 4: Systems of Particles and Linear Momentum

Unit 5: Rotation

Unit 6: Oscillations

Unit 7: Gravitation

An overview of Physics C: Magnetism and Electricity

This is the most advanced AP Physics course available today. It deals with concepts such as dielectrics, conductors, networks and magnetic fields using calculus based concepts. As with Physics C: Mechanics, it draws on calculus concepts and you should have completed or should be concurrently pursuing a general calculus course. In some schools, only the mechanics course is offered, while others that allow block allotments let you choose both courses together. Put together, each Physics C course is equivalent to one semester of college-level calculus-based physics course. The topics covered are listed below:

Unit 1: Electrostatics

Unit 2: Conductors, Capacitors, Dielectrics

Unit 3: Electric Circuits

Unit 4: Magnetic Fields

Unit 5: Electromagnetism

Check with the colleges you want to apply to if they credit for this course. However, Physics AP courses are recommended if you’re pursuing engineering or core physics as a degree.

What courses should I take?

The simple answer here is to look at what you want to pursue. If you wish to go for architecture, engineering or get a physics/chemistry/science degree, you should definitely do one or both Physics C courses. If you’re going towards a non-science degree or one like the health sciences, which does not relate to core sciences, you can take Physics 2.

Because AP Physics C is an advanced course, you must not jump into it unprepared. You should take either Physics 1/2 or an equivalent general physics course before doing this course. If you only want to look at introductory physics, say for a program that only requires an introductory algebra-based physics course, you can opt for Physics 1 and/or Physics 2. These courses provide a solid foundation for physics.

However, if you want to go on and take a Physics C course, you can opt for Physics 2, then Physics C; or Physics 1 then Physics C. If your school does not offer Physics 1 or 2, or if you don’t want to take 3 AP courses, it is perfectly fine to take general Introductory physics courses and then opt for AP physics C.

However, none of this matters if the courses offered in your school are not good. For additional help to excel in your AP Exams, you can always learn with Masterclass Space, which has top experts in the field and specially designed packages to help you rise to your potential.

Masterclass Space and AP Physics:

● Specialized study material for AP Physics, Chemistry, Algebra courses.

● Continuous mock test series.

● Online live interactive classes in small batches with personalized attention.

● Guidance experts and counselors available for your college applications.

THINK AP, THINK MASTERCLASS SPACE

20 Feb
BITSAT, SAT

Why Apply For SAT?

Why Apply For SAT?

According to the Washington Post, the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is the most widely used college admission test. SAT is used to measure your ability to apply for universities in most of the countries, majorly in the USA. The test scores also help you to figure out your future academic success regarding admissions in undergraduate programs. Adding to its benefits, SAT also helps you to receive academic scholarships depending on your score as well as the university. However, the following are the top 3 reasons why to apply for the SAT

1. SAT test scores are accepted in the majority of the colleges around the world: Almost all the American universities accept the SAT scores along with hundreds of universities around the world. It is so popular that nearly 2 million students opted for SAT in 2018 in USA.

2. No negative marking: Cheer up! If you were worrying about negative marking then you don’t have to as there is no negative marking in the SAT test.

3. Offers more flexibility: SAT test is conducted 7 times in a year. This allows you to take the tests several times a year. And it also gives you a reasonable amount of time to prepare for the tests if you are giving the test more then once.

Below are the features of SAT Test:

Test Structure

Reading, Writing & Language, Maths and Essay (Optional)

Length

3 hours (without essay)

3 hours 50 mins (with essay)

Reading

5 reading passages

Math

Arithmetic Algebra 1 & 2

Geometry, Trigonometry & Data Analysis

Calculator Policy

For some Math questions, the calculator is not allowed

Essay

Optional. Essay will test your comprehension of a source text

Score Range

Scored on a scale of 400-1600

Now that it’s clear why to apply for the SAT, let’s talk about how to prepare for the same.

1. Firstly, get familiar with the standard of the SAT exam: The standard of SAT exams are generally high and one should always have a clear picture and know about the exam properly.

2. Have an understanding of the exam format: One should have a clear understanding of the test format. The test is conducted for 1600 points that are divided into two sections. First is Math, and the other one includes reading, writing, and language along with essay that is completely optional.

3. Take SAT mock tests – You can take mock tests before taking the SAT. This will help you know where you stand and prepare accordingly.

4. Work on your weak areas specific to SAT – Once you go through the mock test, you will get to know the weak points & you can study accordingly

With all this information, it’s high time to start and let’s start NOW..

20 Feb
BITSAT, SAT

The SAT vs The ACT

The SAT vs The ACT

If you want to apply to a US based, or even a global elite university, you need to give one of the ACT or the SAT. Both tests are extremely popular right now. In 2018, 2.1 million people sat for the SAT while 1.9 million sat for the ACT. All colleges accept both tests. This begs the question: which test is best suited for you? Which test plays to your strengths? Which one of these can you get a better percentile in? Can writing one of these lead to better college application for you?

The format of the ACT:

The ACT is a 3 hour 35 minute exam, including the optional 40 minute essay component. It includes the following sections in the given order:

  1. English – 45 minutes, 75 questions

  2. Math – 60 minutes, 60 questions

  3. Reading – 35 minutes. 40 questions

  4. Science – 35 minutes, 40 questions

  5. Optional Writing – 40 minutes, 1 essay questio

The paper is graded on a composite score of 1-36, with the essay being separately graded. The total score is simply the average of your score on the four sections, each of which is also graded from 1-36. For both the SAT and ACT tests, the essay does not count towards your final grade and serves only as an additional data point.

The format of the SAT:

The SAT is a 3 hour 50 minute exam, including an optional 50 minute essay component. Like the ACT, sections are given in a predetermined order:

  1. Reading – 65 minutes, 52 questions

  2. Writing and Language – 35 minutes, 44 questions

  3. Math (No Calculator) – 25 minutes, 20 questions

  4. Math (Calculator) – 55 minutes, 28 questions

  5. Optional Essay – 50 minutes, 1 essay question

The paper is graded from 400-1600, and is designed such that the mean score lies around 1000. Your total score on the SAT is simply the sum of your EBRW (Evidence-based Reading and Writing Score) and the Math score, each of which is graded from 200-800 with the mean lying around 500. The essay is graded separately on a three-score system on a scale of 1-8. This essay does not count to your final grade, but can help you in your applications if your college requires it.

SAT Essay vs ACT Essay

This is an optional component for both papers, but it is where both exams differ the most widely. The ACT essay is fairly straightforward: you have writing prompt and three perspectives on it. You need to analyse and develop arguments for your own perspectives, which you will also analyse with respect to some of the other perspectives. You get 40 minutes to do this. The SAT essay is a completely different ballgame – you have writing prompt and an author’s perspective on it. You then need to write an essay analysing how this author’s builds his/her argument. You do not give your own opinion on the subject – you dissect the opinion of the author with evidence for the same.

What suits you better? This is easy to answer. If you can come up easy will supporting reasoning and examples, can organise your thoughts and develop a valid, detailed and coherent opinion on something, the ACT essay is the best for you. If you think you can read through passages better, and reason things properly with correct supporting examples from that passage to back up your position, then you should definitely prefer the SAT essay.

SAT vs ACT Science

The SAT has no science section. It is made to gauge mental ability, while a science section would make the paper more of a knowledge-testing examination. However, it does include graphs, charts and other visual media to check a student’s scientific aptitude. It also includes passages from science in its reading and writing passages, as well as by putting word problems from scientific concepts in Mathematics.

The ACT Science section is essentially like those “science-based Math” questions in the SAT. The language used is scientific, but there are always graphs, charts or other data provided to help you understand the concept and solve the question. You might get intimidated by the technical wording of questions in this section, but it does not mean they cannot be solved. Most importantly, all the questions can usually be solved without outside knowledge, as the aim of the ACT Science section is to test your ability to comprehend material instead of checking on their knowledge.

However, the ACT does not provide formulae on the paper, while the SAT does provide some basic formulae for the math section. This means you still need to remember things like the area and volume of a cylinder or a cone.

Therefore, if you feel comfortable with basic scientific principles, you should go for the ACT, while if they confuse you, you should try for the SAT.

SAT Math vs ACT Math

Mathematics accounts for 50% of the SAT score, while it accounts for only 25% of your ACT score. However, science does have some application of mathematics, so a good grasp over mathematics can help you over there as well. However, all questions in the ACT allow you to use a calculator. The SAT instead has a no calculator section as well.

The ACT does test a few topics that the SAT doesn’t, such as graphs of trigonometric functions and matrices. However, both papers mostly ask algebra questions, with smaller proportions of other topics like trigonometry and geometry.

The ACT asks you to solve 60 questions in 60 minutes. They would be more straight-forward, and test more concepts like trigonometry, geometry and algebra. The SAT has 20 questions in the no calculator section (25 minutes) and 38 in the calculator allowed section (55 minutes). These questions check your reasoning ability, and the ability to draw inferences from the given data. Another point worth mentioning here is that the SAT has a few student-filled responses on their mathematics sections. These are grid-ins that you have to fill in yourself. The ACT has multiple choice questions all the way.

The ACT Math section would be better for you if:

1. You feel that you are weak at mathematics

2. You prefer more straightforward questions and can handle topics like trigonometric functions and their graphs.

The SAT Math section is better for you if:

1. You prefer reasoning questions

2. You need slightly more time per question

3. You are good at math and feel it can push your score up

SAT Reading vs ACT Reading

The reading sections of both tests try to gauge the student’s ability to find answers from the passage using the relevant evidences. However, the manner in which they do so differs in a lot of ways.

The ACT has four passages, while the SAT has five. The SAT also has evidence and assertion type questions – a format completely missing from the ACT. The SAT always has questions in chronological order. Most questions also mention which line they are referring too. This means you always have an idea about where you should look to get the correct answer. This does not happen on the ACT. Questions are in random order for each passage, and you should know where the evidence might be to get the answer.

The SAT also has infographics in some of these passages, and questions may be framed on them.

The ACT keeps most of its infographics in the science section.

The SAT can be chosen if chronological questions would benefit you. However, they are more reasoning-based than the ACT. You can take the ACT if you want more straightforward questions.

SAT Writing vs ACT Writing

The biggest difference between the SAT and the ACT is that Evidence-and-Assertion questions are asked only on the former. Also, answers might be trickier on the SAT, as their questions focus on the writing and the infographics related to them. The two papers do not differ much in this section, but the ACT might spend slightly more effort in checking your grammar and basic English skills. In a way, the EBRW section on the SAT is aligned very well to the ACT, but is more nuanced.

Final words

If your state has made it mandatory for you to take one of them, then you should choose that one. You save on fees, and your school teachers know the test better.

Choose the SAT for its emphasis on Maths and reasoning skills. If you feel that you can find out evidences to justify your line of thought, then you are suited to the SAT. The ACT is a more straightforward exam, which you can take if you get confused by tricky wording. The ACT is also the better choice if you feel that you can build your own arguments properly, as seen in its essay portion.

If you have any more queries regarding the same, or how to prepare for the same, you should consider joining one of Masterclass Space’s integrated learning plans or mock test series. Masterclass Space has dedicated counselors who can help you choose which paper to take, the targets you should be setting, and can help you with setting up a study plan to achieve your targets. Not only that, Masterclass Space also has the top professors (selected from top universities) who can teach you and help with doubts in one-on-one sessions, and specially designed course materials that will reduce your dependence on inefficient books.

THINK SAT/ACT, THINK MASTERCLASS SPACE

20 Feb
BITSAT, SAT

All You Need To Know About Acing The SAT Reading

All You Need To Know About Acing The SAT Reading

The reading section in the new SAT is a 52 question test within 65 minutes. It is half of the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. In effect, you will have a little more than an hour to read five passages and answer questions based on them. The passages themselves can range from a variety of topics like history, social studies, literature, and natural sciences. Each passage will have questions that will test you on all kinds of questions. These questions could be about the meaning of a particular word, the author’s intention in the passage or even reference-based questions about graphs.

Basically, you need to be prepared to face all kinds of questions on five passages that test you on your ability to read, comprehend, correlate and answer questions. All this in a flat 65 minutes of time! Phew! Put like this, it sounds a little stressful. But, it is really not, if you know how to crack this section.

Pre SAT Reading Prep.

No matter what exam you are sitting for, the prep before the D-Day makes a huge impact. Since we are discussing SAT reading section, the most important prep you need to do is to Read. It is as simple as that! What to read, when to read and how much to read, definitely form important parts of this prep.

 

Know What You are Up Against

It is always a good practice to know what you are up against. The SAT reading test is no exception to this rule too. Spend some time to understand the reading test, the logic behind it and the way it impacts your personal choice of further studies. College Board gives a detailed overview of the SAT reading section. Do check this out.

Read, Read, Read & Read

Psychologically speaking, you perform better in things that you know or are comfortable with. Same holds true for reading too. The SAT reading section has five passages. Isn’t that a lot of reading? Unless you are comfortable reading and comprehending passages in general, it will not come easy on the D-Day. Make it a habit to read on a daily basis. Not just for the purpose of SAT. Make your reading a channel to be comfortable in comprehending. This will go a long way. While Reading, Read All Kinds

The SAT reading section has five passages from diverse subjects like history, literature, natural sciences, and social studies. If all you have ever read profusely is only John Grisham and Jeffery Archer, reading and answering questions from Hamlet in your SAT is not going to be easy. Read a variety of text as a habit much before the SAT. It will improve your comfort with the language. A bonus is, it will make you more knowledgeable. A mighty important thing to have in life! Few types of text you should definitely include in your reading is

  • 19th-century literature,

  • Articles on sciences (applied, physics, biology, technical, all kinds of science),

  • Modern fiction,

  • Opinions found in editorials of popular magazines. In a nutshell, read a lot and read wide.

Reading Speed

Your reading speed makes a huge difference to your performance on the SAT reading section. After all, you’ve got to answer 52 questions based on 5 passages in 65 minutes. That’s definitely a pressure test! You will only add more pressure to your test if you read too fast or read too slow. So, much before your SAT, assess your reading speed and work towards improving it. One way to know your ideal reading speed is to check your retention. All you need to do is read a passage at a certain time and write down the essence of the passage in 5 sentences. In short, these 5 sentences should sum up the passage without diluting the meaning or intention of the author. These are some basic things to do in gearing up for your SAT reading section.

SAT Test Day Reading Tips

All the prep stands on one side and your state of mind on the SAT test day will stand on the other side. A strong prep definitely will boost your state of mind. The following tips will help you translate your state of mind to solid scores!

Skim Through

If you have practised reading, improved your speed and have a decent ability to summarize a passage, then on the SAT test, skim through the passages. You do not have to necessarily read each and every word. A skim through will help you get all the details you need to answer the questions.

Mark and Make Notes

The SAT passages are not the most interesting things you will read. On the contrary, they might be some of the most boring passages you will ever read. Mark sections of the passages that carry the main idea. Make notes while reading. This will help you find your answers quickly.

Do not Hesitate to Guess

The new SAT does not penalize for guessing. In case you are left with a bunch of questions that are difficult to answer, do not hesitate to take a guess. You have nothing to lose. If it’s a lucky day, you might actually guess right.

Let’s gear up and get started!! Best wishes!!

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