Tips on SAT Verbal

How is the Test organized?

The redesigned SAT has four tests, the essay is optional. The breakdown is as follows

• Reading consists of 52 questions with a time of 65 minutes alloted for this section
• Writing and Language consist of 44 questions, with a time of 35 minutes alloted for this section
• The Essay is optional consists of 1 task, with a time of 50 minutes for this task
• Math consists of 58 questions, and has a total of 80 minutes for this section

Reading Test Passages

• The SAT will have passages from a wide range of subject areas, devote more practice time to the types of passages you're less comfortable reading

• Two passages on the SAT Reading Test will include one or two informational graphics- tables, charts or graphs. These questions will assess your skills in locating and interpreting information within the text

• Always ensure that you base your answer on an option closer to the reading

• All the information you need to answer the questions can be found in the passage themselves or in supplementary materials. Be careful not to apply outside knowledge to the passage or questions, as this may interfere with your intepretation of the text

• Keywords in the question will often clue you in on whether you're being asked about a detail that was mentioned in the passage or suggested by the passage

• While interpreting words and phrases, do not rely solely on your vocabulary knowledge. Words often have multiple definitions, so be sure to consider the context in which the word of phrase is being used

Writing and Language

Each passage will be headed by a title in boldface type. The passage is spread across multiple pages. Most questions are anchored to a particular location in the passage via a boxed question number in the passage. If the boxed number stands alone, the associated question will tell you what to do, such as consider adding a sentence at that point. At other times, this boxed number will be followed by an underlined text; for these you will have to consider which of the four answer options is correct in  terms of standard written english

• All questions on the Writing and Language Test are multiple choice with four answer options

• All questions are passage based, consider each question in the context of the passage before selecting your answer

• Some questions include a “No change” option; choose this option if you think the original text is the apt choice

Essay

The redesigned SAT essay requires candidates to analyze an argument in order to explain how the author builds his or her argument to persuade an audience. You  are not asked to take a stance on the topic. The support that you provide for your analysis will not come from your own prior knowledge, opinions or experiences, but rather found in the reading passage

• The essay does not ask you to take a stand on the issue

• The scores that you receive will reflect your criteria in reading, analysis and writing

• Ensure that you understand what the essay is asking you to do

• The main focus of your essay should focus on how the author develops an argument that is persuasive

• An essay that provides strong analysis of well chosen points is likely to score better

Edwise provide coaching on IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, GMAT, GRE and SAT. For complete information & enrolment, contact us on 1-800-200-3678 / 08600911333.

Can you work and study… and still have a life?

Many students take on part-time work to earn extra cash for travel to make new friends, improve their language skills, or network their way into a new career. But is it really possible to combine work with study, do well in your course… and still have a life?

What are the secrets to work-study-life balance? Can you really fit it all in?

Finding balance

To be successful, you need to set clear goals and find a balance between work and play. Every person has 168 hours a week. It sounds like a lot, but a full-time degree course may take up 30 to 40 of those hours.

Studies have shown that students who work between 10 and 15 hours per week can manage their full-time study and their work. If you work longer, you may find it more stressful – and your study and results may suffer. So even if your student visa allows you to work 20 hours per week, this may not be ideal.

Finding the right type of work

What is your main goal for working? If it is to earn money, you’ll want to find a job that pays reasonably well, even if it is flexible or part-time. Temp jobs, where you may fill a short-term position full-time during the summer holidays, may be one option. If you already have skills and experience you may be able to freelance – as a research assistant or graphic designer, for example.

If you want something less stressful, an on-campus job (especially an office admin position) may be more suitable. It will save you time commuting, and you may feel safer working on campus.

If you’d rather leave your work to the weekends, and focus on study during the weeks, you might be able to pick up work in a café or bar, or in a retail store, or even work on seasonal events or festivals. This may be less lucrative than an office job, but there are other benefits such as staff discounts. It may also be more sociable, which is great if you want to make new friends or learn more about your new country’s culture.

There are other types of temporary jobs during holiday breaks, such as seasonal fruit picking or farm work. It can be physically hard work, but it is a great way to see a different part of the country.

If your main goal is to network in your industry, meet people and improve your CV, then an internship may provide great experience and hands-on training – but it may not be a paid one.

Six Tips to Fitting it all in

1. Plan your time. Use one calendar only, for all your personal, study and work commitments. Make a note of all your due dates and exams.

2. Write down how much time you need to spend each week on each activity, and enter all your regular weekly commitments into your calendar – even the really obvious ones.

3. Leave some free time. Sometimes things don’t go to plan, and you need to be flexible. Research for an assignment could take longer, the train may be delayed, or you may need to see a doctor.

4. Set yourself a homework hour every night. Attend classes; keep on top of the small stuff, so it won’t pile up into big stuff. Got a spare half hour? Do some quick revision – don’t go on Facebook!

5. Wake up half an hour earlier. Sounds so simple. But that gives you an extra 3.5 hours a week!

6. Set yourself small achievable goals every day or every week. And reward yourself with some personal time when you achieve them. Because it’s not all just about work and study – it’s also about you and your life!

Have you now realized you can’t actually fit it all in without sacrificing sleep? Don’t panic. You need to assign a level of urgency and a level of importance to every activity.

For example, an assignment worth 40% and due tomorrow is both urgent and important. But if it is due in 4 weeks, it is not so urgent. Answering an email straight away is urgent, but of lower importance than that assignment. Cleaning the house before studying is neither important nor urgent.

This lets you prioritize. And then you may decide you don’t need to do that task at all!

Prioritizing can be difficult. Accept that you’re doing the best you can, and feel positive about the choices you make.

If you give unimportant things a high priority, you might prevent yourself from achieving your important goals. And the most important reason you are studying abroad is just – to study and succeed.

For any queries, Contact Edwise on 1-800-200-3678 (Toll Free) / 08600911333.

PTE Preparation Tips

Pearson Test of English Academic is an international computer based English language test. It measures the English language ability and can be used to apply to educational institutions and professional organizations. This test is divided into three sections- Speaking and Writing, Reading and Listening and lasts for a duration of approximately three hours

Tips on each section

Speaking

Read aloud

• Use the 40 seconds you are given to go over the text quickly.
• Be loud and clear when you begin speaking. Use the punctuation to help you decide where to pause
• Do not be in a hurry, you have plenty of time

Repeat Sentence

• There is no tone before the microphone opens in this task, begin speaking as soon as the status box changes to recording
• Speak as clearly as you can

• Do not try to copy the accent that you hear

Describe Image

• Use your 25 seconds to understand what the graph/chart is showing you
• Don't just focus on the details, include developments and conclusions
• You cannot mention every point on the graph. Describe the overall changes if any and mention the significant differences

Re-tell Lecture

• Do not try to write every word that you hear. Use key words to note the main idea of the lecture
• Stay attentive and keep taking notes until the lecture stops
• After the audio stops, you only have ten seconds before the tone sounds, use this time to organize your points accordingly

Answer short question

• State your answer as soon as the status box changes to recording
• Click on Next to move on to the next question
• Once the microphone closes you cannot change your answer
• If you think that your first answer was not correct. Keep speaking and give the correct answer. You have ten seconds to give your response
• Do not pause for longer than three seconds. The recorder will move on to the next question leaving your answer incomplete

Writing

Summarize written text

• Your response must be one sentence only, between 5 and 75 words. Ensure that you use punctuation that allows you to include all your points within one sentence
• Your summarization should begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop
• Your response will not be scored if your sentences have full stops in between or if it is all written in capital letters
• Take a few minutes to check your grammar and vocabulary.
• At the end of ten minutes, the screen will stop responding

Write essay

• While writing your essay, make sure to fully answer the questions the task is asking of you
• Make sure that your essay is well organized, with a new paragraph for every new idea
• Save a few minutes to check your essay. You will lose marks for poor grammar and spelling mistakes

Reading

Multiple - Choice, Choose Single Answer/Choose Multiple Answer

• Always read the question before you read the passage
• If you don't know an important word in the text, try to guess its        meaning from the context
• Make sure that you do not spend too much time on one task

Re-order paragraphs

• Skim through the sentences, look for the sentence that introduces the topic
• Check that your selected sentence contains no reference to any information stated before it
• Look for linking words in the other sentences. Be on the look out for words like however or in addition to or pronouns replacing nouns already mentioned
• Use these markers to put the information in the correct order

  

Fill in the blanks

• Skim through the text to get an idea of the topic at hand
• Look at the words around the first blank. Identify the idea being expressed in the sentence, and think what word will create meaning in the context
• Check to see if the word fits the grammar and meaning of the text
• If you cannot fill one blank, move on to the next one. The more blanks you fill in, the easier the missing ones will be
• Read through the text to check if the meaning is consistent

Listening

Summarize spoken text

• As you listen, take down notes. Do not write down everything you hear. Use key words to capture the main and supporting ideas
• A high score is given if all relevant aspects of the audio are mentioned
• Keep to the word limit of 50-70 words, you will lose marks if you exceed
• Save a few minutes to check for grammar and spellings

Multiple-Choice, Choose Multiple Answers/ Choose Single Answers

• Read the question and skim the options before the audio begins
• Be aware of the development of the speaker's ideas
• Once the audio is done, eliminate options that contain incorrect information
• For multiple answers, the candidate is required to select more than one option

Fill in the blanks

• Skim through the text to gain a general idea of the topic
• As you hear the missing word, type the word in the blank. Make sure that your spellings are correct. will be marked zero for incorrect spellings
• Follow the speaker, so you do not miss a word
• After the audio stops, read the sentence and check if the word makes sense

Highlight Correct Summary

• Skim through the options quickly to get an idea of the topic
• Focus on listening, take down notes once your audio begins
• Once the audio stops, refer to your notes to select the correct option
• Eliminate any option that may hold incorrect information

 

Select missing word

• Skim through your options to get an idea about what the speaker might talk about
• Do not worry about any words that may sound new to you, focus on the overall ideas of the speaker

Highlight incorrect words

• Use the time before the recording begins to skim though the text
• Pay attention to the speaker
• As soon as the recording starts, move your cursor along each sentence
• Always ensure that you keep up with the speaker
• Do not make random guesses, you will lose out on marks if you have selected a correct word that was in the recording

Write from dictation

• Focusing on the meaning of the sentence will help you remember the sentence
• Ensure that the words are spelt correctly. Marks are given for every word that is correctly spelt

For any queries on PTE, Contact Edwise on 1-800-200-3678 (Toll Free) / 08600911333.