Why College Students in Metro Manila Take Up Part-Time Jobs Essay Example for Free

Why College Students in Metro Manila Take Up Part-Time Jobs Essay A part-time job is a form of labour where in one works fewer hours per week than that of someone who works at a full time job. Those who have part-time jobs work for less than thirty to thirty-five hours a week. May it be capable, post-graduate adults or under-aged students, the amount of people with part time jobs have increased over the past 20 years in most developed countries. â€Å"There are many reasons for working part time, including the desire to do so, having ones hours cut back by an employer and being unable to find a full-time job. † [] Many students work part time jobs to supply themselves with additional funds. Working part-time is ideal for students, since it allows them to balance their academic needs with their school needs. This is one of the things some students in High School look forward to when they graduate and step up to college, to have freedom and a preview of the world that is waiting for them once they graduate. They want a peek of the â€Å"real world† as some say, which is the world of adults, the working world. Though some are forced to go through with this as their economic status demands it, there are still many advantages when it comes to taking up part-time jobs. Collegiate students are given a bigger work load than any other department but many still go through with it despite their amount of tasks. It is because for many hardworking students, like ones who had graduated with many honours, it looks good on a resume. The employers usually see this as a good thing for they know that their candidate for employment can handle a large amount of work properly. With a good looking resume, it would not be that hard to get a job. Moreover, parents would like to give their children a sense of responsibility in which they tell their children to apply for part time jobs so as to let them experience what it feels like to have their own money to budget. Statement of the Problem This study aims to analyze the reasons why college students take up part time  jobs and how they manage their time. In a more detailed manner, it is to answer the following questions: 1. What are the reasons college students take up part time jobs? a. Is it an absolute necessity? 2. How much do they earn per week? 3. On what do they spend their money on? 4. Do they give part of their payment to their parents? a. How many percent? 5. Are they able to manage their time? a. How many hours a day do they work? b. Do they have other activities/responsibilities? 6. What motivates them to keep working? a. Who gave them the idea of applying for their jobs they have? 7. How long have they been working? Scope and Limitations The topic is about collegiate students with part time jobs. The study will be conducted to know how students of different schools in the collegiate department juggle their studies with part time jobs. The study will tell about how they cope with the sudden change in their habits and their time management. The study will also tackle the reasons why they took up their current jobs, if the job is a necessity or if it is of their own desire. The study is time pressured. The time to work on the study is seven months. The respondents will be various students of a few different colleges around the Cavite and Metro Manila area, School Year 2012-2013, who have a job that requires them to work for less than 39 hours a week. Significance of the Study The study is important to many current and upcoming fourth year students who are planning to take up a part time job in their collegiate years. It would help them to further understand the advantages and disadvantages of what they are hoping to get themselves into. This research will help them be sure of what they want. This would also help them find a way to manage their time once they are there. The study would also help the students already in college. It would help those with part time jobs feel easier knowing other people go through the same things they do. The study will also help them manage their time better. It would also help those collegiate students who do not have jobs. It would give them a better view. The study will give them a good, first person point of view insight. Furthermore, this study would also help teachers and parents to understand the stress and pressure the collegiate students with part time jobs go through. This study will open doors for them to be able to create a stronger family bond. Research Design 8. What are the reasons college students take up part time jobs? 9. How much do they earn per week? 10. On what do they spend their money on? 11. Do they give part of their payment to their parents? 12. Are they able to manage their time? 13. What motivates them to keep working? 14. How long have they been working? Input Process 1. To analyze and assess the effects of part time jobs to collegiate students 2. Gathering data by means of handing questionnaires to the respondents. 3. Output 1. Learning how collegiate students with part time jobs cope up with their studies 2. Warning those who plan to take up part time jobs if they are not ready for it 3. Encouraging readers of the study to take the  challenge of having a part time job once they are ready Fig. 1 – Analysis of the Reasons Why College Students Take Up Part Time Jobs and How They Manage Their Time Definition of terms 1. College- is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. 2. Part time job- is a form of employment that carries fewer hours per week than a full-time job. 3. Job- a regular activity performed in exchange for payment. 4. Student- is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. 5. Economy- consists of the economic systems of a country or other area; the labour, capital, and land resources; and the manufacturing, production, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area. 6. Time management- is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity. 7. Budget- is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. 8. High school- is a term for education system used in parts of the English-speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education, but not always the highest years of basic education, which can be called a secondary school or secondary college or other terms, depending on the nation or region. 9. Teenager- is a young person whose age is between thirteen and nineteen. 10. Labour- productive activity, especially for the sake of economic gain. 11. Responsibility- the state or fact of being responsible. 12. Adult- a person who is fully grown or developed or of age. 13. Pressure- the exertion of force upon a surface by an object. 14. Graduate- a person who has received a degree or diploma on completing a course of study, as in a university, college or school. 15.Employer- is a person or institution that hires employees or workers. 16. Employee- contributes labour and expertise to an endeavour of an employer and is usually hired to perform specific duties which are packaged into a job. 17. Motivation- is the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal and elicits, controls, and sustains certain goal directed behaviours. 18. Respondent- is a person who is called upon to issue a response to a communication made by another. 19. Stress- A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression. 20. School- is an institution designed for the teaching of students (or pupils) under the direction of teachers.

What is Philosophy? :: essays research papers

What is Philosophy?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I believe that Philosophy is the study of different ways of thinking. In philosophy, you should question everything and never take anything for face value. There are always two sides to every coin as there are different ways of looking at things, is what philosophy teaches us. In philosophy, you must throw off all the limitations you have set on yourself when dealing with how you view things and how things seem to be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reality is a big topic of discussion in philosophy. How you view things may not be how they really are. A schitzophrenicÕs reality is different from the reality of a Ã’saneÓ persons. Therefore I deem reality to be based on experiences, and perceptions. Something you deem to be wrong may be the same thing your friend deems to be right. So does this mean that there really is no one true reality?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Philosophy, we learn that it is okay to doubt things that occur in our lives. It is not only okay but it is a natural response to something you are unclear or uncertain about. Sometimes, though, the build-up of doubt becomes too much for someone to handle so they become suicidal or just give up trying to think about it all together. When this happens, there is a tendency to become cynical, and this is a tragedy because then you feel like nothing is really worth trying to figure out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most of philosophy deals with the Ã’selfÓ. People are always trying to find out who they are; why theyÕre here; or how things relate to them. All of our lives are spent on a road of self discovery, seeing what the world has to offer us, and where our place really is. If we were to actually look closely, we would see that   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  page 2 we knew who we were all along, we just didnÕt realize it.

Martin Luther ; Henry VIII

The Catholic Church has begun to sell indulgences, a way to pay off sins to reduce time in purgatory, to raise money. A monk who is outraged by the pope tricking innocent worshipers into falling for his trap writes down a list of 95 reasons why the church has become corrupt by the light of a scroll and furiously hammers them to the door ofa German church. Meanwhile in England, a king is denied an annulment to his marriage.In a fit of anger, he removes the church's uthority and writes up his own religion for his land and people, with himself as to rule. A monk and a king; Martin Luther and King Henry VIII; two souls of polar opposites who broadened Europe's worldviews of religion with their gifts of Protestantism and the Anglican Church. Martin Luther, born in Germany in 1483, was a man of logic: he studied law, as guided by his father, but longed to learn about religion. One night in 1505, he was caught in a horrid lightning storm. He prayed to God, promising to become a monk if he l eft this storm alive and unharmed.He followed his word and taught peacefully. However, in 1 516, one of the catholic pope's commissioners was sent to Germany to sell and collect indulgences. This angered Luther because many of his people stopped attending church services, believing that since they had paid off indulgences, they had no need to ask forgiveness within the pews. He thought that since they would do this that they instead would spend more of an eternity in purgatory. On October 31, 1517, he began to write the 95 Theses, a list of reasons why the Catholic Church was corrupt in their intentions.He posted these onto the oor of his church with the intended audience to Just be the priest and a few others. However, because of the invention of the Printing Press, copies of Luther's works were printed and spread across Germany- eventually Europe and into the hands of the pope. People related to Luther's thoughts and this began Protestantism. Luther's journey wasn't over for him y et, though. After numerous warnings from the pope to take back what he had said, Pope Leo X excommunicated him in 1920. In 1521, Luther was called by a council of people, known as the Diet of Worms, for him to be tried as heretic.When he continued to stand by his word, he was declared an outlaw and went into hiding once returning to Germany. Meanwhile across the pond, Henry VIII had problems of his own. After taking the throne and marrying his brother's wife, he had the dilemma of being unable to have a son produced between them. Henry turned to the Pope for a marriage annulment, but was denied ofa divorce. Henry didn't want to hear ‘no' for an answer, so he called forth the Reformation Parliament to declare England to be no longer under the control of the Pope.The Acts of Parliament closed down the monasteries and put Henry in charge of the church, which was known as the Anglican Church. Out of his took the throne, Protestantism began to take root. It was not until when Henry s daughter, Mary, took the throne that England was returned to the Pope's authority. Luther never wanted to start a war against the church; he Just wanted them to let him and his beliefs in. In contrast, Henry wanted to show the church that he had the power and could do what he wanted.Henry desired to have a new church to control or his desires while Luther only wanted to help change the church (though this did not go in his favor). The Protestant Reformation combined both Luther and Henry VIII's works as well as other scholars. In the end, Europe, and even the world, would never be the same if it weren't for Martin Luther and Henry VIII making adaptions on their own. Without the Catholic Church putting up the walls for Henry or tainting the public to Luther, we would never have such diffusion between religions and cultures to add variety to our ancestors' everyday lives and ours.

Journal on Chapter One of Al Gore’s “The Assault on Reason” Essay

In the first chapter titled Politics of Fear of Al Gore’s Book, â€Å"The Assault on Reason,† the author basically dealt with one of the most prominent human emotions— fear. According to Gore, fear is the prime enemy of reason. When a person experiences fear of something or someone, his or her reasoning ability is shut down. In addition, Gore claims that fear also clouds a person’s judgment as it drives him or her to act recklessly or irrationally without considering all options available. Furthermore, Gore also pointed out in his book that fear does not only affect a single individual, but an entire nation as well. According to him, a nation crippled by fear is unable to act towards development and progress because it does not do anything to overcome that fear. On the other hand, based on Gore’s book, when a person views fear as a form of motivation for him or her, he or she would eventually act to overcome that fear and accomplish his or her goal. Generally, I agree with most of the arguments that Gore pointed out in the first chapter of his book, particularly on the areas where he related fear to politics. I believe that Gore was right in saying that there are times when people fail to distinguish between the illusionary fears and the legitimate or real ones. When this happens, people may find it extremely difficult to think rationally and plan their next move because their judgment is clouded and they are unable to listen to reason.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, I also believe that Gore was correct when he claimed that the present administration in the United States as used the people’s fear, which spawned after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, to manipulate various political processes and made people believe that   all Iraqi’s were the one’s responsible for the attacks. For me, I believe that it is wrong to think all Iraqis or Muslims are terrorists simply because their fellowmen may have committed heinous crimes. I believe this is the best example of the fear that has been plaguing US citizens since the 9/11 attacks. I also believe that the nation should first identify which fear is legitimate and which is not before exercising judgment.

History of Feral Rabbits in Australia

History of Feral Rabbits in Australia Rabbits are an invasive species that has caused immense ecological devastation to the continent of Australia for over 150 years. They procreate with uncontrollable velocity, consume cropland like locusts, and contribute significantly to soil erosion. Although some of the governments rabbit eradication methods have been successful in controlling their spread, the overall rabbit population in Australia is still well beyond sustainable means. History of Rabbits in Australia In 1859, a man named Thomas Austin, a landowner in Winchelsea, Victoria imported 24 wild rabbits from England and released them into the wild for sport hunting. Within a number of years, those 24 rabbits multiplied into millions. By the 1920s, less than 70 years since its introduction, the rabbit population in Australia ballooned to an estimated 10 billion, reproducing at a rate of 18 to 30 per single female rabbit per year. The rabbits started to migrate across Australia at a rate of 80 miles a year. After destroying two million acres of Victorias floral lands, they traversed across the states of New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland. By 1890, rabbits were spotted all the way in Western Australia. Australia is an ideal location for the prolific rabbit. The winters are mild, so they are able to breed nearly year-round. There is an abundance of land with limited industrial development. Natural low vegetation provides them with shelter and food, and years of geographic isolation has left the continent with no natural predator for this new invasive species. Currently, the rabbit inhabits around 2.5 million square miles of Australia with an estimated population of over 200 million. Feral Australian Rabbits as Ecological Problem Despite its size, much of Australia is arid and not fully fit for agriculture. What fertile soil the continent has is now threatened by the rabbit. Excessive grazing by the rabbit has diminished vegetative cover, allowing wind to erode away top soil. Soil erosion affects revegetation and water absorption. Land with limited top soil can also lead to agricultural run-off and increased salinity. The livestock industry in Australia has been widely affected by the rabbit. As food yields decrease, so does the cattle and sheep population. To compensate, many farmers extend their livestock range and diet, farming a wider expanse of the land and thus further contributing to the problem. The agricultural industry in Australia has lost billions of dollars from the direct and indirect effects of the rabbit infestation. The introduction of the rabbit has also strained the native wildlife of Australia. Rabbits have been blamed for the destruction of the eremophila plant and various species of trees. Because rabbits will feed on seedlings, many trees are never able to reproduce, leading to local extinction. Additionally, due to direct competition for food and habitat, the population of many native animals such as the greater bilby and the pig-footed bandicoot has declined dramatically. Feral Rabbit Control Measures For much of the 19th century, the most common methods of feral rabbit control have been trapping and shooting. But between 1901 and 1907, the Australian government went with a national approach by building three rabbit-proof fences to protect the pastoral lands of Western Australia. The first fence stretched 1,138 miles vertically down the entire western side of the continent, starting from a point near Cape Keravdren in the north and ending in Starvation Harbor in the south. It is considered to be the worlds longest continuous standing fence. The second fence was built roughly parallel to the first, 55 - 100 miles further west, branching off from the original to the southern coast, stretching 724 miles. The final fence extends 160 miles horizontally from the second to the western coast of the country. Despite the enormity of the project, the fence was deemed unsuccessful, since many rabbits traversed over to the protected side during the construction period. Additionally, many have dug their way through the fence, as well. The Australian government also experimented with biological methods to control the feral rabbit population. In 1950, mosquitoes and fleas carrying the myxoma virus were released into the wild. This virus, found in South America, only affects rabbits. The release was highly successful, as an estimated 90-99 percent of the rabbit population in Australia was wiped out. Unfortunately, because mosquitoes and fleas do not typically inhabit arid areas, many of the rabbits living in the continents interior were not affected. A small percentage of the population also developed a natural genetic immunity to the virus and they continued to reproduce. Today, only about 40 percent of rabbits are still susceptible to this disease. To combat the reduced effectiveness of myxoma, flies carrying a rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), was released in Australia in 1995. Unlike myxoma, RHD is able to infiltrate the arid areas. The disease helped reduced rabbit populations by 90 percent in arid zones. However, like myxomatosis, RHD is still limited by geography. Since its host is a fly, this disease has very little impact on the cooler, higher rainfall regions of coastal Australia where flies are less prevalent. Moreover, rabbits are beginning to develop resistance to this disease, as well. Today, many farmers still use conventional means of eradicating rabbits from their land. Although the rabbit population is a fraction of what it was in the early 1920s, it continues to burden the countrys eco- and agricultural systems. They have lived on Australia for over 150-years and until a perfect virus can be found, theyll probably be there for several hundred more. References Australia Government: Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2011, May 27). Feral Animals in Australia. Retrieved from: environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/feral-animals-australiaABC Science (2009, April 09). Australias battle with the bunny. Retrieved from: abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/04/08/2538860.htmBroomhall, F.H. The Longest Fence in the World. Carlisle, Western Australia: Hesperian Press, 1991

Deluca Surname Meaning and Origin

Deluca Surname Meaning and Origin Deluca, or De Luca, is a patronymic surname meaning son of Luca. The given name Luca is the Italian version of Luke, from the Greek name  Loukas  meaning from Lucania, an ancient district of southern Italy. This area is primarily encompassed today by the  modern region of the Basilicata. Alternate Surname Spellings:  DI LUCA, DILUCA, LUCA, DE LUCA, DELUCCA Surname Origin:  Italian Famous People With the Surname DELUCA or DE LUCA Gianni  De Luca - Italian comic book artist and illustratorFrancesca De Luca - London-born actress of Italian originsLuigi De Luca - well-known artist model; great-grandfather of Francesca De LucaGiuseppe De Luca - Italian baritone opera singerFred DeLuca - co-founder of Subway sandwich shops Where Do People With the DELUCA Surname Live? According to the surname distribution data at  Forebears, the DeLuca surname is most frequently found in the United States, while the de Luca spelling is much more common in Italy, where it ranks 19th in the nation. WorldNames Public Profiler identifies de Luca as being most common throughout southern Italy, especially in the regions of Calabria and Campania. The DeLuca spelling is also found in Italy, but is much less common. It is found most frequently in Northwest Territories, Canada, as well as the American New England states. Genealogy Resources for the Surname DELUCA Meanings of Common Italian SurnamesUncover the meaning of your Italian last name with this free guide to Italian surname meanings and origins for the most common Italian surnames. How to Research Italian AncestorsGet started researching your Italian roots with this guide to researching Italian ancestors in Italy. Deluca Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Deluca family crest or coat of arms for the Deluca surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. DELUCA Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Deluca surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Deluca query. FamilySearch - DELUCA GenealogyAccess over 500,000 free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Deluca surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. GeneaNet - Deluca RecordsGeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Deluca surname, with a concentration on records and families from France, Spain, and other European countries. DistantCousin.com - DELUCA Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Deluca. The Deluca Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Deluca from the website of Genealogy Today. Sources: Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Whats a Good PSAT Score for 2015

What's a Good PSAT Score for 2015 SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips With all the scoring changes on the redesigned College Board exams, what counts as a "good score" on the PSAT these days? There are a few factorsyou can use to define what's good: score percentiles, National Merit criteria, andyour own personal goals for the PSAT and the SAT. First, it's critical to understand how the PSAT is scored. This guide will review the scoring scale of the PSAT, along with National Merit Scholarship Corporation's Selection Index, so you know what counts as a goodPSAT score. To start off, let’s go over a few key PSAT terms that will help you understand the rest of this guide. PSAT Scoring Terms: A Glossary Before examiningthe scoring scale of the PSAT, let’s review a few important terms: scaled scores, section (or test) scores, raw scores, subscores, and National Merit Selection Index. By understanding the difference between these terms and how they relate to one another, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the rest of this articleas wefigure out what makes for a â€Å"good† score on the PSAT. Scaled scores: your overall PSAT scores, which fall between 320 and 1520. Math accounts for half of this score (160-760), and the Reading section and Writing and Language section account for the other half together (160-760). Section (or test) scores: your scores by section, which fall between 8 and 38. You’ll get three section scores, one for Math, one for Reading, and one for Writing and Language. Raw scores: the number of correct answers by section. Your maximum potential raw scores varyby section. Subscores:seven scores between 1 and 15 that tell you how you did on certain types of questions. The questions fall into these seven categories:Command of Evidence, Words in Context, Expression of Ideas, Standard English Conventions, Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math. National Merit Selection Index: the scale used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to determine eligibility for Commended Scholar and Semifinalist. The Selection Index for the PSAT will fall between 48and 228. As you can see,you’ll get a lot of different scoreson your PSAT score report. Now that you have a preliminary sense of these terms, let’s look in more detail at how the PSAT scoring system works. How Is the PSAT Scored? As you read above, the PSAT has aminimum possible score of 320 and a maximum of 1520. Both the low and high end of this range are shifted about 80 points lower than the scoring scale of the SAT, to account for the fact that the PSAT is a somewhat easier test. Math isscored from 160 to 760, and Reading and Writing (technically called Writing and Language) isscored together from 160 to 760. Math makes up half the total score while the Reading and Writing sections will make up the other half together. You can think of the PSAT as half math and half verbal. While your final score will lump Reading and Writing together, you'll get a chance to see your performance on each the three separatesections. In addition to your overall scaled scores, you’ll get three section scores - one for Math, one for Reading, and one for Writing, that fall between 8 and 38. These numbers may feel a little random, but it’s actually pretty easy to convert from your section score to your scaled score. To get your math scaled score, just multiply your section score by 20. To get your Reading and Writing scaled score, add your section scores together and then multiply by 10. This chart gives you one hypothetical example of a student who got section scores of 28, 32, and 34 on Reading, Writing and Language, and Math, respectively: Test Test Score Section Score Total Score Reading 28 (28 + 32) * 10 = 600 600 + 680 = 1280 Writing and Language 32 Math 34 34 * 20 = 680 At the risk of making things more confusing, I'll quickly add that your score report shouldalso tell you your â€Å"raw score,† which is simply one point for each correct answer. Since there are 47 questions on Reading, you could get a max raw score of 47. On Math there are 48 questions, so you could get a max raw score of 48. Finally, on Writing, there are 44 questions, so you could get a max raw score of - you guessed it - 44. Again, your raw score simply reflects the number of questions you answered correctly. Then that raw score is converted to a section score and, finally, your scaled scores. Now that you have a sense of the PSAT’s scoring system, let’s consider our original question: what isa good PSAT score? What Makes for a Good PSAT Score? There are a few ways we can define â€Å"good.† First, we can look at the scores that rank in a high percentile compared to the scores of other test-takers. Second, we can look at what scores qualify for National Merit distinction and scholarships. And third, we can look at what your PSAT scores predict for your performance on the SAT. Let's start by reviewing how percentiles work and how you can predictthe strength of your PSAT scores. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: What Are PSAT Percentiles? Once you get your scores back, you'll see the different values described above - your raw scores, your section scores, and your scaled scores. Additionally, your score report will tell you your percentiles. Your score report will tell you two percentiles: the Nationally Representative Sample percentile and the User Percentile. Your Nationally Representative Sample percentile may look higher, since it confusingly includes projections for all students in a grade, even those who typically don'tthe PSAT. It seems that your User percentile will be the most reliable piece of data, since it only includes students whoare actually very likely to takethe PSAT. Therefore, the chart below gives you User percentiles, or for how your PSAT scores compare to other students in your grade who took the test. So how do percentiles work? They simply tell you the percentage of students compared to which you scored higher or the same. If your scaled scores land in the 80th percentile, for example, then you scored the same as or higher than 80% of other test-takers. The other 20% scored higher than you. Students' performance varieson Math, Reading, and Writing, so a score of 600 on Math, for example, may translate to a different percentile than the same score on Reading and Writing. Readon to see how scores from the new PSAT are expected to convert to User Percentiles. What PSAT Scores Will Rank in a High Percentile? This chart has the full list converting PSAT/NMSQT scaled scores to percentiles.This information is sourced fromCollege Board's dataon the PSAT administered in October 2015. As you read through the chart, notice thatyou don't have to have a perfect scaled score to make it into the top 99%. This is important if you're aiming for National Merit - you don't have to get a perfect score to make it into the top 1%. Score Reading and Writing Math 760 99+ 99+ 750 99+ 99+ 740 99+ 99 730 99+ 98 720 99 98 710 99 97 700 99 97 690 98 96 680 98 96 670 97 95 660 96 94 650 95 93 640 94 93 630 92 92 620 91 90 610 89 89 600 86 88 590 84 86 580 82 83 570 79 80 560 77 78 550 74 74 540 71 70 530 67 66 520 63 61 510 59 59 500 54 55 490 50 50 480 47 45 470 43 39 460 39 36 450 35 33 440 32 27 430 28 23 420 25 19 410 23 16 400 21 14 390 18 11 380 15 8 370 11 6 360 9 5 350 7 4 340 5 3 330 4 1 320 2 1 310 1 1 300 1 1 290 1- 1 280 1- 1 270 1- 1 260 1- 1 250 1- 1 240 1- 1 230 1- 1- 220 1- 1- 210 1- 1- 200 1- 1- 190 1- 1- 180 1- 1- 170 1- 1- 160 1- 1- This conversion might vary a bit each year, and College Board's data on the new PSAT is still preliminary and subject to change. In previous years, the Math section was slightly more competitive than Reading and Writing. Similarly, math getsnoticeably more competitive as you look at the lowest scores, and you would need 30 to 40 points higher in Math than in Reading and Writing to score in the 99th percentile. For the most part, though, both sections look like the same scores convert to more or less the same percentiles.At a few levels, Reading and Writing looks to be even more competitive than Math.Let's take a closer look at these percentiles totry to answer our original question of what makes a good score on the PSAT. The higher percentage, the better. What's a Good PSAT Score Based on Percentiles? Based on the chart above, an average PSAT score, or one that's right in the middle in the 50th percentile, is about 490 for both Reading and Writing and for Math. We can define good as being not just above average, but also as stronger than a significantmajority of other test-takers. Given that definition, these are approximately the scaled scores you need in each section to score in the 70th, 80th, 90th, and 99th percentiles. Percentile Reading and Writing Score Math Score Composite Score 70% 540 540 1080 80% 580 570 1150 90% 620 620 1240 99% 700 740 1440 As you can see, both sections convert to roughly the same percentiles except when you approach the 99th percentile. Then you'd need to score about 40 points higher in Mathto make it into the top 1%. Apart from scoring higher than other students, you might define a good score as one that qualifies for National Merit. Let's take a look at what you need to qualify. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: The original National Merit Scholar. What's a Good PSAT Score for National Merit? The percentiles in the chart above compare students all across the U.S who typically take the PSAT. To determine whether you qualify for National Merit, though, you actually have to look at how your scores compare to those of other students in your state. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) compares scores on a state to state basis. It names the top 3 to 4% of students Commended Scholar. To be named a National Merit Semifinalist, you have to score at the very top. National Merit Semifinalist distinction is given to the top 1%. The important thing to remember about National Merit is that it uses its own Selection Index. Since the PSAT changed its scoring system this year, this new Selection Index differs from that used in previous years. Before scrolling down to the chart below, read this next section to make sure you understand thePSAT Selection Index of today. Important: NMSC'sNew Selection Index National Merit has always used its own Selection Index, or scoring scale, to determine Commended Scholars and Semifinalists. In past years, this Selection Index looked a lot like PSAT scaled scores, so you may not have noticed. This year, though, it looks quite a bit different, even though it’s calculated in a similar way. As you read above, the PSATlumps together the Reading and Writing sections in one final scaled score. National Merit, however, still wants to consider these two sections, Reading and Writing, separately. Therefore, NMSClooks at your section scores rather than at your scaled score. It takes your Math section score, Reading section score, and Writing section score - all of which fall between 8 and 38 - adds them together, and then multiplies by 2. The NMSC Selection Index hasa scale between 48 and228. Confused yet? Let's look at an example. The Breakdown: NMSC’s New Selection Index Where does NMSC get this scale of 48 to 228? Let’s say you got minimum scores of 8 on each of the three PSAT sections. You could figure out your Selection Index by adding 8 + 8 + 8 (= 24) and then multiplying by 2 (= 48). That’s the lowest end of the Selection Index scale. What about the max Selection Index score of 228? You could get that with top section scores of 38 in all three sections. 38 + 38 + 38 = 114. Multiply that by 2, and you get 228. Now you can see that the Selection Index isn’t as random as it might have looked at first glance - it just relies on your PSAT section scores between 8 and 38, rather than your PSAT scaled scores between 160 and 760.You can also see why we took the time to go over all these terms at the beginning of the article! Based on reported data from individuals around the country, we've put together a list of every Selection Index cutoff across the United States for the PSAT in 2015. If you see any error with your state, let us know in the comments! Here are the qualifying scores from the old PSAT (2014 and earlier) and the new PSAT (2015 and later). State OldPSAT Cutoff New PSAT Cutoff Alabama 207 215 Alaska 210 213 Arizona 213 219 Arkansas 206 213 California 222 221 Colorado 213 218 Connecticut 220 220 Delaware 215 218 District of Columbia 224 222 Florida 211 217 Georgia 215 219 Hawaii 214 217 Idaho 211 214 Illinois 215 219 Indiana 212 217 Iowa 207 215 Kansas 213 217 Kentucky 210 215 Louisiana 208 214 Maine 212 214 Maryland 221 221 Massachusetts 223 222 Michigan 210 216 Minnesota 215 219 Mississippi 207 212 Missouri 209 216 Montana 206 210 Nebraska 209 215 Nevada 208 214 New Hampshire 212 216 New Jersey 224 222 New Mexico 210 213 New York 218 219 North Carolina 212 218 North Dakota 201 209 Ohio 213 217 Oklahoma 206 213 Oregon 217 219 Pennsylvania 216 218 Rhode Island 212 217 South Carolina 209 215 South Dakota 203 209 Tennessee 212 218 Texas 218 220 Utah 208 215 Vermont 213 215 Virginia 219 221 Washington 219 220 West Virginia 201 209 Wisconsin 208 215 Wyoming 204 209 Average 212 216 As you can see,New Jersey, DC, andMassachusetts require some of the highest scores to qualify. The average qualifying scores for all states isa little lower at around 216. If you haven't taken the PSAT yet and areserious about achieving excellent scores, then I'd recommend aiming for at least 2 to 5 points higher than these cutoffs, as the actual qualifying scores can vary from year to year. How can you figure out your target section scores? By understanding where the new Selection Index comes from, you can take our estimate for your state and simply work backwards. Let’s consider a few examples. How to Calculate Your Target Scores for National Merit As you read above, National Merit will take each of your section scores between 8 and 38, add them together, and multiply by 2. To figure out your target scores by section, take these steps and go through them in reverse. First, divide your state’s cutoff qualifying score by 2. Let’s say you live in New Jersey, and your cutoff will be an estimated 222. Divide that in half and you get 111 (222 / 2 = 111). Now, your section scores in Math, Reading, and Writing should add up to 111. Divide 111 by 3 and you’re looking at a 37in each section: 111 / 3 = 37. You could define your target scores as about 37 in each section - or a little higher to be safe. If you’re more confident in Math, then you could aim for a top math section score of 38. Then you’d have slightlymore wiggle room in Reading and Writing. Depending on your strengths and weaknesses, you can setyour target scores in theoptimal way. To review, you can define your target section scores by dividing your state’s cutoff in half. Then divide by 3 to get a sense of what you need in each section of the PSAT. Customize your target section scores from there. Of course, only a small number of students are actually aiming to score in the top 1%. You may very well be deciding what's a good PSAT score based on your own goals for the test, as well as for the SAT and ultimately, college. Pause for your quintessential collegiate building. What's a Good PSAT Score for Your College Plans? Even if you're not competing for National Merit, the PSAT still matters and is an important test along the path to college. It's valuable practice for the SAT and can help predict your SAT scores. The redesigned exams are very similar, with matching content and format and comparable scoring systems. By doing some research into the colleges you're interested in, you can figure out what you need to score on the SAT. Simply Google the name of your school, along with "average SAT scores." Most schools release data on the average SAT scores of accepted students, so you have a sense of what you need to be a competitive candidate. Then you can use your PSAT scores to determine where you're currently scoring and how much more you need to improve. Based on your target scores and time you can commit to prep, you can design a schedule to prep and raise your scores. The following is a rough estimate of how many hours you need to devote to studying to achieve certain score improvements on the PSAT. 0-50 SAT composite point improvement: 10 hours 50-100 point improvement: 20 hours 100-200 point improvement: 40 hours 200-300 point improvement: 80 hours 300-500 point improvement: 150 hours+ Whether or notyou've already taken the SAT, your PSAT score is a useful starting pointto measure your level and figure out where you need to go from there. Then you can make a study schedule to get yourself where you want to be. Finally, these are the most important points to remember when you take the PSAT and determine whether or not you're satisfied with your scores. Key Points to Remember If youtookthe PSAT in October 2015, you were kind of a College Board guinea pig. 2015 wasthe first year featuring the redesigned PSAT with a new scoring scale and Selection Index.Remember that the PSAT is now scored between 320 and 1520, which is a composite of the Math section and the Reading and Writing sections together. To score in the 70th percentile or above, you want to aim for at least a 540in Reading and Writing and a 540 in Math (or a composite of 1080). To qualify for National Merit, you'll need something like an impressive Selection Index score of214, or a section score around 35 to 36 in Math, Reading, and Writing. The PSAT is a valuable benchmark that you can use to plan your studying for the SAT. Make sure to check your PSAT scores right away to see if you need to take any further steps, like for National Merit, and to move forward with your SAT prep. What's Next? For more on the changes that weremade to the PSAT in 2015, check out our complete PSAT guide. Then head on over to these free PSAT practice tests and other resources to prepare for the exam. Are you wondering what makes a good SAT score? This article breaks down the percentiles so you can see what exactly counts as a bad, good, and excellent score on the SAT. Besides the PSAT/NMSQT that qualifies for National Merit when you take it as a junior, College Board now also offers the PSAT to 8th, 9th, and 10th graders to prepare. Learn about the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT 10 and how to decide between these tests and the regular PSAT. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160points?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: