Can You Write Off Tutoring Expenses on Your Taxes?

Can You Write Off Tutoring Expenses on Your Taxes?If you've been asked to pay for tutoring expenses on your taxes, you probably don't want to be paying these costs out of your own pocket. The IRS makes it very difficult for the average person to get help with their taxes. But you can correct the situation by claiming your tax credit as a business expense.First of all, what is a tax credit? It's a legal way for the IRS to give money back to you in the form of tax deductions. Each year the IRS has a minimum allowable amount that must be returned to taxpayers. You can get this money back by claiming an offset against your taxes.In a tax return, your income can be figured out in several ways. Usually the first two forms of income are calculated on the basis of your most recent tax return. The tax return is like a snapshot of your overall financial situation.If you have a large income and didn't itemize your deductions, your next step would be to take a look at your tax return. You can us e the calculator provided with your tax return to see how much money you are entitled to receive back from the IRS. Of course, you'll also need to figure out what you can spend that money on, which can be tricky.Of course, there is more to your tax return than just your income. In addition to your income, you must also include your deductions. These are deductions you make for items like business expenses, moving expenses, personal loans, home improvement expenses, etc.For most people, it's not possible to take a look at their tax return in detail. It's too much work. But there is a way to obtain a summary of your taxes without really having to see the details. The simple way to do this is to use a tax software program.In essence, the tax deduction is a dollar amount that you are entitled to receive back. The IRS will give you that dollar amount based on your filing status. You should be filing on a yearly basis, so that you qualify for the maximum deduction you're entitled to. Each year, there is a minimum amount that you must return.Taxes are hard enough to handle, let alone to figure out. With the right tax software, you can quickly learn how to file your taxes correctly. And once you get the hang of things, you can start to claim all of the tax credits that the IRS has allowed you to claim.

Reading Help Kindergarten Reading Kids Reading Tutorpace

Reading Help Kindergarten Reading Kids Reading Tutorpace Get Reading Tutoring Today that Really Helps Becoming a more proficient reader can help you succeed in every school subject and is an essential life skill. If your child needs help improving their reading skills, our tutors can bring them up to appropriate reading levels and help them get ahead. For most students, getting better with reading just takes extra work and practice. Tutor Pace has unlimited tutoring plans that will give your student the assistance they need to become a better reader. Safe, Certified Reading Tutors All of our tutors have been tested to make sure they have the skills necessary to help students succeed at reading. Each online tutor has passed a rigorous background check and personal information is never exchanged, so your child will remain safe. Comprehensive Reading Help Our tutors cover all of the important aspects of reading to give students a complete assistance program. Our online Reading tutors cover: Phonics High-frequency words Reading comprehension Improving reading fluency Improvements are tracked and you receive a report each month showing your childs progress. Tutor Paces Reading tutors can give your child an edge in school or help them catch up if they have fallen behind. In either situation, no other tutoring service provides the value of Tutor Pace.

Construct Parallel Lines

Construct Parallel Lines Parallel lines are the lines which never intersect. Construct parallel line means we have to construct two lines whose slope are equal. Construct a parallel line is the method to maintain the constant distance between the two lines so that they will never meet. Parallel Lines are constructed by the help of geometry rules. It can be constructed using scale, pencil and compass. Condition of parallel lines slope of first line m1 = slope of second line m2 Now we will see some examples in which we will proof those two lines are parallel. Example 1:- One line passes through the point (4, 4) and (8, 12) and another line passes through the point (2, 2) and (8, 14). Proof that the above two lines (if constructed) are parallel Solution: Given One line passes through (4, 4) and (8, 12) So the slope of first line is, m1 = (y2-y1)/ (x2-x1) = (12-4)/ (8 4) = 8/4 = 2 Therefore m1 = 2 Also given, another line passes through (2, 2) and (8, 14) Therefore the slope of second line is, m2 = (y2-y1)/ (x2-x1) = (14-2)/ (8-2) = 12/6 = 2 Therefore m2 = 2. Since slope of the two lines are equal that is m1 = m2 =2 Therefore the two lines are parallel. Example 2:- One line passes through the point (2, 2) and (4, 6) and another line passes through the point (3, 3) and (6, 9). Proof that the above two lines (if constructed) are parallel Solution: Given One line passes through (2, 2) and (4, 6) So the slope of first line is, m1 = (y2-y1)/ (x2-x1) = (6-2)/ (4 2) = 4/2 = 2 Therefore m1 = 2 Also given, another line passes through (3, 3) and (6, 9) Therefore the slope of second line is, m2 = (y2-y1)/ (x2-x1) = (9-3)/ (6-3) = 6/3 = 2 Therefore m2 = 2 Since slope of the two lines are equal that is m1 = m2 =2 Therefore the two lines are parallel.

Basic Pilates Exercises!

Basic Pilates Exercises! The Best Pilates For Beginners Videos To Get Into Shape ChaptersThe Most Popular Pilates Videos On YoutubeWhen Joseph Pilates invented Pilates, I bet that he had no idea about how well it would take off 100 years later. But I am sure that the knowledge would make him even more proud of his dedication to fitness and for inventing such an important and engaging total body workout program.If you have never tried Pilates, I urge you to give it a try, it has a slow and purposeful range of motion which focuses on strengthening, stability, sculpting and incorporating body alignment workouts. It is great for weight loss, body sculpting, mind and body connection. It has enough variations to suit everyone, including those with injuries, back pain, stiffness or extra weight.Pilates is the exercise that suits any level of flexibility and coordination. Beginner Pilates more so, as it really does guide you gently, encouraging the whole body to work together. If you are interested in getting active and think Pilates could be useful for you but don’t w ant to rush out sign up for classes at the gym. Then you can try Pilates at home, all that is required is that you know your own limits so that you don’t create injuries in your body.No need to buy an expensive Pilates DVD, you can practice Pilates for free by attending free pilates classes online. The internet is full of free and fantastic Pilates videos that can support your fitness goals. You can do a quick workout or longer workouts, but whichever kind of video you choose you will begin to feel the pilates benefits within the first few classes.To get you started, we have found 10 of the most popular pilates body workouts for beginners. Enjoy!Pilates motion which focuses on strengthening, stability, sculpting and incorporating body alignment workouts. Photo Source: Unsplash3 million views21 minutes longThis video is hosted by Kait Coats, she promises quick and painless workout routines for beginner exercises and jumps straight in with some on the mat work. She explains what you should be feeling and how to do it. She is very instructional about each movement and starts slowly then begins to speed up to build some heat in the body. As the video goes on it get more challenging, incorporating stretches for a balanced range of motion which is great for full body toning, especially shaping the legs arms and the core muscles ‘powerhouse’. The core exercises are quite challenging.I want to watch this video - Watch it Here Practice Pilates for free by attending free pilates classes online. Photo Source: UnsplashRelaxing Stretching Workout for Flexibility and Stress Relief - Full Body Yoga Pilates Blend900 thousand views35 minutes longThis video is hosted by Kelly, she greets us with a Pilates blend video that is focused on relaxation and aims to increase flexibility. Kelly uniquely primes us to releases any of our stresses and strains out of the lesson. She asks us to give ourselves this time to focus and enjoy the practice. She also lets us know that whateve r we can do is ok and that it is important not to push through pain to try to get results. This is a charming video where Kelly is really looking out for your wellbeing. She uses techniques from pilates and yoga  classes with great stretching postures to create a relaxing and stress relieving workout at home.I want to watch this video - Watch it Here Pilates for Beginners, Abs, Core, Butt, Cardio 30 Mins700 thousand views28 minutes longThis Pilates workout video is hosted by Angela, It is an old video but is pretty great, as she starts by telling us all about Pilates and the benefits that we can expect after practising, It is hard not to watch after that. She jumps right into guiding us in how to lie down in a neutral pelvis position she explains that the pubic bone and hip bone need to be in alignment and that we should not allow the lower back to the cave in. She reminds us all the way through about how to improve posture and proper breathing, so it makes it easy to gain the benef its of the workout. Angela is a great mindful instructor and has a traditional approach to those who prefer to learn Pilates from a very experienced teacher.I want to watch this video - Watch it Here Pilates for Beginners - Beginner Pilates Mat Exercises500 thousand views26 minutes longJessica Valant starts this video off with an introduction into why she loves pilates training and why it is essential to her as a teacher and trainer. She is passionate about helping people to become more aware of their own bodies. She loves the idea that once students develop body awareness, they will be able to shine and really take control of their lives not just in home fitness but in all corners of their lives. Uniting the body, mind and spirit which is one of the key principles of Pilates. Jessica's teaching style is very supportive, guiding and all you need to get started, she talks you through the routines but also reminds you of where to focus and highlights common mistakes and how to fix the m.I want to watch this video - Watch it Here Pilates for Older Women417 thousand views13 minutes longThis video is hosted by Amy Havens, who is a dedicated pilates instructor. She takes some time at the start of the video just to explain about the way you’re your body feels when you get older and how you can alleviate these sensations. She explains about proper breathing, and how to make sure that you are in the right position and what to do when you are not aligned. My favourite thing about this video though is that It has been created for older women and that it has a link to a Pilates for men video, that helps to break down any misconceptions that Pilates is just for women.I want to watch this video - Watch it Here I hope you enjoyed the list and they inspired you to get active with either Pilates or yoga classes. CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors

Find Economics A-Levels Past Papers

Find Economics A-Levels Past Papers Where to Find Authentic A-Levels Past Papers ChaptersWhich Past Papers?AQA and Edexcel Economics Past PapersFinding Edexcel and AQA Past PapersSometimes, the best way to achieve the desired result is by watching a role model perform the task.To wit, babies develop skills by imitating their caregivers’ expressions and gestures, and ultimately their speech and movements, until they can walk and talk on their own.A child’s mimicking doesn’t stop there! Soon, little ones are simulating cleaning house, cooking and caring for their charges â€" even if those ‘babies’ are made of plastic and/or plush.This phenomenon exists at all levels of society: primary school teachers hold exemplary students’ conduct as the standard for others’ behaviour (everybody, do as Dylan is doing!), workers study successful colleagues to copy what they do right or well, and even parents borrow from their peers.In the case of academia, the same effect is realised by reviewing former students’ efforts.If you are planning to sit your A-Levels in Economics, looking at past papers is a vital step in your preparations.You should also study the exam’s syllabus!Not only will you get an idea of the format and the type of questions you could expect to see, but you can use them to test your knowledge and build your confidence so that you too will be able to complete the exam within the prescribed time limit.Going over past papers helps to define your study strong points, and where your knowledge base still needs a little work.Suppose that, in all of your exam fervour, you are unaware that you have principles of macroeconomics nailed but are struggling in microeconomic theory.Reviewing past exams, you may find that you breeze right through the sections dealing with macroeconomics while the questions that address microeconomics sends you back to your textbooks and notes for possible clues to the correct answer.An essential competency of being an economist is being able to conduct quantitative analysis.In subjecting your stores of knowledge in economic theory to such scrutiny, you will soon realise that you could forgo any further macroeconomic review and focus on that which you do not yet have mastered â€" perhaps econometrics, or international economics.Besides, you may find information on past exams that you’ve not devoted sufficient study time to!Now that you have the materials to do so, you might have a go...Wait... you don’t have the materials yet. Let’s go find past papers now, shall we?Before we divulge where you can find past papers for your upcoming A-Levels ordeal, we have to know which exam you will sit.More specifically, which entity will be administering your exam.Years ago, students of applied economics might have had an advantage over today’s student of economic activity in that the only place for them to find review materials for their exams was at their campus library.Or by engaging in study with tutors of economics...There might have been a few copies of past exams in the reference section that they could copy and take back to their dorms.Or, they could study development economics and political economy in that quiet hall, surrounded by books and other dedicated classmates.Not too long ago, specific examination boards were limited by geography.Each organization administered exams exclusively in their assigned regions. Correspondingly, each institution's department of economics kept copies of those exams for future reference and review, as well as their accompanying syllabi.Since the UK’s Curriculum 2000 education reform initiative, every institute in the UK that administers the AS and A2 tests today may select their exam from any of the five awarding bodies:Edexcel: also known as Pearson-London examiners, the only privately owned examination board in the UKAQA: a registered charity that is government regulated but independently operatedthe qualifications exams and syllabi are under government oversight!OCR: the parent entity of Cambridge International Examina tionsWJEC: established in Wales in 1948, it is now a registered charity providing examinations and educational resourcesCCEA: a non-departmental public body of the Northern Ireland Department of EducationScotland schools deliver career-defining exams to their students as well. They are called Highers and Advanced Highers, and they are administered by SQA, or Scottish Qualifications Authority.As that body is only prevalent in its country of origin, we will focus on the exams more relevant to the greater UK.Most likely, you will be told which exam you will sit, and you might be tempted to review only that awarding body’s archival documents.In light of that, your Superprof mentors urge you to diversify your studies.  Students of yesteryear had no other option than rigorous study at the library Source: Pixabay Credit: KmicicanAQA and Edexcel Economics Past PapersLet’s say you know AQA is your facility’s exam administrator. Naturally, you would want to peruse everything you can of that testing body’s past Economics exams: specimen papers, question papers, the marking schemes and examiner reports.There is absolutely nothing at all wrong with that; the only concern would be that you are keeping your focus intentionally narrow in an attempt to earn high marks on your exam.Isn’t earning high marks the goal of every test taker?Let’s put our point into perspective.These days, there is a lot of criticism levied on schools and teachers because they allegedly limit their instruction and classroom materials to only what is expected to be on the standardised exams.You may know this practice better by its more common name, the phrase teaching to the test.Parents and students alike resent having pupils’ academic curiosity curtailed to the few subjects featured on the exam, and only gaining a limited understanding of the subject matter in question.There is ample empirical evidence that teachers don’t like having to teach to the test, either: they would rather tea ch to students!The end effect is that test takers statistically score better on the exams, but come time to apply their knowledge in real-life situations, they find themselves woefully unequal to the task, and not through their fault.This is what is known as an unintended consequence: a downside or negative by-product of a generally desirable situation.You may run into Campbell’s law, and perhaps even discuss the cobra effect when you learn about unintended consequences within the framework of economics!To avoid such a narrow coursework focus in preparation for your Economics exam, we urge you to take a look at materials provided by other examiners.Besides, those extra examples of past exams would neatly round out your arsenal of revision materials, wouldn’t they?Earlier in this article, we stated that the student of Yore was a lucky one indeed!Not only were all of his test papers in one central location, but they were administered, year after year, by the same entity.You, on th e other hand, could confront any exam from any administrative body come test day, with the possible exception exams from the SQA.Unless you live in Scotland, in which case, that would be your main administrative body.And worse: what if you are up for a resit of your Economics exam and, this time, you will be exposed to OCR’s programme instead of AQA’s?All of the exams are fundamentally the same.Still, some of the questions are formulated a bit differently from one exam to the next, and some exams call for more maths while others don’t want to you to write out any equations or draw any graphs.The aim of reviewing past exam papers is to prepare you to correctly respond to any question, put to you by any entity.Interpreted that way, doesn’t it just make sense to examine all of the materials  available?Spending too much time searching for A-Levels past papers is counterproductive! Source: Pixabay Credit: GraphicMama_teamFinding Edexcel and AQA Past PapersA-Levels exam takers of days past had their search for study materials restricted to their campus resources â€" and possibly tuition from one who might have been in possession of materials from another region.You, on the other hand, have a comparative advantage: a world of knowledge and experience, right at your fingertips!The Internet is a treasure trove of information; all you have to do is ask the right question, and a search for A-Levels Economics past papers reveals a multitude of hits.In response to the laws of supply and demand, the papers  most widely available to study are from Cambridge (the exam administered by OCR, called CIE â€" Cambridge International Exam) because that body has governance over the internationally administered exam.However, if you look carefully, you will also find sites that promote past papers from other awarding bodies.If you know which exam your school favours, you may choose to review it first.You can also find past Edexcel papers, as well as those from AQA and WJEC.You should be aware that some sites attach additional services for your consumption, usually for a fee. The site Marked by Teachers is a case in point and, even though their prices are very reasonable, why would you pay for something that is available elsewhere for free?On a more positive note, there are plenty of sites that offer a virtual economics tutor via  tutoring and practice exercises, along with other A-Level revision material.One other aspect of past papers you should be aware: all that we found are in PDF format. If you do not already have it, you should download the Adobe reader â€" no worries, its free!Now that you’re all set, you can find all of the past papers you need in this table.Site NameWeb Address (please copy and paste into your browser)AQA past papershttp://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/business-subjects/gcse/business-subjects-and-economics-4130/past-papers-and-mark-schemesOCR past papershttps://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/economics-level-revision/econom ics-level-past-papers/ocr-level-economics-past-papersEdexcel past papershttps://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/economics-level-revision/economics-level-past-papers/edexcel-level-economics-past-papersWJEC/CBAC past papershttp://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/economics/CCEA past papershttp://ccea.org.uk/qualifications/past_papers_mark_schemes/gceSQA past papershttps://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/48674.html?subject=EconomicsHappy Studies!  Read these reasons for studying economics at A Level!

Science Help Online Enjoy Science Learning with Ease

Science Help Online Enjoy Science Learning with Ease 0SHARESShare Science is a subject that cannot be neglected from the elementary level to the advanced level of education. Hence learning Science with perfect understanding is a necessary factor to accumulate scores and enter advanced levels of study. Still, the fact remains that you need proper tutoring to get into the essence of Science knowledge and pick up the subject concepts and ideas without flaw. Avail Science Help Online to perfect your understanding of the subject. Science Help Online: Take advantage of online resources       Use online  video presentations and audio lectures to learn the concepts well and clarify your doubts Use the live chat facilities with an online tutor to rectify the errors you commit during your homework hours and solve the problems in Chemistry or Physics without struggle Share the whiteboard with   Chemistry Online Tutors while doing Chemistry bonding and   formulas to meet the challenges you face in that  area of study Update your knowledge of the concepts and terminologies in Biology with the help of experts in Biology Online Tutoring. Seek live help while drawing the diagrams and prepping the projects Utilize the calculators and recorded sessions of your tutoring classes to solve any last minute tasks Tutor Pace identifies the difficulties in learning Science as faced by the students and redeems them with proper remedial measures to boost their scores.                                               Get Science Help Online Now! [starbox id=admin]

Best online Pre algebra tutor for better learning of algebra

Best online Pre algebra tutor for better learning of algebra Today with busy life schedule people do not have time to get indulged into anything. Though some things are very important in life but that does not mean that they will have time for that. For example think about the working parents of today’s time. Parents are pretty concerned about their child’s future but are unable to perform any activity because of the fact that they do not have much time for it. Just admitting your child into a big and reputed school won’t help you with all. Some other things are also essential for a child’s up liftment. Proper concern and keeping a track on what they are learning and knowing is also a valuable process that should be included for a student’s betterment. If you have a working parent at your homes then you have to take care of yourself. Private tuitions can help you to gain what you do not have known at your school classes. But it won’t help you to solve your problems and the reason behind it is less availability of time. Competition have increased in such a level that people do not have time to spend on one particular people. Youth have become much more work oriented and concerned as well. Private tutors also fall under this category. Private tutors even lack timing to indulge in any one particular student. So, how can a student help himself or herself? It is a big question as how can he or she help himself or herself and the answer is through a new way of learning and that is online tutoring. Online tutoring and its whereabouts Very few of you may have heard about online tutoring. Online tutoring is a new way of teaching as well as learning. It helps every student in every individual way. The teachers are very much efficient and the entire concept goes through internet. It is said to be time saver as well as effective even. Today every child knows how to operate internet. They are very much used to it and can help any kind of work to get concluded with the help of internet by their side. Online tutoring concept has slowly been into the hotlist of many students who do not find appropriate teacher for themselves. What can be more appealing than having your tuition classes at your home sitting at your favourite couch? I know a friend of mine who was very much disturbed and tensed about her child’s future. As she was a working woman so she did not had time to look after her kid with that efficiency. It used to keep her stressed out the whole day. But after she came in contact with one of the online tutoring institutes she felt relaxed and happy about her child child’s future. This is the case for many working parents. Online tutoring facility has diminished their problems to a large extent. Now they do not have to think about what to do and where to go for their child’s tuition classes. With time many institutes are coming up who have installed them in being such a service provider. This can be said to be a safe as well as effective thing to get drenched into it. Unlike other private tutors the online tutoring services do not charge huge amount and so it is convenient for many middle class family to afford it. The entire concept may be new but is fresh and students can learn lots from it. Let talk about some features of online tutoring Online tutoring which is also called e-learning comprises of various features that helps you to know about the entire concept. The concept may be new but with time it is gaining popularity. Some of them have been enlisted here and thus you can go through it. Availability of good teachers is the prime advantage or facility any online tutoring can provide. A good institute always helps in providing you with best teachers. The appointing process of the teachers is very tough and thus only the best teachers are appointed for teaching purpose. Every teacher is very well versed with its subject and knows how to handle the subject with perfection. A good teacher can always help a student to conduct better and this brings in a sense of confidence among the students. The other feature of online tutoring facility is there is no time limit and it entirely depends on the student as how they want to lead their classes. Anytime and every time the classes can be conducted by the teacher. Whenever you have confusions about any topic or subject, online teachers comes in for rescue. Better management of time is possible when you have enrolled your name in any online tutoring institute. As being a student you do not have to rush here and there and thus it saves your time, energy and transportation expenses. An intelligent student always makes it a point to utilize the time saved in his or her studies for their won betterment. Teachers present all round the clock also helps you in completing your various assignments, different projects that you have to conduct and sometimes it provides you with homework help as well. It is guaranteed that no other private tutor will help you in such a way. Searching online will help you get lots of such institutes who have invested them in such online tutoring facility. But it will be a dilemma for you as which one to choose. You can go with Tutor Pace if you do not have decided which one to avail. Tutor Pace is one of the reputed institutes that provide you all the listed services. The services are taken care and even student is also show pretty concern. Good teachers, good facilities, proper and adequate timing, enormous amount of various services for each single subject. Nothing can be better and efficient than this. Best online pre-algebra tutor is one of the most availed services in Tutor Pace.  

Aviation English 5 Great Resources and Tips

Aviation English 5 Great Resources and Tips As we get closer and closer to the March deadline for pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation workers to achieve a 4 on the ICAO aviation English exam, there are sure to be more and more people looking for ways of improving their English for the test. Here are 5 great resources to help you prepare.Take Aviation English classes with LOI English! Ok, so this is shameless self promotion, but we do believe that one-on-one aviation English courses with native English speakers is one of the fastest and best ways to improve. If youre not sure, register for a free trial class!YouTube There are plenty of great videos on YouTube that use real, live recordings between pilots and air traffic controllers. One of the great places for this is Aldo Benitez YouTube Channel, which offers a lot of great recordings of air traffic control/pilot incidents, many of which are really funny (see attached video below).Aviation Blogs and Sites There are many aviation blogs out there that offer inform ative and entertaining reading, that will help you improve your aviation English vocabulary. One of our favorites is Wayne Farleys Aviation Blog. Youll find a great list of aviation English definitions there. You should also check out liveatc.net for recordings of air traffic control radio.Podcasts Ever listen to podcasts? Theyre like radio programs you can listen to on your mp3 player, when ever and where ever you want. There are several great ones out there about aviation, that are in English, including Airplane Geeks, and The Finer Points.Live in English Between now and March, try to surround yourself with as much English as possible. Change the settings on your computer, your phone, your email account and your Facebook account to English. Read only in English, watch television and movies in English, and look for any other aspect of your life where you can use English more.Ok, thats it for now, but come back for more Aviation English ideas. In the meantime, entertain yourself wit h this YouTube video below from an air traffic control frequency. This is the audio of the young boy who was allowed to direct traffic at JFK airport in New York in February of 2010.

A Guide To ACT Scoring

A Guide To ACT Scoring ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Understanding how the ACT is scored is one of the most fundamental aspects of taking the test. Before even stepping foot into the classroom on test day, knowing the scoring for the ACT can help you to outline your studying and set realistic score goals as you are planning for the big day. Let’s dive into our guide for ACT scoring and what you should know right now: Scoring For Multiple Choice The most important feature of the ACT test that all students need to know is that you are not penalized for guessing or incorrectly answering a question. You will get one point for each correct answer and no points for each incorrect answer. This combination for each correct answer totals to the raw score for each section. The Raw Score The raw score of each section is how many correct answers you get on each section. Let’s imagine, for example, that you correctly answered 60 questions on the English section. This means your raw score for English is 60. Pretty simple so far, right? The Scaled Score The scaled score is the final score for each section (English, Math, Science, and Reading) once the raw score is “scaled.” The scaled score is more familiar to most ACT test takers, as it ranges from 1-36. The metric for scaling the test is determined by the test administrators based on how difficult they deemed the section to be. This is commonly thought of as the “curve.” The bigger the curve, the more difficult the test was considered. Unlike most curves that depend on how well other students do on the test, the ACT’s curve is set based on difficulty and not raw scores of test takers. The Composite Score The composite score for the ACT is super easy to calculate, as it’s simply the average of the scaled section scores (English, Math, Science, and Reading) you received. This score is rounded to the nearest whole number. This means any score with a decimal greater than or equal to .5 is rounded up and a decimal less than .5 is rounded down. Scoring For The Writing Test When you complete the optional writing test, two readers will score your essay based on 4 specific criteria: -Ideas and Analysis -Development and Support -Organization -Language Use and Convention According to the ACT, this is exactly what the readers are looking for in your writing: Ideas and Analysisâ€"Scores in this domain reflect the ability to generate productive ideas and engage critically with multiple perspectives on the given issue. Competent writers understand the issue they are invited to address, the purpose for writing, and the audience. They generate ideas that are relevant to the situation. Development and Supportâ€"Scores in this domain reflect the ability to discuss ideas, offer rationale, and bolster an argument. Competent writers explain and explore their ideas, discuss implications, and illustrate through examples. They help the reader understand their thinking about the issue. Organizationâ€"Scores in this domain reflect the ability to organize ideas with clarity and purpose. Organizational choices are integral to effective writing. Competent writers arrange their essay in a way that clearly shows the relationship between ideas, and they guide the reader through their discussion. Language Use and Conventionsâ€"Scores in this domain reflect the ability to use written language to convey arguments with clarity. Competent writers make use of the conventions of grammar, syntax, word usage, and mechanics. They are also aware of their audience and adjust the style and tone of their writing to communicate effectively. Each criteria is given a score out of 1-6 by each reader. 1 being the lowest and 6 being the highest. The score from both the readers for each criteria is added together to form a criteria-specific score between 2-12. If there is sharp contrast between the reader’s scores (more than 1 point), a third reader will come in and score in order to make the scoring fair. The domain scores are then added together and scaled on a 12-point scale.If you notice your writing score was out of 36, then you probably took the ACT between September 2015 to June 2016, when the ACT made some short-lived changes (it was too confusing for many) on how to grade this portion of the test. If you have a score out of 36, it’s no problem, you can just convert it to a 12-point scale using the ACT’s chart. The scoring for the optional writing test is not averaged with the other section scores to create the composite score. The optional writing test’s score is actually combined with the English and Reading scores, averaged, and scaled to create the English Language Arts (ELA) score. This score is out of a 36-point scale. Without the optional writing test, however, there is no ELA score reported at all. Having a solid grasp of how the ACT is scored is very helpful when preparing for the test as well as understanding how you need to do on practice tests to translate into the score you want for your dream school. Good luck!Kristine Thorndyke works for Quesbook, your go-to for FREE online ACT prep and test-specific as well as college admissions resources.