What To Know About The Updated SSAT

What To Know About The Updated SSAT The SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test) is one of two admissions tests for private / independent schools. The other is the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam), but they are not exactly interchangeable. Some private schools favor the SSAT, while others favor the ISEE. All schools will publish their preference online. The SSAT is the first major test your child will be taking. There can be pressure; there can be stress and even anxiety. First, you need to know what you and your child are up against. And Varsity Tutors is here to help. See more from us on how to improve your SSAT score and comparing the ISEE and the SSAT. Or see our entire section on SSAT Test Strategies. The Admission Organization (creator and administrator of the SSAT) has made some fairly significant test updates that will impact your SSAT prep. New Elementary Level Test: The biggest change is the addition of the new Elementary Level Test, which will be used for admissions to 4th or 5th grade. Previously, there was no 4th or 5th grade admissions test. The Lower Level was the earliest test students could take for admission into grades 5-7. The SSAT is now renaming the Lower Level the Middle Level. The Upper Level will not change, and will still be used for admission into grades 8-11. Scoring updates: The SSAT is not changing its scoring policy; however, it will change what those scores mean. Most private schools will still consider percentile scores and not actual test scores. Actual scores can range from 1320-2400 (depending on test level), but they are ignored. Previously, the SSAT lumped all students into one scoring group (for each level). But, now they are establishing norm groups for international students. International students scores will not be directly compared to those in America/Canada. Question updates: Previously, some of the SSAT questions were taken from corporate test writers question banks. However, the test has realized that these questions do not adequately depict the material in independent/private schools. Now, 100% of the questions on the test will be written by independent/private school teachers. Experimental section: Each SSAT test will now contain experimental questions. These questions will not be scored, and will be analyzed to see if they are relevant for future tests. New Writing Prompt: Each writing prompt will still be 25 minutes; however, the test has again called on independent/private school teachers to update the writing prompts. Now, for the Middle Level, students will be presented two creative prompts and will choose to write one. On the Upper Level, students will be presented a creative prompt and an essay prompt and choose one. Also, students can now write on two pages instead of one. Visit the official SSAT site for updated SSAT prompts. These are the biggest changes to the new SSAT. In addition, the test has made minor updates, such as: increasing security, updating online score delivery (for no additional cost), eliminating standby testing (meaning students must register ahead of time and can no longer show up on test day and take it), considering computer-based testing. In 2012, the SSAT will not be computer-based, but test administrators are looking into it. Preparing for the new SSAT can be a confusing process. But, Varsity Tutors can help. Call us today for any questions on the new SSAT or to see how a private SSAT Tutor could help your child. Tutors are available and fully understand how to maximize your childs potential.

How Much Does a Drum Kit Cost

How Much Does a Drum Kit Cost How Much Should You Budget for Your Drum Kit? ChaptersPlayer Size and LevelWhat Type of Music?The Shells and HeadsAccessorising Your KitA Word on Electronic DrumsDrums come in all shapes, sizes and materials for all sorts of music styles and environments.Furthermore, one has to ask: is ‘kit’ defined as just the drums and mounts â€" as some contend, or does it also include the cymbals and their stands, and your throne?And what good is a set of drums if you have no sticks to play them with and no bass pedal to strike those deep, resonant vibes?Don’t start panicking just yet! Superprof has taken a close look at the market to present you with things to think about before planning your drum set purchase.Let go of your wallet for now and read on!Considering the far higher prices than a full drum set and all of the accessories may cost you, buying a drum pad for your beginner drummer would make the most sense!Especially if you are buying for a fickle child: what if s/he won’t stick with drumming: would you be out all that money ?Find out also about the different types of drums...Black Sabbath's drummer has extensive kit, making use of each percussion instrument! Source: Wikipedia Credit: BtzkrWhat Type of Music?Drums are not a one-size-fits-all proposition.Jazz drummers and those in acoustic or folk bands tend to gravitate toward smaller drums, and fewer of them make up their kit.If you are a traditionalist, you may prefer the 4-drum configuration that Ringo Starr made popular during The Beatles heyday: a bass drum and a snare, with a single hanging tom and a floor tom.That arrangement is well suited to jazz, acoustic, folk and rock music styles.By contrast, Bill Ward (Black Sabbath drummer) may well faint when confronted with delicate, thin cymbals and single-ply drum heads, and would most likely feel bereft behind only four drums!Find drum lessons anywhere in the UK!Before settling on a drum set, you should give thought to how they will be played.To make choosing easier, you might want to know that drums come in two broad configurations: Fusion and Standard.The Fusion drums tend to be a bit smaller in diameter, but with a zippy tone and more voluble sound.By contrast, the Standard configuration is probably better known, among other things, for the bigger tone the toms produce and the greater volume overall.There are merits to both configurations and choosing which set-up is entirely up to you.However, we urge you to consider: while you could probably play anything by Taylor Swift on either drum kit, you may want to do your Lars Ullrich impression on a standard set â€" you risk cracking a cymbal if you hit it too hard!Find out how to maintain your drums optimally...Poplar is another low-cost alternative to maple and birch, yet makes a similar soundLauan, generally referred to as ‘select hardwood’, might be considered budget-birch.Bottom line: the type of shell you select will impact your kit’s sound and durability. Find out all you need to know about choosing the best drum kit for your playing...Drum heads come in several colours and thicknesses Source: Pixabay Credit: FlockineSelecting Drum Heads If you play jazz or big band type music, you would no doubt favour single-ply drum heads.You would also want the coated batter heads.Should you just want to let loose, like the Muppets’ Animal, you will want the two-ply option, and might prefer the clear heads.These Mylar heads come with or without coating, with or without damper rings and in a variety of thicknesses.Again, it comes down to the type of music you play, the sound you want to create, your proposed venue(s) and how you tune your drums.You may get a single, coated snare head for as low as £7 if you shop around and a kick drum head for up to £70; or you might look for a set of heads for your tom toms, which might run as high as £70-90.Accessorising Your KitNo drum set would be complete without a least a few cymbals: the hi hats, ride and crash cymbals are elementary.The splash cymbal and the chi na cymbal have become most popular of late, but they are not strictly necessary to play good music. Also, you have a choice of effect cymbals â€" again, not necessary to play basic tunes.Top of the line, brand name equipment such as Zildjian and Sabian will most certainly cost you a pretty penny, and there is really no getting around the fact that your cymbals may just be the most expensive component in your kit.The choice of brands, thicknesses and whether they are cast or cut from sheet metal all make a difference in price.Tip: Paiste, a brand with a loyal following, is a sheet metal cymbal line with a great sound and not much variance in sound from cymbal to the next (of the same line and size). And they tend to cost less than Zildjian cymbals!Drum AccessoriesOddly enough, you can’t really play the drums unless you have drumsticks, yet they are considered a kit accessory!What are the best drum sticks? Find out here...Other accessories for your drum kit include felts and sleeves for your cymbals, cases for your drums and various stands: for your snare and floor tom; for your bass and for assorted cymbals.Don’t forget your drum throne!Of course, you could use any stool set to the proper height, but stools made specifically for playing the drums are so engineered as to help keep you comfortable while maintaining good posture â€" so essential to good playing!You may feel that, after your initial investment into the drum set of your choice and all of its cymbals, that the accessories are nickle and diming you to death, but shopping around can score you a few bargains.Who knows? You might find a music store that wants your repeat business and give you a good deal on at least your kick drum pedal, sticks and brushes!Additional InstrumentsOnce you get really proficient in beating out those paradiddles, you may want to outfit your basic drum kit with a few other percussion instruments, like a cowbell or chimes.A choice percussion instrument, the cowbell can add tones and highlights to your music, underscoring the fundamental beat and creating unforgettable tunes â€" like Aerosmith’s Walk This Way or AC/DC’s You Shook Me.The price of electric drums is prohibitive, but they are very convenient Source: Pixabay Credit: StockSnapA Word on Electronic DrumsAs digital is the wave of the future is already here, you may look into an electronic drum set.Besides being prohibitively expensive â€" into the several thousands of pounds for even a basic setup, they are much more compact than acoustic drums and resist environmental conditions much better.One great feature of electronic drums is that they can be muted by plugging earphones in so that they play directly into the headphones rather than waking up the neighbours!If you have moved beyond the beginner stage of drumming and wish to build your kit, but live in a small apartment, an electronic drum set may just be your ticket.However, purists swear they will never give up their acoustic kit: for the ambience it creates and the sounds it makes; for the sheer joy of playing on equipment so responsive.Yes, your wallet will influence your purchase. But then, your heart and soul as a musician will drive you to the kit you need to express yourself most fully.Now find out everything you need to know before buying your drum set...... including finding drum lessons london.

The Best way to Learn Italian

The Best way to Learn Italian Learn Italian Through Culture ChaptersPrivate Italian TutorialsThings You Should Know About Italian CultureCultural RichesHow Can Culture Boost Language?Have you ever dreamt of learning Italian?  Italy is home to some of the most fascinating culture in the world.If you can’t physically go to Italy, why not head there in spirit by learning about the language and culture?A quality private tutor will help you to fall in love with the country and its many treasures by teaching you the language spoken there. They’ll also teach you about Italian culture, too...Why Learn the Lingua Italiana?It’s a beautiful bewitching language...It’s the language of beautiful people, famous Italian painters, writers, composers, and amazing actors, for one. It conjures notions of sunshine, Mediterranean beaches, craggy mountains, and warm friendly people.Italian is the main official language of Italy and San Marino, as well as being spoken in the Vatican (after Latin, the main official language), parts of Switzerland, Croatia, Sl ovenia, and Brazil. At the moment, people are choosing to learn Italian for personal reasons rather than professional ones.In fact, it’s never been easier to get Italian tutorials.  Though some academic establishments do offer Italian classes, they’re not very common in the UK because there's not enough mainstream demand for learning languages.While there are some place where you can learn Italian in a class, private tutorials are more flexible since private tutors can be found up and down the country and even in rural areas.Getting a private tutor is a much better idea than sitting in a dark corner of your house with an Italian dictionary, after all.Search for Italian lessons near me and learn how to read Italian writer in their native language. DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors M arcoItalian Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsPrivate Italian TutorialsAt-home private tutorials are perfect for keeping you motivated. Revising Italian grammar can demotivate you if you do it on your own.Unfortunately, you need to know it.While speaking Italian might seem easier, mastering writing is almost impossible if you haven’t mastered the fundamentals. However, learning to speak while having fun is also really important.In a group, the teacher, native or otherwise, needs to work with a variety of different levels. In private tutorials, they can personalise their lessons to their students by working with their strengths and weaknesses. In a priv ate tutorial, you won't waste time going back over things you already know off by heart. Instead, you'll focus on the things you're struggling with in order to make sure you master every aspect of a topic.There’s nothing better than an enriching speaking class, mastering pronunciation, and understanding everything you’ve studied.Reading is a great way to learn Italian. (Source: negativespace.co)Additionally, Italian cinema from the last century is wonderful and a great way for you to hear the different Italian accents and how they’re pronounced. This is a great way to continue learning Italian while you're relaxing. However, make sure you actively watch films when you're learning a language. You can't just put a film on in the background whilst browsing Facebook or Twitter and expect to become fluent in Italian.Your tutor can easily give you a conversation class to help you practise speaking while enjoying Italian culture. These classes could include everyday language and help you learn more about the culture. If you’d like to learn more about history, you can! In fact, that's the beauty of languages, once you get to a certain level, you can talk about anything that interests you.Find the right tutor for you with Italian language courses London or Bristol.Knowing more about a civilisation can also help you fall in love with it and develop an affinity with the language.Things You Should Know About Italian CultureThe first thing you should know about modern Italian is that it is a direct descendent of literary Florentine (a subdialect of Tuscan) from the Trecento when it was made an official national language.While Italy might seem geographically homogeneous (most of the peninsula is taken up by the Apennines, after all), since after the Roman Empire, the country was politically divided until the 19th century.The Risorgimento (or Italian unification) brought the various political groups of Italy together. Italian unification was led by the House of Savoy which ruled over Piedmont and Sardinia.Once the Austrians were driven from the north of the country, Lombardy and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany were annexed and Florence became the capital of the new Kingdom of Italy. Then the Kingdom of Two Sicilies and Venice joined and Rome was taken in 1870.Did you know that the margherita pizza is supposed to have been based on the Italian flag. (Source: pixabay.com)Despite a huge variety of dialects, Florentine seemed the natural choice thanks to the works of various poets from the Middle Age such as Dante and Petrarch. Furthermore, Alessandro Manzoni’s 1827 novel “The Betrothed”, which was written in Italian, was hugely successful.The region had been brought together by a common history (the Roman Empire), a shared religion (Catholicism), and a number of shared traditions (including the Mediterranean diet).If you’d like to learn more about Italian culture, you should also check out our famous Italians.Cultural RichesItalian culture is v ery rich. In fact, it has excelled over the years a huge variety of different fields including: art, literature, science, and cuisine. Italian culture was home to the Renaissance, the Quattrocento, the Baroque period, to name a few.In terms of the Republic of Letters, Dante is arguably the most important name. However, we should also mention Ariosto, Boccaccio, as well as more recent names such as Lampedusa, d’Annunzio, Eco, Buzzati, and Moravia.Architecture in Italy is also very rich and can vary from city to city: from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to Parma’s pastels, Naple’s yellows, and Ravenna’s reds. Venetian mansions replaced Roman villas, loggias, and towers.Italian food is so much more than spaghetti and macaroni. It’s so widespread that in certain parts of the UK, it’s easier to find an Italian restaurant than a British one. Italy has also been the world’s largest wine producer certain years.You’ll not be disappointed by the restaurants in Bologna, Ferrara, or Mantua...Sculpture, art inherited from the Antiquity, and MichelangeloThis Italian painter is probably one of the most popular in Europe. There are so many schools, paintings, frescos, and canvasses. Fra Angelico, Leonardo da Vinci (Was he one of our 5 favourite Italian artists?), Boticelli, and Titian are only a few Italian artists worth mentioning. Mannerism, chiaroscuro, Caravaggism, to name just a few, are all from Italy.Italy is pretty famous when it comes to painters. Source: Daian Gan)Theatre should also get a mention thanks to names like Goldoni and Pirandello. In fact, theatre in Italy has been popular for centuries.We can hardly leave out music, can we? In Italy, opera rules supreme.Baroque music was also born in Italy and includes famous names such as Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Palestrina, Cimarosa, and Scarlatti. It didn’t stop there, though. There was also Romanticism with Verdi, Bellini, Puccini, and Donizetti.We should also mention Italian cinema! Composers such as Morri cone and Rota, actors like Claudia Cardinale and Vittorio Gassman, and a whole heap of revolutionary directors: Rossellini, Fellini, Visconti, Antonioni, Pasolini, Sergio Leone and Benigni, for example.Check out our must-see Italian films! Or learn by taking Italian lessons online.How Can Culture Boost Language?Learning a language takes perseverance. Even more so if you want to speak it perfectly. Sometimes you have to do a number of boring exercises. Like we said earlier, when watching a film, you have to go back and watch one particular scene over and over.When you're reading, keep a notepad next to you so you can write down any vocabulary that you're not sure of. When listening to music, you should read the lyrics and attempt to decipher them.Don’t lose hope, though. You can make them more interesting with a dash of culture.Just a simple exploration of the world of pasta will show you that “farfalle” actually means “butterflies”, for example. There is also plenty of spe cialised art vocabulary, too.You’ll learn more about Italian places and history which is great if you want to spend some time in the country. There’s no better way to learn than immersion.You’ll probably want to explore Apulia, Calabria, or Campania to try out everything you’ve learnt. Speaking with real people in your new language is such a rewarding experience that we really can't recommend it enough.You can also practise speaking the language even more! The best way to learn a language, after all, is wanting to learn the language.You needn't stop once you've learnt Italian. Why not take up French, too? (Source: pixabay.com)Once you get into the rhythm of your tutorials, certain things will become second nature to you. By this point, you’ll probably get a taste for languages and want to start learning another language like Portuguese, Spanish, or even Chinese!If you enjoy learning the language and culture trips, Italy is the place to go.  Whether a romantic getaway on a Venetian gondola, a historical trip to Rome, or a genuine Neapolitan pizza, Italy has it all!Why not study Italian there? You could also teach out there since there are plenty of Italians who’d like to learn English!

4 Essential Guitar Chord Progressions for Beginners

4 Essential Guitar Chord Progressions for Beginners Sign up successful The next chord you should learn is C, or C major. For this chord, you only need to strum the top five, highest-sounding strings. As you practice these guitar chords, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Play the notes of the chord individually, making sure that all the notes are sounding loud and clear. Practice switching between different chords and keeping a steady beat. Try not to stop the goal is to switch between chords, getting the best sound possible. Now youre ready to learn some easy guitar chord progressions. (Keep reading to learn the fingerings for the G and D chords, too!) SEE ALSO: How to Play the F Chord on Guitar 4 Easy Guitar Chord Progressions for Beginners Basic Guitar Chord Progression #1 Play these two measures four times. Once youve mastered this progression, youre ready to add in the G chord. For the G chord, there are two fingerings shown below. The one in red should be avoided if at all possible because its more difficult when you are switching between a G and a C chord. The one in black may seem awkward at first because you are using your fourth finger, which is your weakest finger, but keep practicing and itll get easier! Basic Guitar Chord Progression #2 Play this guitar chord progression four times.  With the addition of the D chord, shown below, you can play thousands of songs! The biggest problem encountered with this chord is getting the first string to sound. Make sure that your third finger is not touching the first string. Here is the fingering: Basic Guitar Chord Progression #3 Now that you know both G and D, play this progression four times for even more practice. Basic Guitar Chord Progression #4 Play the first four measures shown above two times, then end on G. There are a lot more chords to learn and also different versions of these particular chords. But knowing these guitar chord progressions is a great start because they will allow you to play thousands of songs. Want to switch it up and do more with these chords? Try the following exercise for each chord progression: Strum only on beat 1 of each measure. This gives you plenty of time to get to the next chord. Next, try strumming only on beats 1 and 3. Finally, strum on all 4 beats. By now you should be very familiar with some basic guitar chord progressions. To advance even more in your skills, consider working with a guitar teacher. An experienced teacher can help propel you to the next stage of mastering the guitar. Best of luck on your musical journey! Matt B. teaches guitar to students of all ages in Pacifica, CA. Matt joined the TakeLessons team in October 2012, with over 40 years of experience teaching music. His specialties include pop, jazz, folk, and rock guitar styles. Learn more about Matt, or search for a teacher near you! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of prescreened teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for safe, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Amy Willard

Yoga for Stress Relief

Yoga for Stress Relief Yoga for Stress and Anxiety Management ChaptersSome Statistics On StressYoga: a Powerful Weapon Against StressLearn These Yoga Poses for StressTake a 20-Minute Yoga Lesson After a Stressful DayOther Tips and Tricks for Using the Philosophy of Yoga for Stress ReliefHow Often Should You Practice Yoga for Stress?Stress has been called the scourge of modern times. So how can you reduce stress and avoid burn-out?With its breathing exercises and gentle muscle stretches, yoga has proved an excellent method for dealing with stress.Yoga first appeared in India more than 4000 ago, and is now practised by more than half-a-million in the UK.The benefits of yoga for mind and body are well-known, and yoga doesn’t require a lot of equipment - a simple yoga mat is all you need to learn the secrets of the anti-stress techniques taught by this ancestral art.The effectiveness of yoga in combatting anxiety and stress is proven. Yoga helps us manage out emotions and relax quickly.Practising yoga doesn’t require a lot of equipment, nor do you need to be an expert to do daily home yoga sessions. Even simple exercises can help you keep your lifestyle healthy and your stress levels low.Abdominal breathing exercises may even be enough during particularly stressful periods where you can’t actually do the yoga poses.For any further needs, our yoga teachers are there for you.Want to seek out the benefits of yoga for yourself? Find a coach for yoga near me in the UK or online yoga classes!

Protecting Your Personal Information at Work - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Protecting Your Personal Information at Work - Introvert Whisperer Protecting Your Personal Information at Work Data privacy is a concern for many workplaces. This relates to the way that they collect, store, and process personal information. The concern goes farther than business functions, however, as the privacy of their employees information is something to seriously consider when discussing cybersecurity as a whole. So, how does this impact you as an employee and how can you protect yourself against the impacts of a data breach or personal invasion? As a busy employee, you likely have several thoughts running through your head during the 8+ hours on the job. Oftentimes, these thoughts extend past office tasks and require making appointments, running errands, or checking on a personal matter. When these tasks are completed on devices over the office network, your employer is able to see your search history. This can leave many employees feeling like they have no ability for privacy. Ultimately this could lead to a decrease in employee morale and productivity. Additionally, if your company should fall victim to a data breach, this could also put you at risk of more serious risks such as identity theft. Look into your company policy Familiarizing yourself with the policies that your company has set in place regarding data privacy and collection can help you better understand how they will be monitoring and utilizing your data. This information is likely to be found in the company handbook or by asking human resources and/or the IT department. Separate work and personal life The best way to keep the information you don’t wish to disclose private is to separate work and personal business completely. This means avoiding using your work computer for personal matters. Even bring your own device, such as a mobile phone to the company’s network leaves it susceptible to an investigation. For example, checking job board sites on your mobile phone while on the network can signal your company that you’re actively looking for a new job. Save this and other personal tasks for your own time such as lunch breaks, or after hours. Additionally, make sure that you are using different passwords for each device and that these passwords are unique and hard to guess. Use a VPN If you wish to have your internet activity almost completely private, you may want to consider using a virtual private network. This software is easy to install and ensures that your session is private by encrypting your data. It works by routing your internet actions to a server and changing your IP address to hide it from any potential eavesdroppers or cybercriminals. This can also be a helpful tool for anyone who travels for their job as many airports, hotels, and cafes have unsecured wireless networks making them more susceptible. Don’t overshare personal information A general rule of thumb but something that is often forgotten, is avoiding the practice of oversharing information about yourself at work. Though you may build trusting relationships and friendships with coworkers one slip up can land you in dangerous water. Always keep your passwords to yourself and put your computer to sleep when you get up from it. The only person that you should ever need to provide your social security number, address, or phone number to is someone in HR and even then, the case is rare. If you must provide them with this information, make sure that you do so in person or in writing and definitely not via email or chat. Use common sense Take responsibility for your actions online and use common sense. Whether its a questionable picture you’re sharing, an angry tweet you sent in the heat of the moment about a coworker, or an email with non-work-related content always think twice. Under the law, your company has a legal right to monitor and hold you accountable for this information. More employees are being let go from their jobs each year due to compromising social media posts. It’s always better to take time to think a situation through then end up regretting it when it comes back to haunt you. Author Bio: Scott is an advocate for cybersecurity and identity theft prevention and enjoys writing on such topics. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

What You Need To Know About The Next Generation GMAT

What You Need To Know About The Next Generation GMAT Improving Academic Performance The following is a guest post from our friends at 2 Minute GMAT: Many are worried about the new upcoming GMAT exam, to say the least. There has not been much information released about the test, which has only added to the worries of test takers around the world. If you did not know, starting on June 2012 GMAT test will be the first to take the new edition of the exam.There will be many changes to the upcoming GMAT. Specifically, the new GMAT will have a section calledIntegrated Reasoning, or IR. This sectionwill measure your ability to analyze different types of data from several sources. The taker will need to consider a number of presented options and take decisions in the same way they would in the real world. The IR section is intended to resemble a real-life scenario, and may involve resources from budget sheets, emails, and notes from top management. Test takers will then need to evaluate and synthesize the data. Unlike the current GMAT, which included verbal, mathematics and analytical writing sections, theNext Generation GMAT examwill exchange the writing section for the new IR part. Because this part is intended to emulate real-life business environments, the answers will either be correct or incorrect.Many individuals have been vocal about these changes. Christine Poon, dean of The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, was quoted saying that, “This has been called the era of big data, and it is increasingly evident that the future will be claimed by those able to see the critical patterns among overwhelming complexity.” Many other business school recruiters also believe this exam was created in responseto the necessities of the business world.The IR section will include different types of questions including a sortable table of information, similar to a spreadsheet, a multi-source reasoningquestion providing test takers with various types of information in multiple tabs (t ext, charts, and tables), and interpreted graphs and graphical images. We want to wish the upcoming GMAT test takers the best of luck.Founded in 2009, 2minuteGMAT guarantees that you will improve your GMAT score by 50 points or your money back. We send you a unique email every day for 6 months with 10 GMAT Questions of the Day (5 Math and 5 Verbal), a daily blurb about top business schools, and advice from experts on how to improve your GMAT score. Visit the 2minuteGMAT blog for updates and GMAT tips.For more advice on improving your GMAT score, visit http://www.2minutegmat.com

Whats Up with Donald Trump

Whats Up with Donald Trump Ive been avoiding writing something on Donald Trump for a long time, even though students, friends and co-workers from outside the U.S. keep asking me if this is for real. Does this guy really have a chance? A few have thought that Trump was actually some sort of bizarre joke.I havent written anything about it yet in part because I havent known exactly how to explain the Trump phenomenon. Also,  Trump gets a ridiculous amount of attention already, and I hate  to add to it. But the video Im using this week is just too funny to ignore.Whether or not you like him as the next president (just to be honest, I dont) you have to admit that hes been a master of attracting free media attention. His campaign has done next to no advertising, yet hes easily the best known candidate for the 2016 elections.Youve probably heard some his more controversial statements. Hes proposed banning all muslims from entering the United States, hes proposed somehow making all 11 million undocumented immigrants l eave, hes insulted women, and a disabled reporter.So why do people still like him? Why is he doing well in the polls? The video below makes an hilarious attempt at answering this question. Watch the video, then see if you can complete the listening exercise in comments.Vocabulary: A couple words to help you out.GOP Another name for the Republican Party, the political party for which Trump wants to be nominated.Focus Group A demographically diverse group of people that  participate in a guided discussion about a political campaign, product, television series, etc.Single Out  To choose a person or group of people from a larger group for special attention.Answer the questions below in comments, and well respond.What is the big question?Why does the report ask, Thats a good thing?What does he mean when he says, Just so were on the same page.Do you want a president in there that really ____ __  ______.What does the sentence above mean?What do you think of the vast majority conversati on?Why is the statement, Hes not singling out this group because of their religous beliefs so strange and funny?At last we had reached _____ ____. Even some Trump supporters cant ____ ___ ___ ___ why people support Donald Trump.What do the expressions in the above sentence mean?Why do you think Trump is so popular?