How U.S. News Calculated the Best Global Universities Rankings

The inaugural U.S. News Best Global Universities rankings were produced to provide insight into how universities compare globally. As an increasing number of students are planning to enroll in universities outside of their own country, the Best Global Universities rankings – which focus specifically on schools' academic research and reputation overall and not their separate undergraduate or graduate programs – can help those students accurately compare institutions around the world. 
The Best Global Universities rankings also provide insight into how U.S. universities – which U.S. News has been ranking separately for the last 30 years – stand globally. All universities can now benchmark themselves against schools in their own country and region, become more visible on the world stage and find top schools in other countries to consider collaborating with.
The overall Best Global Universities rankings encompass the top 500 institutions spread out across 49 countries. The first step in producing these rankings, which are powered by Thomson Reuters InCites^TM ​research analytics solutions, involved creating​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​a pool of 750 universities that was used to rank the top 500 schools.
To be included in the 750, an institution had to first be among the top 200 universities in the results of Thomson Reuters' global reputation survey, described further below.​ Next, an institution had to be among those that had published the most number of ​articles during the most recent five years, de-duplicated with the top 200 from the reputation survey.

As a result of these criteria, many stand-alone graduate schools, including the Rockefeller Institute of New York and University of California—San Francisco, were eligible to be ranked and were included in the ranking universe.
The second step was to calculate the rankings using the 10 indicators and weights that U.S. News chose to measure global research performance. Each school's profile page on usnews.com lists numerical ranks, out of 750, for the 10 indicators, allowing students to compare each school's standing in each indicator.
The indicators and their weights in the ranking formula are listed in the table below, with related indicators grouped together;​ ​an explanation of each follows.

Ranking indicator	Weight
Global research reputation	12.5%
Regional research reputation	12.5%
Publications	12.5%
Normalized citation impact	10%
Total citations	10%
Number of highly cited papers	12.5%
Percentage of highly cited papers	10%
International collaboration	10%
Number of Ph.D.s awarded	5%
Number of Ph.D.s awarded per academic staff member	5%

Overall SAT Test Tactics.

Overall SAT Test Tactics :

Answer easy questions first. Mark skipped questions in your exam book so you can quickly return to them later. Guess...if you can eliminate at least one choice. You can write in the test book: cross out wrong answers; do scratch work. Avoid stray marks on the answer sheet. A machine scores your test and can't distinguish between a correct answer and a careless doodle. Easy questions usually precede hard ones. Mark only one answer per question. Skip any question if you haven't the faintest idea about the answer. You don't lose points. Right answer for correct section and number on your answer sheet. Don't spend too much time on any one question. You should spend only seconds on the easiest questions, and hesitate to spend more than 1-2 minutes on even the hardest ones. Remember that the SAT consists of a series of small, timed, mini-tests. Keep track of the time you're allotted for each one and how much time remains. Bring a watch to the test center. You can't be guaranteed that there'll be a working clock there. Don't change an answer unless you're sure you made an error. Read the words in the question carefully. Be sure to answer the question asked and not the question you recall from a practice test. Know the Question Types to Expect on the SAT I: * 19 sentence completion * 40 reading comprehension * 35 math multiple-choices * 10 student-produced responses

Avoid Running Out of Time on the SAT, ACT.

When taking the SAT or ACT, manage the clock and remember that the goal is to get your best possible score, not a perfect score. With enough practice and time, students can work through every question on the SAT or ACT. In fact, time management is often the major difference between a good test score and an excellent test score. Studying for the exams is often as much about understanding how to efficiently use your time as it is about memorization or problem-solving skills. There are three rules of thumb to help you maximize your chances of success on the SAT or ACT. 1. Create an outline to maximize writing time: The key to the essay component of each test is the effective organization and succinct communication of ideas. The allotted time is simply not enough to communicate anything but the simplest and most direct ideas. Start your studying by finding a list of essay prompts and allowing yourself five minutes each to outline a response. Every outline should contain a strong thesis statement that clearly declares your position as well as two to three pieces of supporting evidence. Completing the essay is then simply a matter of connecting the pieces. Practicing this approach makes the process flow smoothly, and the five minutes spent organizing your thoughts will allow you to write proficiently. 2. Spend one minute per math question: When you take practice tests, be vigilant about following the time limits for each section, particularly math. Better yet, try practicing completing the section with five minutes fewer on the clock. If you can adapt to a shortened test time frame, you are more likely to finish when dealing with the stress of test day. Another strategy is to keep moving through questions, no matter what. Allow a little over one minute per question, and move on if you are unable to find an answer in that time. For the ACT, take your best guess and move on since there is no penalty for wrong answers. For the SAT, you should only guess if you have been able to eliminate at least one possible answer – otherwise, your score will go down. It hurts to leave questions blank, but spending five minutes to answer one question means you will be leaving five other questions blank when you run out of time. Do the math – it's not a good trade. Circle the questions you skip or guess on, and come back to them if you finish with time left over. Completing practice tests can also help you with a key test-taking strategy: getting to know your nemesis. The SAT math sections are arranged in roughly ascending levels of difficulty, with the final three to four questions of each section being the most difficult. If you consistently miss those last few questions on practice tests, simply plan to count them as extra credit on the actual exam. If time remains when you have answered everything else, see if you can find a solution to the harder questions. If you can answer at least one, consider it a bonus. Remember that your goal is not to get a perfect score, but to get your best possible score. 3. Skim questions first and reread as needed: Reading comprehension is the most difficult section of each test from a time management perspective. Most students run into difficulty with the reading sections because they read each passage closely on first approach before they ever look at the questions. The problem with this technique is that many test-takers end up reading each passage three to four times once they get to the questions. Most students can't recall the passages in sufficient detail to answer the questions directly, and must go back to scan the passages for evidence to support their answers. A more efficient use of time, especially for slower readers, is to skim the passages to get a basic sense of the topic and voice. Then, scan the questions and look for ones that refer to particular lines of text. Do those questions first and save the questions regarding the general sense of the passage for last. By the time you have answered the questions that reference specific lines of text, you will have a good sense of the passage as a whole. Be sure to answer all the questions regarding a particular passage before going on to the next. This strategy applies to the long sections of text in the science portion of the ACT as well. Overall, remember to simulate test conditions during practice tests. There is no substitute for learning to apply your hard-earned problem-solving techniques under pressure

Test day tips and tricks for Scholastic Aptitude Exam

SAT examinations are conducted seven times per year during the months of: October, November, December, January, March, May and June. The test dates vary each year. One major factor that universities use to evaluate students is the SAT score. A perfect SAT score will not guarantee a student admission to a top school because it is only one aspect of a larger application that includes coursework, recommendations, and extracurricular activities. But a great score will certainly help.

SAT is conducted by the College Board, which is a non-profit organization and committed to the principles of excellence and equity.

·       Never get touchy about any question and hence do not waste time if you are not able to crack it within 1-2 minutes.

·       Since each section in the examination question paper will have different number of questions, it is important to keep in mind the marks allocated to each section.

·       Go with proper plan - as in which section to attempt first and which section to attempt last and how much time should one devote on each section.

·       For writing section, read a lot of books, make a list common topics and practice writing.

·       Develop creativity in writing and take extra care of grammar and vocabulary.

·       In the reading section, read the comprehension carefully and try to find the underlying idea of the comprehension.

·       Highlight the important points of the comprehension. This will give you an idea of the answers for the questions to follow.

·       To score well in Mathematics, do a lot of practice beforehand.

·       Try doing calculation in mind and eliminating the choices to arrive at the answer.

·       Practice converting the word problems into mathematical expressions.

·       Use your practical knowledge and judgment.

·       Use calculator for tougher calculations.

·       Start with easier section and leave tougher questions for the other round.

Tips to Ace Your SAT Verbal and Writing

Tips to Ace Your SAT Verbal and Writing
Every kid has nightmares about facing the SAT exams, one of the hurdles to their progress to a good college. Enough cannot be said about the importance of these tests, so it is imperative that preparation is thorough, because only with intensive study and planned strategy can you ace the SATs. Most students find it hard to score high marks on the verbal and writing portions; although mathematics is difficult, it can be aced if you study diligently. With the essay, sentence completion and other parts of the verbal and writing tests, you never know how you’re going to be judged, so the best you can do is prepare as well as you can by:
• Starting young: The SATs may come into your life only when you graduate from high school, but that’s no reason to wait till your senior year to prepare for them. In fact, the groundwork for the SATs has to begin when you’re old enough to understand how important these exams are in your life. If you practice improving your vocabulary and reading as a daily habit right from the time you can read, you’re going to have an edge over the competition when you take the SATs.
• Reading the right kind of books: It’s not enough that you read; what’s more important is that you read the right kind of books. There are some authors who improve your English and vocabulary and entertain as well, so make sure you include their books as part of your education. While your interest may lie with popular best sellers, you must make an effort to get through and enjoy books that are known to have words that are commonly found in SAT vocabulary questions, like Brian Aldiss, Kim Stanley Robinson, Vladimir Nabokov and K.W. Jeter.
• Improving your handwriting: You’re going to have to write the essay using pen and paper, without the help of a word processor. So work on writing a few pages everyday so that your handwriting is neat and presentable even when you’re writing at top speed. You also need to be able to write a complete essay without your fingers cramping or your writing going awry.
• Improving your presentation: You need to work on your presentation skills and learn how to use intelligent quotations in your essay, understand how to split it into paragraphs, and most important of all, know how to organize your thoughts and put them down in a cohesive format, one that flows from beginning to end and makes sense.
Remember, acing the SATs is a task that’s all in the mind. If you train yourself to think positively, you’re definitely going to be able to do well.

Why Study in the USA?

• World-class facilities. 
•  Unique cultural experiences. 
• A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Pursuing a degree in the United States is life changing to say the least. Living on campus, interacting with students from around the world, and exploring all that an American university has to offer will prepare you for a fulfilling life by opening the door to future possibilities and helping you stand out to prospective employers.

But applying to an American university can be overwhelming. Picking the state you want to live and study in is tough enough. Mountains or coastline? Looking for an urban environment or somewhere a little less crowded? Even if you’ve figured all of that out, the hardship of finding the financial assistance needed to make an overseas education possible keeps many students from being able to pursue their dream.

CPT Based MBA/MS.

CPT Based MBA/MS.

Even students with 15 years of Education can get admitted in US Universities. Highly Specialized Powerful program. MBA and MS-Information Technology. Pre-approvals before sending applications. GRE/GMAT can be waived for Experienced or students with excellent overall profile. Properly accredited courses and Approved by Department of Homeland Security, Government of USA. Almost NIL total cost of Education. Highly Competitive admissions - We specialize in creating CPT based profiles and admissions. 100% CPT Fee is returned if we fail to get admits.

SAT Flashcard of the day...

Test Mentor provide large words bank for SAT students. For more details click here

How to prepare for SAT examination?

Preparations for SAT can be overwhelming with many self-help books and sites around. SAT determine the academic success of a student but writing everything you have studied to solve the three and half hour paper can seem to be a tough task.

So, what can be the best way to prepare for the SAT and work towards the best score? Here are few tips which can help with your preparations towards a good score.

1)      Understand the structure of the test – Understanding the layout of paper is utmost important. The questions are structured in an ascending level of difficulty with the exception of the section for critical reading. So solving the easier questions can save time for the more difficult questions at the end. So, it’s important to emphasise on the structure of questions and practice them.

2)      Practice timed tests – Solving lots of practice tests, is one sure thing which will lead you towards a good score. Time the tests and mark the questions. Ask the help of parents or teachers to check the answers for you. This will help you to find out the areas in your study where you need more practice. Solving practice tests will also help you in boosting your confidence towards the final paper.

3)      Essays – Write Essays adhering to the word and time limit. Use past papers to find out the subjects of Essays and practice them. Read different articles on different subjects, so it can help you with structuring your essays. Adhering to the 25 minutes to write and proofread can be a trying thing to do but practicing them is the way to go.

4)      Practicing vocabulary – It’s not about knowing all the words from the dictionary, but practicing vocabulary will help in easing off the pressure on preparations. Making use of flash cards to practice will help you in questions related to sentence completions and it will guide you in the reading comprehension section as well. To understand the meaning of difficult words, studying and extending your vocabulary will go a long way. 

5)      Memorize and practice – Practice and memorize the formulas and rules. Even though there will be a reference to the facts and formulas in the paper for you, you should be able to use them to your advantage. Work with your calculator. Familiarize with it and use it all through the test. Find out the shortcuts which can be used on the calculator, practice and be comfortable with them. They will help you during the actual test.

6)      Multiple choice questions – Practice and practice is the only way to go. Although multiple choice questions can seem to be an easier task, that’s not the case always. Reading the answer choices given can help you in knowing the concepts asked in that question. If you feel that you cannot answer a question, skip it! Move on to another question as trying to think and solve the question you are stuck at will result in wasting your time. So, it is extremely important to use the time properly.

7)      Be ready for the test day – Ensure to double-check the date, time and the SAT exam center. Keep all the pens, pencils, erasers, calculators ready one day prior to the test. Have a relaxed sleep and eat a healthy breakfast on the test day. Being stress free is important. Spend time with your family and take their help in relaxing for a stress free SAT.

Preparing for competitive exams

Competitive exams today have become an important part of one’s study course. With the rise in the education standards, appearing for competitive exams gives an edge to your career. However, preparing for the same can seem taxing with the busy schedules students usually have. So, how as a parent can you help with your child’s preparations? ·         Make them feel at ease – The most important part of the competitive exam is; parents should ensure that the kids should not feel overburdened with school work and studying for the competitive exams as well. The transition to studying for the competitive exams should be smooth. This requires patience on the parent’s side. Parents, in their pursuit to make their kid ready for the competitive exams often forget that they rub the stress and impatience on the kid. This, in turn, can work against the study preparation which needs to be done systematically. ·        Scheduling – Help your kid make a schedule for study. Allotting enough time for play and TV too is important. Kids too need some recreation to wind off but at the same time it needs to be ensured that the schedule is followed as well. The parents play a big role in motivating their kids to follow the schedule and also help them set a goal for everyday studies. ·       Study material – Selecting the study material as per the syllabus for the exams and incorporating them into the daily school studies can help in a long way. Help your kids in identifying his or her weak areas and work on them. Parents can be encouraging and help their child solve difficult questions. ·        Solving papers – Encourage your child while they solve past papers. It is a good way to understand the structure of the competitive test. Time the tests and ensure your kid finishes them in time. This will help them with the time they need to take for each question and will help in the final test. Most of the competitive exams are arranged in the multiple choice questions. So, solving papers in timed conditions, selecting the correct choice, neatness and tidiness, I solving mathematical problems, all can be achieved by practicing papers. ·        Getting the basics right – Having the fundamental knowledge about a subject is very important. Parents should ensure that their kid’s fundamental knowledge of any subject is clear. It always better to work on them beforehand. Talking to the kid’s teachers can help as she/he can help with the progress of the child in his or her studies. ·        Practice – Inculcate a habit of practice in the kids. It will not only help with the preparation of competitive exams but it will be a life lesson for all their lives. Any new activity when practiced, achieves the purpose!  ·        Last but not the least, parents play an important role in the kid’s educational lives. Good habits, devoting enough time to study, being respectful, being socially active all go a long way towards a fulfilled life and Parents are the biggest influence.