The African American community... free essay sample

The African American community has enjoyed much progress from the days when slavery was legal up to date where they enjoy almost equal opportunities with the whites. However, it is still very easy to observe trends among the two groups that evidence a disadvantage to the black community in almost every area of life whether socially or politically. While it is not appropriate to underscore the advancements made by movements such as the civil rights movement, there are challenges that black Americans face for the reason of their being black. When it comes to basic things like housing and education, the African Americans do not enjoy the same opportunities with the whites. African Americans face many problems and obstacles in todays societies. Some Include, Economic challenges, social and political issues that African American citizens fight and face today. ?HistoryThe history of Africans in the United States has been one of a continuous fight for equality. The African Americans led the abolitionist movement to put an end to the cruel institution of slavery that diminished their dignity. However even with winning the fight against slavery, there were other impediments that made it difficult to enjoy life on the same scale with the Americans and advance themselves. There were laws that were erected as blocks that enabled racial segregation and even though we may say that the different races enjoy equal protection under the law, there are still visible disadvantages like when it comes to police brutality and employment. In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled that public facilities that were racially segregated were legal as long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal in Plessy v Ferguon. This ruling by the highest court made it constitutionally acceptable that African Americans should not share the same schools and other facilities with the whites. The Jim Crow laws established the separate but equal doctrine that prevailed in the United States for six decades and segregation was legal. The colored people however fought to put an end to this segregation especially in public schools which culminated in the landmark case of Brown V Board of Education in 1954. This case was a great win for the colored community in America as it pronounced that racially segregated schools were unconstitutional. Many school boards that consisted of white members however did not receive this ruling well and failed to implement it. The African American community was not happy with the slow pace at which change was happening and they took to the streets led by the likes of Martin Luther King Jr, Ella Baker and others. Even though Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, the Black Power Movements had emerged and they called foe political and economic equality. The government responded to these agitations by the black community with some affirmative actions for the black community in areas like college admissions and employment. However, these affirmative action plans were done away with in p ost racial America where it is supposed that race does not matter while it in fact does. Even with the election of Barack Obama as a black president of a white nation, the problems that African Americans face because of their color are still persistent.After Brown v Board of Education, the Supreme Court held in Runyon v McCrary in 1976 that even private nonsectarian schools that practiced segregation by denying admission to students on the basis of race went against the federal civil rights laws. This was a ruling that followed the precedent that was set in Brown which was the legal precedent that was used to overturn laws that were used to enforce segregation and by the 1980s, the affirmative action had equalized college admission and attendance to a large extent.Post-racial America and Barack Obamas presidency Barack Obamas presidency was synonymous with success in attaining the end goal of the civil rights movement and gave pride to so many Americans since it was a sign that racial equality had finally been achieved. The president changed the perception that black A mericans had about themselves and inspired millions of black people. Even his campaign experience showed that African Americans has gained some acceptance as political actors in the nation. During his presidency, Obama sought to satisfy the population that was consisted of different ethnic and racial groups though the use of color blind language which appealed to most Americans. The candidacy and victory of Barack Obama are celebrated as historic achievements up to this day. While Barack Obama was president, he envisioned an America that would not be divided on any basis whether it be the liberal or conservative America (MacLeod, 2018). The goal is to have an America where all people have access to equal opportunities regardless of whether they are Black, White, Latino or Asian. Economic challengesThere are so many economic challenges facing the black American community which have been epitomized by visible racial disparities in unemployment and wealth. The gap between the races in unemployment shows the degree of discrimination in the labor markets in America. The economic challenges faced by African Americans are as a result of many forces stemming from inherent racial inequality and although it is argued that it is because of education differences while the economic disparities between blacks and whites who have the same level of education like a bachelo rs degree is clear. Even whites who have only completed high school have a higher employment rate than blacks who have gone through college which translates to differences in income and subsequently the different economic levels where the black community is disadvantaged. There is a great wealth divide when white households are compared to African American households and this is not only a matter of economics but a matter of social justice which needs attention as a priority when it comes to the broader economic policy. This is because even with the gains in other areas like educational attainment, there is no reflection of the same when it comes to income

Effective Business Communication Interpersonal Communication

Question: Discuss about theEffective Business Communicationfor Interpersonal Communication. Answer: Introduction Effective business communication refers to the sharing process of a message that involves two or more people. Both parties can easily understand the process. Effective communication can attribute to the success of the company. The process is equally imperative to both co-workers and customer interactions. Body language, the tone of voice, verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, message clarification and assertiveness perception must come into play. In the paper, the critical description of communication areas which needs improvement will be assessed(May, 2013). The discussion will also cover the literature review that will cover the key issues from the diagnostic tools. The study will entail the diagnostic tools that will provide a deep reflection. They include Johari window, Communication style questionnaire, Assertiveness questionnaire, communication measurement, and the big five factors tools. The clarification of-of concepts and models of diagnosis and reflection w ill be assessed. Finally, this study will cover the relevant action plan for the next six months. The action plan will touch on specific courses that should be undertaken to enhance skills. The action plan also will suggest particular communication texts and self-help books and personal journals. Diagnostic and Reflection Johari Window The Johari window refers to a version that allows commercial enterprise people to understand the people and other subordinate staffs. additionally, the Johari Window is a conversation model that is used to strengthen know-how among co-employees. The window design emphasizes on the main essential thoughts: thru the tool, you could build believe with others with the aid of revealing facts approximately oneself, that with the assist of energetic comments from people to control and vice versa, one could acquire about oneself and come to expressions with private troubles. The version consists of four areas. Known quadrant which incorporates data about individuals, movements, assertiveness feeling, emotion, talents, and evaluations. The quadrant represents the matters that one recognize and feature a clear understanding of them. Similarly, the things that others know any employee. ii) Blind-self-quadrant represents the things know about the employee, but they seem not be aware. The blind self-seeks immediate feedback from coworkers to impeach the unknowns. The part emphasizes on the simple information that needs to be known. The information includes grave matters such as insufficiency, ineffectiveness, worthlessness or rejection. The things are most of the time hard to understand your co-workers yet can see them. iii) Hidden self-quadrant define relevant statistics and feelings which can be eschewed and in an actual sense should be disclosed and exposed. In different words, the things that one knows approximately oneself but continue to be unknown to others. Unknown self-quadrant contain passive aptitudes, skills, emotions and information that are known to the staff members. The principal objective of the Johari window tool enlarges the recognized quadrant vicinity without disclosing records that are very private. The known region offers the maximum crucial quadrant. The greater the employees know approximately each different, the more important dynamic, supportive and industrious the desire paintings as a crew. As the employee's proportion data, the recognized regions expand vertically, and their hidden areas emerge as reduced. Further, acknowledged areas extend horizontally, while workforce crew offers instantaneous comments consequently blind areas shrunken. (David Ulrich, 2014) Communication Style Questionnaire Communication style survey involves measuring personal characteristics of communication the workshop contributors must complete the questionnaire. Then provide the questionnaire to five other staff workers and allow them to set their strengths incognito the components include active vicarious listeners, movement conveying flawless messages and usage of suitable communication vehicles. Communication style questionnaire provides overall sufficiency of the control management. The tool help to identify what result to inaccuracy, fraud, and anomalies in the business. (John J Gabarro, 2012) Assertiveness Questionnaire Tool Assertiveness usually premised on balance. It is being required to be straightforward about your wants and needs, while still bearing in mind the rights, requirements, and desires of others. Active listening is, therefore, one of the need that every employee and managers require. It should be vertical and horizontal. (Cunmines T G, 2009) Communication Measures For internal communication of business, subjective analyses need one to have assertiveness perception. It is a crucial tool that enables the company to achieve more in all aspects of the firm. For instance, the manager scan evaluates the employee's profiles, judge quality of content, set benchmarks, watch the worker's engagement levels, and look for active collaboration. Big Five Factor The conditions yield to active collaboration, improve accountability, affection, progressive thinking and mobilize new propositions and concepts. The five factors include; extroversion, agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness to experience, and emotional stability. (Stugdill, 2010) Key Communication Areas that Need Improvement a) Becoming an engaged listener. Individual focus on the thing they should communicate with effective message. Listening concerns with understanding of the emotions the orator is communicating. b) Paying attention to nonverbal cues. These include facial expression, body movement and gestures, eye contact, deportment and tonal variation. The description of how one feeling to the other is expressed in the way one look, move, and react. Literature Review Form the above discussion on diagnostic and reflection, it was clear that effective communication and professional collaboration are the key to effective business communication. The effective communication should involve passing information from one entity to another. The immediate appropriate feedback should also be a point of concern.(Moc?nik, 2013) These involve the starts with the objective that is measurable, and that may reveal as communique takes area, to decide its effectiveness. A precise and accurate aim can be a terrific starting factor for designing conversation sports inside the business. It is vital for every conversation to have an objective of both making the clients agree with your corporation product and offerings or to betterment your enterprise over others. Adequate disclosure in business portrays verbal conversation, lively listening, and non-verbal assertiveness perception.(Korez-Vide, 2013) Several effective methods of communication include: Preparedness; the business conversation and not using an accurate preparation and failed miserably can understand the significance of readiness. It can range relying on the situation and the significance of the conversation, but certain situations want greater preparation.(Cheney T, 2009). Active listening. Efficacy of the business will need taking time and be patient to the other people opinions. The chat may begin with setting the questions followed by in-depth listening and attentiveness to the response. A skilful listener will enable to reflect the speakers feelings from non-verbal communication as well as verbal cues. It is often than not appropriate to direct such direct questions since strong feeling and emotion are identified easily. They may include love, hate, affection, guilt, and confusion. The active listener have ability to mention such feelings from both the verbal and non-verbal cues (tonal variation and body movement).(Surbone, 2015) Issue arising from Diagnosis and Reflection Several issue were recorded as the diagnosis and reflection were assessed: Challenges of Active Listening Active listening faces many challenges such as focusing on a personal agenda. Most of the time we take long to formulate the next response. The tendency lead not to be fully attentive to what the speaker was communicating. Another issue was the problem of experiencing information overload. Too much information can make it very hard to listen with full attention. Workers and employers need to emphasis on the pertinent information and the fundamental points that are being conveyed. The listener also criticizes the speaker. They involve the act of distracting by posing critical evaluations of the speaker. Rather the listeners are advised tom to concentrate on what they are delivering the message rather than the orator. Besides, undergoing physical difficulty. Being bodily unwell, or going through pain can affect one listening attention. (Cheney T, 2009) Issues of Accurate Perception Inaccurate perception includes the stereotyping and prejudicing. The preconceptions about people, people, regularly have the tendency to view and interpret the way they want. They form an impression from a small amount of what they know or what they have gone through, make a general overview of the whole person or situation. Inaccurate perception enables people not investing time. By making a hypothesis on details or circumstances can result to inaccurate perception. The people fails to have deep insight on the causes, effecting to miss crucial details and do not allow for the intricacy of the situation. Misperception also involves distortion of focus. Centering on the negative features of a conversation or a situation is a habit collective to many people. The positive thing is less likely to be recognized, though; we regularly give more weight to the negative to overshadow the positives ones. The misconception closely relates to the assumption of similar interpretations. Meaning tha t people have different interpretation of information thus making different conclusion from a given situation or set of information.(K, 2012) Theoretical and behavioral skills on issues arising from diagnosis and reflection Communique competence theory. It involves expertise, abilities, and motivation. The principle can choose a conversation behavior that is both appropriate and efficient for a given scenario. Interpersonal skill ability lets in one to achieve their verbal exchange desires without inflicting the other party to lose face. The model most often used to tricky competence within the quick example. The version contains three above expertise, abilities, and motivation. The understanding model approaches knowing which proper behavior for a given state of affairs. Talent version emphasizes at the capacity to apply that conduct in the given context. Finally, motivation version preference to assess the conversation in a knowledgeable manner. (May, 2013) Information and monitoring behavioral competencies. The abilities help in a nonverbal communique. It ends in expertise the various entities as to how they understand others and the way others understand them. Active conversation, consequently, becomes inappropriate and useless if the parties come to be emotional or managed by using others emotions. Accordingly, the competencies resource in lowering the misunderstandings.(Downs Adrian, 2014) Conclusion The study have discussed the five diagnostic tools and finds that every business should apply them for effective business communication. All issues have been critically addressed and appropriate remedies fronted. The discussion also have outlined the area that require improvement to enhance the efficacy on business communication skills. Finally all communication requirement in business have been addressed with clear theoretical and behavioral backup. Action Plan Developing a communication plan aid to reiterate the focus of the target group or audience. A plan can also influence the effectiveness and simplicity of the business communication methods. The action plan for the active business is meant to cover the next six months. The work outline the specific short program courses that can enhance and develop effective communication skills. It highlight the approach that will be used to improve workers and management of the organization work as a team and coherently. Action Plan 1 In this work, we focus and pinpoint the short courses that should be undertaken for developing competent communication. People must register for communication capabilities training courses along with building better work relationship, which enhances new strategies for result oriented verbal exchange. In modern risky, desperate enterprise surroundings, the agencies need to build a success paintings relationships and engage with human beings in an appositive way. The courses develops relationships by bridging the differences among the entities. One is able to cover and learn behaviors which support or undermines the relationship, secondly, communication and perception is a world overview, perception and relationships and axiom of conscious communication. Action Plan 2 In this action plan, it advocate people to seek for further profession studies.it requires the businesses to urge their workers to advance their knowledge on communication skills. They should undertake post graduate courses such as MSc in Business communication skills at different universities in Australia like University of Southern Queensland, UWA, and University of Canberra. The offer modules such as Integrated Marketing Communication. Other international Universities include London Metropolitan University, University of London and Hong Kong University. They train modules such as strategic analysis and thinking and communication theories and analysis. Action Plan 3 Recommend all business to purchase the communication skills books that contain conceptual knowledge. The known and best reading communication skills books include : Crucial Conversations; Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, by Kerry Patterson, Excellence in Business Communication by John Thrill, The Art and Science of creating great Presentations by Nancy Duarte, and Just Listen: Discover the Secret To Getting Through To Absolutely Anyone By Mark Goulston. Action Plan 4 The preferred personal Journals include a journal of Business Communication, will be of great importance to developing effective communication skills. Action Plan 5 The most famous communication skills mentors include Sabela Garcia Cuesta All action plans have expanded on the requirements that will develop effective communication skills. The five action plans should be assessed in the next six months to determine the changes in the organization. References Cheney T, L. C. (2009). Organization Communication: Issues, Reflections,Practices. Oaks: Waveland Press. Cunmines T G, M. E. (2009). Improve Productivity and the Quality of Work Life. New York: Praeger. David Ulrich, W. N. (2014). How to build value through people and Organization. New Jersey: Wiley. Downs, C. W., Adrian, A. D. ( 2014). Assessing organizational communication : strategic communication audits. New York : Guilford Press,. John J Gabarro. (2012). MAnaging People and Organization. Harvard Business School, 342-416. K, G. . (2012). Psychological Science in a postmodern Context. American Psychologist, 803-813. Korez-Vide, R. (2013). Mastering intercultural communication as the key competence in culturally diversified social and business environments. INTERECONOMICS, 342-349. May, S. . (2013). Engaging Organizational Communication. Califonia: SAGE. Moc?nik, D. (2013). Is there really nothing new about the new economy? Journal Business Communication, 165-179. Stugdill, R. (2010). Group Productivity, Drive and Cohesiveness. Chichester: Wlley. Surbone, A. (2015). Effective Communication skills: New challenges in communication. Journal of Business Communication, 23-45. Tomaz Kern, V. R. (2011). People and Sustainable Organisation. Pelerlang: Frankfurt am main.

Research Paper Topics Around Exchange Market

Research Paper Topics Around Exchange MarketBefore beginning your research paper you need to find out what kind of topics are used in research papers around the exchange market. The topic can be any subject that you think is related to trading and money. For example, if you are doing a thesis on binary options you can write about a couple of binaries, its history and how they will affect you as a trader. Remember that the thesis paper should stand out from the rest of the school.Research paper topics around the exchange market are simple to do but important. You should try to avoid the boring topics that do not interest you, such as binary options or forex trading. You want to make sure that you take a different approach to topics that interest you.There are some keywords and key terms that you can use in your research paper topics around the exchange market. You want to be specific about how your paper is going to be published, so it is important to look at the guidelines. The publi shers do not want to be obligated to write something that will not sell. They have a good reason for this.If they are not happy with your research then they will reject it and they will not get any sales from it. The publisher can make your paper not so good if it does not meet their guidelines. It can hurt your chances of getting a publication for your paper.Do not be afraid to be creative and find a topic that will interest you. You will be very disappointed if you find that the market is not interested in your paper. If you get enough publications in an area, then it is bound to sell eventually. This will lead to a lot of earnings for you in the future.One way to come up with a topic is to consider your interests and find a topic that you enjoy. If you enjoy writing then you can turn your hobby into a career. With all the free time on the internet you will never run out of ideas. Research paper topics around the exchange market is a good way to learn about markets.Do not feel lik e you have to be a genius to find a topic. Any topic can be researched with the right tools. You will also want to make sure that the topic is something that you enjoy doing. If you find that you do not have the time to do the research then you should find another project.Research paper topics around the exchange market can be very rewarding. Even if you are not a genius, you can find a topic that you will enjoy. The main thing to remember is that you do not have to come up with a paper that a publisher wants. You can find topics that are more interesting to you and that will sell.

Research Paper Topics For Law Practice

Research Paper Topics For Law PracticeThere are many business law topics that affect the practice of law and one of the most important is research. The research that a lawyer undertakes is done in order to find out information relevant to the law. Without good research, it is impossible to become a successful lawyer. It is essential that the person doing the research and gathering the data or information that they need to know to make a solid argument, read the law, file a lawsuit, and represent the client in court.Law topics are numerous and varied. From the most fundamental, legal definitions and concepts to more complicated litigation, one needs to have a well-rounded knowledge of the law in order to be successful in their career. It is best for an aspiring lawyer to become familiar with many different topics that relate to law, such as family law, tort law, contract law, and business law.One of the best research paper topics is family law. The types of laws that govern families i nclude child support, spousal support, divorce, paternity, and more. These laws affect how a family lives, what a family pays for goods and services, and what the state of marriage between the parties. Family law topics are incredibly diverse and require a great deal of legal knowledge and research to understand them. The research paper on family law topics will need to include general information about the family law topic and a brief analysis of the most common areas of concern.Business law topics often include securities, contracts, intellectual property, and more. These areas are not necessarily specific to a certain business or industry but encompass the laws of business ownership, contracts, and intellectual property. This type of research paper may include general facts and conditions relating to these areas, and specific information related to the topic.Contract law is another area that is relevant to many business law topics. The term 'contract' refers to a binding agreemen t that creates an obligation between two or more parties. There are various forms of contract law, including express, implied, or statutory contracts. A contract is completed when a party commits to perform an act or performs an obligation, which then requires that person to give some form of consent to the other party performing the act or obligation.The research paper on contract law will need to include information about the terminology used in contracts. It is important to understand what the law means in different types of contracts so that the legal conclusion of the contract can be understood. The research paper will also need to address whether there are ways for a party to enforce a contract, or is a contract unenforceable because of a breach of contract.The other business law topics include patents, trademarks, copyrights, and the like. Trademarks refer to terms, designs, logos, and other elements that distinguish a product from its competitors. Copyrights refers to the la ws that protect literary and artistic works created by a person.Business law topics are many and varied. The research paper should focus on each one of these topics, especially those that are considered more complicated or intricate than the next. It is important that a lawyer has knowledge of all the facets of business law, as every business has a different set of laws to protect it. In order to be a successful by representing clients in the courtroom, a lawyer needs to be knowledgeable and familiar with all the facets of business law.

Writing Economically Essay Topics

Writing Economically Essay TopicsMany students in high school and college are opting to write an economic essay because of the number of ideas that can be explored with such a topic. This is not surprising because economic topics are used frequently in school, in discussions with parents, in sports activities, in business meetings, and in many other activities. When a student is asked to write an economic essay, he or she may feel nervous at first because it is a subject that is unfamiliar to them. They may also have to prepare for a long writing assignment, which usually ends up being more than they expected.In order to get through this phase of preparation, the student will need to think about ways to prepare his or her own economic essay topics. There are different techniques that are used by writers to write informative essays on various subjects. One idea is to think about all the possible topics on which the student can write an informative and interesting essay. Some students enjoy writing about the various business topics in which they may have some experience, while others may like to focus on an educational topic.One way to approach the issue of writing an economic topic for an essay is to think about the previous year's economy, think about the current situation, and determine the areas where there has been a great change. The student can then think about the area where the economy has changed the most. It may be a good idea to gather as much information as possible on these subjects and to research the current situation in those areas.Students should note that even though the economic subject has been the subject of many essays, writing an economic essay is not an easy task. The students who come to write an economic topic might have to think about different aspects of the subject, including history, current events, and other things to consider. In addition, the writer might need to examine many things related to the current economy in order to crea te an essay that is informative, interesting, and does not sound repetitive.A good idea when writing an economic topic is to list some of the common topics that people write about when writing about any subject. If the students decide to write about a specific topic, they should remember that the topics listed can be very useful for the student. For example, it is important for students to include their hometown in the topics that they list.When writing economic essay topics, the student can also give some thought to the differences between his or her topic and other topics in the school curriculum. It is a good idea to determine if there are already students writing about similar topics, to see if there are similarities in the kinds of topics that are written about.When researching different topics for an essay, the student will also need to determine how easy the topics are to read and understand. The student should also consider all the different ways in which the essay will be d istributed among students in the class. By doing this, the student will be able to set aside time to write an informative and interesting essay.

College Essays (818 words) - Startup Cult, , Term Papers

College Why is it such a big deal to go right in to college! I understand, however I just don't know what I want to do yet. I know I want to do something that has to do with criminal justice. As in the FBI. I just think that would be so cool. It would make me happy and I'll get paid O.K. My plans were to graduate, then stay with my mom for a year and just work 2 jobs, maybe take a class at U.A.A. So, I can keep with the whole study thing. Oh, and I would go into the Air Guard also. They really help with collage. Then a friend and me would get an apartment and split the rent. I would then go to U.A.A for 2 years and after that I would transfer to the University of my Choice. I got all of these ideas from my sister. I look up to my sister a lot. I learn from her experiences. She never took her SAT's and she did really badly in high school. But, when she went to U.A.A she got really good grades then she transferred over to N.Y.U. It's the 3rd hardest college to get into for her field! So, ya know if she can do it so can I. My father on the other hand! He thinks I should go to Grays Harbor Community College. And if I do, then I can live with him and he will pay for my BOOKS! If you don't know, Grays Harbor is a really bad college, it is worse then U.A.A. Even if I wanted to go, my mom wouldn't let me! I mean come on; he will help me pay for my BOOKS that's a real help. I remember one day I was in the truck with my dad and we were talking about colleges and he said " you can't go to a good college like your sister, you just cant. You're not like her. And, I'm sure as hell I'm not going to pay that much!" I told him I don't expect him to pay for anything. My sister went through college with out her dad's help, so I can do it to. Every time I try and talk to him about the university that I'm interested in or when I tell him I want to be in the law or psychology field, he just changes the subject! He makes me so mad. Also, whenever I bring up any thing to do with collage he gives me this huge big guilt trip! Mom on the other hand, she gives me space to think of what I want. She is happy if I'm happy. I know I will go to collage no mater what. I know I might have to pay for college my self and that's fine by me! I don't need my dads help. My mom on the other hand, helped Eva as much as she could. Eva's school cost $34,000 a year and that's what my mom makes in a year. So you do the math. I learned from my sister! Loans, grants, scholarships, apply for ALL of them! Even the little scholarships. They ALL add up. My counselor makes me feel like I have to go strait into my university right after I graduate. She really wants me to take my SAT's. I guess I will, but if I do, then I'm going to take them as many times as I can. I want to be able to choose the best score and if there good enough then I will send them to colleges. My mom says I don't have to take them and that makes me feel a little better. I'm just really worried that I'm not going to do well. I like my SAT class. I really do. The part that I like the most is the tests that tell me what I would be good at. It reassures me. But that's all I really like about it. Other than that I feel like I'm being rushed. Like I need to be in a big hurry. I'm really in no rush to graduate. I know that sounds really weird but hay its a free education. I have been here since I was in 7th grade. I feel really comfterbal here! For a long time all I could think about was getting out of high school. Now all I think about are

ACT What To Do

Are You Smart But Scoring Low on the SAT/ACT What To Do SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you a high achieving student who’s used to getting good grades in school?Were you expecting a similarly high standardized test score and were disappointed whenyou got your scores back? I have two pieces of good news: 1. You are not alone; this problem is a lot more common than you probably think. 2. There are ways to improve your test taking skills and raise your score.This guide will go over the most common reasons smart students get low scores on standardized tests and give step-by-step guidelines for solving the problem. Why Do Smart People Not Always Score Well on Standardized Tests? Getting good grades in schooldoes not automatically translate to doing well on standardized exams because these exams are often quite different from tests you take in school.Unlike most school exams, standardized tests: Cover multiple subjects. Unlike just studying for a math test in high school, standardized tests cover math, literature, writing, and science all in one test. This means that you have to study a much wider variety of subjects than you would for a typical school exam, which can be challengingand time-consuming. Are divided into strictly timed sections. This makes standardized tests more difficult because you need to work through the questions faster and often don't have as much time to check your work. Often include misleading questions and answer choices. Most tests you take in school are fairly straight-forward, but standardized tests often include trick questions or answers, which means that even if you know the material, you can still get fooled and end up choosing the wrong answer. There is also typically a lot more pressure to do well on a standardized exam than there is to do well on any single test you take in school because ACT and SAT scores are an important part of college applications. There is no one reason why smart students sometimes get low scores on standardized tests.Below are five scenarios that cover nearly all the reasons top students may not be getting the scores they want on the ACT or SAT.For each scenario, the underlying problem is explained, and steps are provided to help solve the problem and avoid it in the future. Scenario 1: Studying the Wrong Way This May Be You If: You prepared for the exam, had enough time to answer all the questions, and didn’t feel overly anxious, but still got a lower score than expected. It’s possible, and even fairly common, for you to put in a significant amount of time studying for a standardized test and still not get the score you want. If this is the case for you, and you’ve ruled out the other scenarios as possibilities, then you may need to change the way to study for the test.Even if you are a star math student at school, that doesn't automatically translate to getting a high score on the math section of a standardized test because standardized tests are longer, cover more material, and can ask questions in ways that seem confusing or misleading.This means that your methods of studying for your classes at school may not get you the score you want on a standardized test. How to Solve: If you're studying for a standardized test the same way you study for a test at school and it isn't getting you the results you want, then you need to change your study methods. Unlike school exams, for standardized tests you need to know not onlywhat topics they'll test you on, buthowthey'll test you on those subjects, which means you need to become familiar with standardized test questions and how they are worded. The best way to do this is to answera lot of practice questionsand get used to the way questions are asked. Take officialSAT practice testsor ACT practice tests to have the highest quality and most realistic practice questions. You should also review each of the questions you answered incorrectly or guessed on and learn what mistake you made. Reviewing your answers also lets you see which subjects you need to spend the most time studying so you can get high scores across the test. Check out our guide on the best way to review missed questions on the SAT or ACT.We also have a wealth of resources that cover all aspects of SAT preparation and ACT study tips. If you've been studying on your own and not getting the results you want, you may also want to consider hiring a tutor or using an online resource such as PrepScholar. A tutor may be able to help if you're having difficulty studying on your own. (Tulane Public Relations/Flickr) Scenario 2: Didn’t Study Enough/Overconfident This May Be You If: You took the test without any or a lot of preparation because you didn’t think you needed to practice. You may be used to acing tests and papers in school without ever needing to study beforehand.This attitude is common among high-achieving students, and many expect to do just as well when they take a standardized test. However, standardized tests are a special breed of exam andfor students who don’t have a lot of practice with them, they may not be used to the types of questions being asked.Test makers also make some questions and answer choices deliberately tricky and misleading, and if you aren’t used to that style of exam, you may be falling for their tricks and selecting the wrong answer choices. How to Solve: Practice! Set up a study schedule for yourself so you're better prepared for the next time you take the test.To get you started, check out our guides onhow long you should study for the SATandhow long you should study for the ACT. You should also take3-4practice tests to get used to the types of questions these tests ask and how they ask them. For every question you answered incorrectly, look it over to see what you did wrong and how you canavoid making the same mistake in the future. Scenario 3: Over-Thinking the Questions This May Be You If: You spend a lot of time going back-and-forth between answer choices and struggle to pick the correct option. There are specific answer options on these tests designed to look almost like the right answer, and you may think they could be the right answer if you argue their case enough.In school, you may be able to support your answer with a strong enough argument to get it accepted by the teacher, but this doesn’t work with standardized tests.For these tests, test makers are only interested in the rightanswer, not an almost-right answer. This problem is particularly common on inference questions for ACT and SAT reading sections. In class, you may be able to infer something from other things you’ve readoryour own life experiences, but on a standardized test, every correct reading answer will be supported by the text, even inference questions. This confusion can also happen on other test questions, such as second-guessing yourself on sentence completions, making easy math questions more difficult than they need to be, or assuming there must be an error on every writing question. How to Solve: Remember that each question on a standardized test has only one correct answer, and every other option is unambiguously wrong. For reading questions, evenif you feel that a certain answer choice is better, if you don’t see any evidence inthe text supporting it, then it isn’t the correct answer. You should be able to point to a line or passage in the text to support every answer you choose. For all test questions, ifan answer choice is even the slightest bit incorrect, then it is not the correct answer. Move on to other answer choices and don’t let yourself waste time by trying to convince yourself that it’s correct.Read our guides specifically on inference questions for reading sections of the ACT and SAT. We also discuss how to choose correct answersfor other SAT questions and ACT questions. Don't overthink standardized test questions. Scenario 4: Anxious Test-Taker This May Be You If: You felt confident and prepared before the test, but once you start taking the exam, you get nervous and second-guess yourself. Sometimes you know all the information and tricks, but when it’s test time, you psych yourself out and let your nerves get the better of you.It’s easy to put a lot of pressure on yourself when you take a standardized test becauseit can be very important for your future. Overachieving students can be particularly susceptible to this problem because they feel like they have to get a top score in order to get into the best colleges.Feeling stressed or anxious while taking the test can cause you to make silly mistakes and forget information and strategies you’ve learned. How to Solve: The best way to combat this problem is to take a lot of practice testsandmake the conditions as real to the actual test as possible. We have guidesto help you take practiceSATs and ACTs under the most realistic test conditions. The more familiar something is, the less anxiety it will cause.If you are not yet a senior and feel that you may have a problem with test anxiety, consider taking the PSAT or ACT Aspire. Both of these tests are very similar to the SAT and ACT, respectively, and they will give you a low-risk way to become more familiar with standardized tests. Also remind yourself that your standardized test score is only onepart of your college application, and you are free to take a standardized test more than once.Check out our guide tomanaging SAT anxiety (you can use these same skills for the ACT). Scenario 5: Poor Time Management This May Be You If: You know how to answer the questions, but repeatedly run out of time on exam sections. I struggled with thisproblem for a long time. To prepare for the SAT, I had studied, knew the types of questions I’d be asked, and was ready for their tricks, but I was constantly running out of time.Standardized tests usually cram a lot of questions into a short amount of time, and manystudents have trouble answering all the questions before time runs out. This can be especially difficult if, like me, you’re somewhat of a perfectionist and like to make sure of each answer and double-check everything.I was used to having enough time to finish exams at school, and the time crunch on standardized tests threw me for awhile. How to Solve: The best way to solve this problem is to take a lot of timed practice tests. You’ll get more used to the types of questions that are asked, which means you’ll be able to answer them more quickly. When you take practice tests, make sure you give yourself exactly the same amount of time you’d have for each section on the real test, so that you know how much you need to work on your time management. You should also stop yourself from spendinga lot of time trying to solvea singletest question. Our general rule is that if you’ve spent more than 30 seconds on a question and still have no idea how to solve it, skip it and move on. You can always come back to it if you have more time at the end. We also have more in-depth guides that cover how to stop running out of time on SAT reading and SAT math, as well as for ACT Reading and ACT Math. Keep track of your time while taking a standardized exam. Which Scenario Applies to You? Now that you know the different reasons whysmart students don't always score well on standardized tests, you can determine which scenarios apply to you and start toovercome them. In order to determine which of the scenarios you fit, first findyour standardized test resultsand look over each of your incorrect answers.For each question you answered incorrectly, ask yourself why you got it wrong,and look at the options below todecidewhich scenario best matches your reason for answering incorrectly. On a sheet of paper, make a column for each of the five scenarios, and marka tally under the corresponding column each time a certain scenario explains why you got a question wrong. In some cases, more than one scenario could be the cause. Scenario 1:You wereconfused by the question's wording, even though you knew the material the question was asking about. Scenario 2: You weren't familiar with the subject the question was asking about. Scenario 3: You struggled to choose between 2 or more answer choices because you couldn't decide which was the right answer. Scenario 4: You knew how to solve the problem but answered incorrectly because you were stressed or anxious. Scenario 5: You didn'thave enough time to answer the question but would have gotten it right if you'd had more time. After you have done this for each incorrect answer, look to see which scenarios had the most tally marks.Review those scenariosand their "How to Solve" sections to learn how to avoid making those same errors in the future. You are now on your way to raising your standardized test scores! What's Next? Are you wondering what a good score for the SAT or a good score for the ACT is? Check out our guides to see how your scores measure up. Are you aiming for a perfect standardized test score?We have guides on how to get a perfect SAT score and perfect ACT score, both written by a perfect scorer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT and ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160+ points or your ACT score by 4+ points. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today: