Are Light Cigarettes Safer for You

Are Light Cigarettes Safer for You More in Addiction Nicotine Use The Inside of Cigarettes After You Quit How to Quit Smoking Nicotine Withdrawal Smoking-Related Diseases Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U.S. Smokers in the United States used to be able to buy cigarettes that claimed to be ultra-light, mild, or light.     Tobacco companies developed cigarettes that were  advertised as a healthier choice than regular or full-flavor cigarettes in the 1960s and 70s, asserting they contained less tar  and nicotine. Numerous studies were  being published at that time that linked smoking to cancer, and this was manufacturers response to the issue. Smokers noticed that the  smoke from light cigarettes  did feel smoother and lighter on the throat and chest, so it seemed true that light cigarettes must be healthier than regulars, but this was not the case. However, the  idea that light cigarettes were a better smoking choice took hold and held fast for decades. What Makes a Cigarette Light Cigarette manufacturers defined low-tar  cigarettes in the following ways:   Ultra-light or Ultra-low Tar:  Approximately  7 mg or less tar yieldLight or Low Tar:  Approximately  8â€"14 mg of tar yieldFull-Flavor or Regular: Approximately 15 mg or more tar yield Machines that smoke cigarettes were used to obtain the tar levels for  ultra-light and light cigarettes, which is a  problematic way to make these measurements. Machines smoke cigarettes differently than people, so its hard to get an accurate reading. Further, no two people smoke in the same way, so tar levels can and will vary quite a bit from one smoker to the next. Machine-smoked tar yield will usually be lower than the amount of tar inhaled by a person. It is important to note that the tobacco industry itself decided on what defined ultra-light and light, and  not a Federal agency as you might expect. Cigarette manufacturers employ a few tactics to try to change the composition of tobacco smoke and how the smoke is inhaled in order to classify cigarettes as light, but with some concerning results: Cigarette filters made of cellulose acetate are used to  trap particulate matter in cigarette smoke (tar) to keep it from going into smokers lungs. Cellulose acetate is the white cotton-like material that makes up the interior of the filter.  Filters do trap some tar, but plenty of it escapes the filter and is inhaled. It also floats in the air and is the part of cigarette smoke known as third-hand smoke.  The paper used in light cigarettes is more porous than the paper used in regular cigarettes, allowing the chemicals in smoke to exit through the paper before reaching the smokers mouth. However, the chemicals are still in the air around the smoker and, if in an enclosed space, will be inhaled as secondhand smoke.The addition of tiny, perforated holes in the cigarette filter let air be inhaled along with tobacco smoke, thus diluting  the smoke. Unfortunately, many people unwittingly cover the holes with their fingers when holding the cigarette, defeating this purpose. Some smokers e ven deliberately cover the pinholes because the diluted smoke doesnt offer a satisfying smoking experience, and/or they take bigger puffs and smoke a few extra cigarettes per day to compensate for the lower nicotine yield. Are Light Cigarettes Still Available? The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 granted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco products.   One of the first actions taken was to limit how cigarette companies are able to describe their products. They can no longer use the terms light, low, or mild on cigarette packaging because science does not support this claim and it misleads the public. Tobacco companies are invested in casting their products in the most positive light possible, so losing the ability to brand cigarettes as light or mild was a blow. Sneakily, many have taken to color-coding?? cigarette packaging to trigger the light concept for smokers who used to buy these same brands (usually with the same colors) in the past. For example, Camel Lights are now Camel Blues, and Marlboro Ultralights are now Marlboro Silver. Elsewhere in the world, cigarettes branded as light are still available. There Is No Such Thing as a Safe Cigarette A report from the National Cancer Institute (NCI)?? concluded that light cigarettes do not represent any benefit to a smokers health. People who switch to light cigarettes from regular cigarettes are exposed to the same toxic chemicals and are at the same risk for the diseases related to smoking.?? Light cigarettes do not reduce the  health risks of smoking;  the only way to reduce your risk, and the risk to others around you, is to stop smoking completely.  Quitting also decreases your risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, stroke, and chronic lung disease.

The Kolb Experiential Learning Theory (1984) Drives A Large

The Kolb Experiential Learning theory (1984) drives a large component of my instructional plans. According to Kolb (1984), a person learns through experience and discovery. This theory is built around a learning cycle that involves 4 principles: 1) concrete experience, 2) reflective experience, 3) abstract conceptualization, and 4) active experimentation. Educators initially provide learners with opportunities to use concrete resources in learning about new concepts. Students then review their learning and reflect on the experience. This is followed by the opportunity to form abstract ideas using the new concepts and finally testing the concepts in new circumstances and situations. The following is an example of my application of†¦show more content†¦In support of the Kolb learning cycle, I employ the principles of Mayer’s Multimedia Cognitive Theory (2014) and provide my students with a wide variety of resources that support the fourth grade curriculum. According to Mayer (2015), students learn better with multimedia messages designed to reflect the workings of the human mind. The theory is based on 3 principles: 1) we receive messages best when they are delivered through two channels (audio/visual), 2) each of these channels has a limited capacity for delivery, and 3) learning is a process that takes place through filtering, organization, integration of knowledge based on prior knowledge. Our school has a subscription to IXL, an online math program that provides extensive opportunities for practice through effective and engaging audio-visual activities. Each student has an individual account. The program follows Nova Scotia math outcomes and is divided by grade level and math strand. I assign specific activities within the corresponding math strand. I am able to track student achievement levels in successfully demonstrating understanding of determining area through this program. IXL is an effective tool that provides the practice needed to enable students to move the new math concept of determining area from reception through processing to long term memory. I also use the constructivism model as an extension to determining the area of a rectangular surface. Through constructivism, students construct theirShow MoreRelatedKolb Learning Style Inventory7058 Words   |  29 PagesThe Kolb Learning Style Inventory—Version 3.1 2005 Technical Speciï ¬ cations Alice Y. Kolb Experience Based Learning Systems, Inc. David A. Kolb Case Western Reserve University May 15, 2005 Abstract The Kolb Learning Style Inventory Version 3.1 (KLSI 3.1), revised in 2005, is the latest revision of the original Learning Style Inventory developed by David A. Kolb. 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We then proceed and discuss the main approaches used in modern virtual learning, before concluding with an examination of the fundamental aspects of the modern virtual learning experience. VIRTUAL WORLDS Virtual worlds have garnered academic attention over the last three decades. During this time, they have matured both in nature and appearance, evolving from simple textRead MoreStudy Skills for Distance Learning8547 Words   |  35 PagesSkills for Distance Learning Theme A BSc.(Hons) Engineering Management Degree Subject: Study Skills A report on the existing study skills of the author and areas where he can improve and develop his long distance work based learning techniques to successfully complete the Engineering Management BSc. (Hons.) Degree. Contents Page Title Page Content Page 1 Introduction 2 Learning Outcomes for Study Skills Module One Figure 1 3 Activity One Developing learning independence Read MoreEducational drama in education8389 Words   |  34 Pagesfor sustainable development and global citizenship and the Arts should be included in programmes in ESD. This paper presents an overview of a research project based on the hypothesis that educational drama might be a useful medium for teaching and learning in environmental, sustainable development and global citizenship education. Central to the project, an ethnographic case study employing a multi†case approach, based on three research questions, was a series of drama–ESD lessons, taught to threeRead MoreMarket Planning5637 Words   |  23 Pagesrelating to the size of an organization, the market or sector in which it exists, its culture, and the human beings that work within it. There is a huge body of research that has considered marketing planning and its models, structures and processes, theory and typologies. The only one thing that is certain is that, after considering the findings of a number of studies and as the output of many informed views, there is no common agreement on a single definition or approach to marketing planning. AfterRead MoreMethod of Teaching and Learning18614 Words   |  75 PagesFacilitating learning: Teaching and learning methods Authors: Judy McKimm MBA, MA (Ed), BA (Hons), Cert Ed, FHEA Visiting Professor of Healthcare Education and Leadership, Bedfordshire Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School, University of Bedfordshire Carol Jollie MBA, BA (Hons) Project Manager, Tanaka Business School, Imperial College London This paper was first written in 2003 as part of a project led by the London Deanery to provide a web-based learning resource to support the educational

Essay on Utilitarian vs Nihilist - 1497 Words

The Batman versus The Joker, your typical good versus evil, a conflict that has long held humanity’s interest. It raises the question, though, of what defines goodness and what makes something evil. Often the differentiation is based on morals, which prove to be the subject of discussion for philosophers when they’re going over ethics. This differentiation is also what can be given credit for why good versus evil is so compelling, in media the line between good and evil is often blurred in some places, requiring the viewer to make their own judgement on the ethics of characters, their actions, and their motivations. Depending on the ethics of the viewer characters can be judged on different criteria, for some it is only the intention of†¦show more content†¦While that is the basics of utilitarian ethics, Bentham does go on to elaborate further on the criterion one must apply to pleasure in order to determine its value. 1. Its intensity. [How much pleasure it b rings.] 2. Its duration. [How long the pleasure lasts] 3. Its certainty or uncertainty [The sureness that the pleasure will result] 4. Its propinquity or remoteness. [How many people it benefits] (Perry 459) Once the value of the pleasure is determined one must also take into consideration the probability that it will be followed by a negative feeling, the number of people for whom the pleasure will be less or more pleasurable, and finally the overall number of people who are affected. To be ethical, one must act in accordance with the principle of utility. A person is ethical if they commit actions that bring pleasure, the more pleasure to the more people the better the action is considered. This form of ethics disregards motive and therefor allows for lying,

Pepper V Hart Free Essays

Hansard is the official daily report of parliamentary debates and the record of what was said during the introduction of legislation. As one of the external aids, referencing to Hansard can help the courts to discover how Parliament intended the law to apply and put that into practice. Initially such documents could not be consulted for the purpose of statutory interpretation. We will write a custom essay sample on Pepper V Hart or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 1992 the House of Lords delivered a blockbuster in the case of Pepper v Hart [1992], which overturned the rule against consulting Hansard. However, more and more people argue that its drawbacks outweigh its advantages. The case of Pepper v Hart was between teachers at a fee-paying school and the Inland Revenue, and concerned the tax which employees should have to pay on perks. The school allowed its teachers to send their sons there for one-fifth of the usual fee. Since the amount paid by teachers covered only the extra cost rather than the school’s fixed costs, the perk cost the school little or nothing, and so they maintained that they should not have to pay tax on its. Nonetheless the Inland Revenue disagreed and argued that according to tax law the perk should be taxed on the basis of the amount its saved the teachers on the real cost of sending their children to the school. The reason why the issue of consulting parliamentary debates arose was that, during the passing of the Finance Act 1976, the then Secretary to the Treasury, Robert Sheldon, had specifically mentioned the kind of situation that arose in Pepper v Hart. He had stated that where the cost to an employer of a perk was minimal, employees should not have to pay tax on the full cost of it. By a six to one majority the House of Lords decided to allow reference to be made to Hansard. The permission was made in limited circumstances. First, legislation is ambiguous, or leads to an absurdity; Second, the material relied upon consists of statements by a minister or other promoter of the Bill. Third, the statements relied upon are clear. The main advantage of referencing Hansard is it can help to prevent the absurdity and injustice caused by the literal rule. When interpreting a tatute the courts can consult Hansard to see what a Minister had said about a piece of legislation in order to decide what Parliament had intended. This permission causes the effect that the literal meaning of the statute is not followed, which may help the courts to present more proper statutory interpretation. However, many people hold opposite opinion on the use of this source. A practical objection by the dissenting justice lord Mackay was the expense both in terms of time and money will add to l itigation. If debates were to be used, there was a danger that the lawyers arguing a case would devote too much time and attention to ministerial statement. Lord Steyn (2001) criticized that the counsel were expected to read all the debates in Hansard, which would add greatly to the time and expense involved in preparing cases. He suggests that much of the work of the courts is now concerned with the interpretation of documents such as statutes rather than the examination of precedents. The evidence in Hansard may be lack of clarity. The House of Lords directed that the evidence provided by the parliamentary debates might not be reliable and contain ‘conducive to a clear and unbiased explanation of the meaning of statutory language. ’ Moreover, it is difficult to discover the nature of parliamentary from the Hansard. Pepper v Hart seems to confuse the statement made by a minister or promoter of the bill with the intention of the legislature. Lord Steyn points to the nature of the parliamentary process: there are not ideal conditions for the making of authoritative statements about the meaning of a clause in a Bill. In truth a Minister speaks for the Government and not for Parliament. The statements of a Minister are no more than indications of what the Government would like the law to be. ’ Nowadays there is a trend that reference to Hansard can be found in every other case involving interpretation and construction of enactments often without any serious application of mind concerning their relevance or conformity with the aid down in Pepper v Hart. The advancement in technology is definitely a major factor contributing to this trend as it makes referencing much easier. However, electronic access relates only to recent years; for any other research one has to overcome the appalling indexing for Hansard. Due to its drawback, there is a trend that the courts are reluctant to allow references to Hansard without a fair bit of persuasion. Many restrictions are placed to prevent the overuse of Hansard. In 2003, the House of Lords restated the scope of Pepper v Hart that the court is called upon to evaluate the proportionality of the legislation, not the minister’s exploration of the policy options or his explanations to Parliament. The latter would contravene article 9 of the Bill of Rights. Overall, though allowing references to Hansard has an additional aid to interpretation is welcome, references to Hansard can give rise to further ambiguity i. e. legislation being found to be incorrect. Also, it is very costly in time and money. Since it is arguable that its drawbacks outweigh its advantages, more strict guidelines should be adopted to prevent its overuse in order to maintain the efficiency of the legal system. How to cite Pepper V Hart, Essay examples

Operating System Comparison free essay sample

This paper will discuss three main operating systems, Windows, Linux, and OS X. All three of these operating systems have features which are unique unto themselves. Although there may be arguments as to which one of these three operating systems is better it really all comes down to what features are needed for each user. This paper will describe the features that each of these operating systems has to offer. First, Microsoft Windows. Microsoft began its dominance in the early 80s by developing DOS also known as disk operating system. This is the first operating system made for a PC. Then came Windows 9X which was later called Windows 95. Then it had its predecessors of Windows 98, millennium edition, and Windows 2000. When Windows 95 came out Microsoft became the leader in operating systems. By 1998 Windows held 82% of the market shares in operating systems (Windows 9x,  n. d. ). What made Windows unique at this time was that it introduced the graphical user interface or GUI was a giant leap forward in how users would perceive their desktop experience. We will write a custom essay sample on Operating System Comparison or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As PCs became more popular it became necessary to refine features of the operating system. Concerns about security, networking, and the use of various peripheral devices as well as various programs had to be user-friendly. It was not until Windows XP was released that it was finally very user-friendly to add or remove hardware or to have a higher level of capacity to run various programs on the machine. And then release of Windows XP Microsoft greatly improve the performance, extensibility, portability, and probably one of the biggest ones reliability. It came at a time when consumers were getting tired of the slower and less reliable operating systems that Microsoft had been releasing prior to Windows XP. Second, Linux. Unlike the Microsoft operating system whose code was securely guarded and never released for the public to see, Linux was free source code. This allows any user to peek into the deep inner workings of his or her operating system. This was a great advantage because minds from all over the world are now able to not only see the source code and to improve upon it and make changes to meet the many varying needs of each individual user. Originally called MINIX it was originally designed to run on the Intel 8086 microprocessors (10 Linux Features Windows Should Have By Default,  2012). One thing about LINUX is that it has been able to keep up with changing market of technology ever since its inception. And those commanded the following because flexibility to keep up with the changing times and stay ahead of other companies to be compatible with new technologies. What most users probably dont know are the features that LINUX has over Microsoft windows. With LINUX multiple users can be logged in at the same time. With Windows you have to switch users in order to be logged in. Another thing that helps LINUX to stay ahead is the predictability of updates. Users never know when Microsoft is going to have an update for any part of their systems. Linux users however can mark it on the calendar when their next updates are going to be available. Another thing that Microsoft likes to do is to make the consumer pay more money for different versions of their product and for the additional programs that a user generally needs in order to have a fully functioning system. Right out-of-the-box Linux comes with a full software package that its users immediately benefit from without ever having to pay anymore for it. About the only thing that Microsoft includes with its operating system is a web browser and media player. Usually even those programs need to be updated by the time you install the operating system. These are just a couple of the features that Linux has to offer, however, Microsoft could take a lesson and look at these features and try to incorporate them within their own operating system. Finally, Mac OSx. Mac had a slow beginning. One thing about it that has not changed, however, is that it is generally more expensive to purchase a Mac system than it is a Windows system. Despite this Mac has continued to gain popularity in the market. Its programs have proved to be more stable than Windows, as a result of this hardware for the systems generally last longer as well. This is due to the fact that Mac systems have more features that monitor and regulate the activities, temperatures, and functions that can wear a system down faster. Mac computers also become known for their vivid aqua screen. Because of this many graphic designers, special effects editors, and even musicians have switched to using Mac computers. Even despite their price, which to this day remains higher than the competition, Mac still shares a steady part of the market and its popularity continues to grow. One of the biggest things that has kept Apple very competitive in the market is their version of the tablet. They have also developed the iPhone and the iPod. Apple was the first to not only create these devices but also they made these devices work with each other in a way that no other company has done with any of their devices before. Three operating systems discuss in this paper each have their advantages and disadvantages from one another. The biggest advantage for Microsoft is the widespread use and compatibility with most every type of program out there. If youre a Linux fan then you appreciate not only the price which is usually free but also that it is open source software that if you have any programming ability you can make changes to it and improve your own experience and share with others. And Apple has some of the best programs for graphic designers and special effects. They also have their interoperable technology that makes it easy to share devices and view photos, music, and documents all in one centralized location on every device. In the end though it is still up to each individual user to assess their needs, their budget, and their preferences as to which operating system they choose to run on the computer.

Lord Of The Flies Essays (910 words) - English-language Films

Lord Of The Flies Essays (910 words) - English-language Films Lord Of The Flies All humans have free will. All the major characters in Lord of the Flies are human! And to take it one step further they are children. I think this is reason enough to explain why there are significant weaknesses in their personalities, which in the end lead to develop chaos on the island. Most of these weaknesses are exposed through out the book by temptation. When on this island the boys lose sight of sense and being rescued by taking up practices and adventures such as hunting and tribal dances. Take Jack for example, in our modern day society, the kind of child that Jack is would simply be labeled a little snot. He is a arrogant, power thirsting boy who craves stature and knows how to reach the top; he could be compared to a ruthless businessman of our times. If we were to label his personality weaknesses I would easily make the word length requirement for this essay, but when summarized they all come down to evil. In the Lord of the Flies, Jack is indeed responsible for a majority of bad events and trickery. Whether it is stealing fire, even though it would have been given, or leading people away from the one person who wants to help them and get them saved. This to me shows a comparison to Satan and Jesus. In the bible we are told that in order to be saved, (rescued) we are to stay with Jesus. Satan then comes and lures people away with trickery and adventures and makes Jesus despised and a outcast. Jack much like Satan tempted the children to join his camp through games, meat and hunting. Also Ralph much like Jesus offered a stable but fulfilled life through shelters, rules and regulations. Ralph does not impose these rules to be cruel and mean, but so things run in order and everyone is benefited. When comparing Ralph to Jesus it is only in the fact that in order for people to be saved they should follow Ralph, but Jack tempts them and they leave. Because Ralph himself although a better and fairer leader is not at all perfect and has significant weakness in his personality as well. Ralph to falls victim to the temptation of hunting and savagery and on page 188 he joins in with the murder of Simon. Jack invites everyone to his camp for a feast of meat that they gained through a bloody death of a sow. Ralph goes to have a look and is curious through this temptation and then gets caught up in the dance and murder frenzy. In the Lord of the Flies Piggy seems to take up the role of a disabled person, he can never join in and is constantly teased for this reason of simply being different. This creates a extremely low self-esteem problem and this brings out his personality weaknesses. Piggy always has a suggestion at the assemblies and always gives his point of view, by doing this I believe he makes himself venerable and the others take advantage. When Ralph made up the rules of the conch on page 43, Piggy is the first boy to take the conch out of Ralphs hand and say something. To me this shows that for Piggy to gather up confidence he needs to look outside of himself for a source of power. This is shown in chapter 5, Best on Water, when Ralph made a remark about Piggy sticking up to Jack, and Piggy says I had the conch, I had the right to speak without this right I doubt that Piggy would stand up for himself. Piggy lives for the rules and is the only one who truly lives by them and I think this is symbo lized by it being smashed when the massive boulder kills Piggy. Although the Island itself cant be described as a character it is in a way similar. It at first seems perfect like the Garden of Eden and all things function perfectly, or do they? For example in what sort of paradise would the fruit give diarrhea and stomach cramps. Also every time the boys venture inside the jungle it is mentioned that

ACT Test Dates Study Plan for Summer Before Senior Year

5-Step SAT/ACT Test Dates Study Plan for Summer Before Senior Year SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Your senior year is coming up, and you’re ready to blow those standardized tests out of the water once and for all. It’s time to figure out the best study plan for you that still leaves time for summer jobs, shameful levels of ice cream consumption, and acquiring incomprehensible tan lines. Follow these five steps to make the most of your summer studying before your SAT or ACT test date! Step 1: Determine Your Goal The first step in creating a study plan is knowing how much you need to improve.You can calculate your target scores for both the SAT and ACT based on your college admission goals. Google your college of choice and â€Å"SAT scores† or â€Å"ACT scores† to find the score range of the middle 50 percent of admitted applicants - in other words, a 25th percentile score and a 75th percentile score. Aim for the 75th percentile score (a better score than 75 percent of admitted applicants) to give yourself the best chance of being admitted. Then, take a practice test to see where you stand score-wise, or,if you’ve already taken the SAT or ACT at least once (hopefully you have!), you can use that score to judge how much you need to improve.Here are some links to free practice tests for the SAT and ACT if you feel you’ve improved significantly since the last time you took the tests and need to get a new baseline score. Step 2: Figure Out How Many Hours You Need to Study Now that you know your baseline and target scores, you can use the difference between them to estimate the number of hours you’ll need to study to achieve your goals by the time of your SAT/ACT test date. Here’s an estimated breakdown of point improvement per number of study hours for the SAT: 0-30 SAT Composite Point Improvement: 10 hours30-70 Point Improvement: 20 hours70-130 Point Improvement: 40 hours130-200 Point Improvement: 80 hours200-330 Point Improvement: 150 hours+ And here’s the same infofor the ACT: 0-1 ACT Composite Point Improvement: 10 hours1-2 ACT Point Improvement: 20 hours2-4 ACT Point Improvement: 40 hours4-6 ACT Point Improvement: 80 hours6-9 ACT Point Improvement: 150 hours+ Remember, these are rough estimates, which means they’re not necessarily going to apply to everyone. That’s why the next step is about adjusting thenumber of summer-studying hours to meet your specific needs. Step 3: Factor in Your Study Habits and Learning Style You now have a rough idea of how many hours you’ll need to put in, but you might need to study for more or less time based on how you process information and how focused you are. Here are some factors that might lead you to add or subtract study hours from your plan. You’ll Need to Study for More Time If ... You get distracted easily - If you have trouble focusing, you probably aren't getting as much out of your study time. Make sure you study in a quiet place with your phone turned off. If you find you can't focus on studying for hours at a time, stagger your time throughout each week rather than studying in big chunks. You struggle with running out of time on the test - The more comfortable you are with the test questions and their structure, the less stressed you'll be about time. You're less likely to psych yourself out if you've studied enough to feel comfortable with the test material. You take a while to learn from your mistakes - On standardized tests it can be difficult to accumulate knowledge about your mistakes and apply it to future scenarios. If you have particular difficulty with identifying and understanding your mistakes, you may need more study time. You've already studied a lot without much score improvement - In this case, it might be time to change study tactics and commit to more hours. Reevaluate how you've been studying. If you're just taking a bunch of practice tests and not really investigating your incorrect answers, you probably won't see much of an improvement in your scores. You’ll Need to Study for Less Time If ... You are a super focused studier- If you really get in the zone when you study, you might not need to set aside as much time. You don’t have difficulty finishing the sections with time to spare- Since you're comfortable enough with the questions to get through them all, you've already conquered one of the most troublesome aspects of the test. You learn from your mistakes right away - If all it takes for you to learn the right way to answer a question is to answer it wrong once, you probably don't need as much study time as the average person. You are new to the test- This one’s unlikely if you’re coming up on senior year, but even if you just haven’t studied a lot up to this point, it will be easier for you to make improvements quickly. Remember that literal osmosis is not a viable studying technique. Step 4: Spread Out Your Estimated Hours Based on Summer Plans and Summer and Fall Test Dates Now for the actual plan - you know approximately how many hours you need to study, but how will you fit them into your schedule? If you’re planning to take the SAT or ACT on the first test dates in the fall, you have until October 5, 2019, for the SAT and September 8, 2019, for the ACT. If you want to take a test at the end of the summer, the SAT is now also offered at the end of August (August 24, 2019), while the ACT is offered in the summer on July 13, 2019(except in CA and NY). Note that the tests are held at roughly the same time every year, so these dates should still be good benchmarks if you’re reading this later. From the start of the summer you’re looking at aboutthree months of study time, with a little extra time once the school year starts up again.It's a good idea to spread out your hours out as much as possible week by week so you don't get overwhelmed. Here are a couple examples of plans for different point improvements: I Want to Improve by 30-70 Points on the SAT or 1-2 Points on the ACT You have an estimated study time of 20 hours, which is easily manageable over the course of three months.Choose one to two hours a week that you will set aside for studying.By the end of the summer, you will accumulate at least 20 hours of study time. If you think you need to study for more than 20 hours, two hours a week for the summer will give you about 30 hours plus whatever study time you can fit in during the fall before your last shot at the test. I Want to Improve by 130-200 Points on the SAT or 4-6 Points on the ACT For this level of improvement, the estimated study time is 80 hours, so you’ll have to be slightly more disciplined. Try setting aside an afternoon once a week that you will devote to studying.Five hours a week for the whole summer will get you close to 80 hours.After that, if you feel you need more preparation, you can do a little more studying during the fall before the test. I Want to Improve by 200-330 Points on the SAT or 6-9 Points on the ACT You’re going to have to put in quite a bit of effort to see the improvements you’re looking for no matter how good your studying habits are.Studying for 150 hours or more in the summer is a tall order, but it’s not impossible. In this case, you should schedule10 hours a week for studying.It might sound like a lot, but think about it: it’s the time equivalent of less than two days of school and you have the option of being outside or sitting in a comfy chair in a cafe as you do it. Whatever Your Goals, It’s Not Too Late to Get Your Scores up to Speed! If you think you'll need more study time, you can also take the tests later in the fall.The SAT offers November and December test dates, and the ACT offers October and December test dates.If you're considering these dates, check with the admissions offices of the colleges where you plan on applying to see how late they accept scores. I recommend signing up for the first available fall test dates to see where you stand after all your summer studying. If you don’t do as well as you hoped, you can then immediately sign up for the next date. I get it now! Thanks, disembodied hand! Step 5: Execute Your Study Plan, but Keep It Flexible OK, now it’s time to put your plan in motion!You’ve blocked out your study time, and you’re committed to following through.However, it’s important to remember to roll with the punches if conflicts arise (and they will!). Maybe you end up going on a family vacation, camping with your friends, or taking on a part-time job.Make sure you don’t let studying fall by the wayside just because you skip a day or a week.Be open to moving around your study schedule so that you can maintain your goals while also taking advantage of the summer in other ways. Also remember: if you think you should be studying more or if you don’t feel like you are getting anywhere with your current methods, it’s OK to change your plan.It can be critical to maintain flexibility in terms of study strategies if you want to see real improvement. Try to be honest with yourself about what you’re getting out of your time and whether you need to reevaluate your study habits and techniques. As long as you can maintain the right balance of flexibility and commitment, you’ll have a fun and productive summer! What's Next? Still trying to decide when to take the SAT or ACT? Learn which senior year SAT/ACT test dates are best for you.Also take a look at upcoming test dates for SAT subject tests if you still need to take those! If you've already taken the SAT, find out how many times you should take it in totalbefore you apply to college. Finally, if you're aiming for a really high score, or just want to know how you can make the biggest improvements, check out our guides to getting a perfect score on the SAT or ACT. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: