January 22, 2024 · Public Relations · (No comments)

The question, “Is Puerto Rico U.S. Territory?” often stirs some confusion. However, the answer is quite straightforward; yes, Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. This article delves into the background of this relationship, its implications, and how it is interpreted practically in various aspects like governance and finances.

Located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico was claimed by Christopher Columbus for Spain during his second voyage to the New World in 1493. The island remained a Spanish colony for over 400 years until the Spanish-American War in 1898. In the aftermath of the war, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, along with Guam and the Philippines, to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris.

In 1917, the Jones-Shafroth Act granted U.S. citizenship to residents of Puerto Rico, but it remains an unincorporated territory of the United States. Puerto Rico is neither a sovereign country nor a U.S. state. Therefore, while Puerto Rico is part of the United States for the purposes of most federal laws, it has a local constitution and its residents elect their governor and legislative assembly.

The political status of Puerto Rico is a recurring topic of discussion in the United States and the island itself. Different groups have varying opinions on the island becoming the 51st state, remaining a territory, or gaining independence. However, the U.S. Congress has the final say on any change in status.

One of the most recognisable aspects of the Puerto Rico-U.S. relationship can be observed in financial matters. Many people often seek the expertise of a financial analyst PR Australia to comprehend the complex fiscal relationships between these territories.

A financial analyst PR Australia, who specializes in analyzing economic situations, would explain that, Puerto Rico being a U.S. territory, benefits from federal funding, including programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In return, residents of the Island pay some U.S. federal taxes, but most residents are exempt from the U.S. federal income tax.

However, the territory status of Puerto Rico does come with significant disadvantages. The Island is subject to U.S. trade restrictions, meaning it must use expensive U.S. ships for transporting goods. Furthermore, although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, they cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections unless they reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.

The economic struggles of Puerto Rico have been well documented, and many attribute this to the territory’s status. A financial analyst PR Australia could explain the unique economic challenges the Island currently faces. While it generates its own tax revenue and manages its budget, The Commonwealth must adhere to federal fiscal policies. This has led to a series of fiscal crises for Puerto Rico, which has left the Island with a high level of debt. Insolvency has led to a series of austere budgets, causing widespread hardship among residents.

In conclusion, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, a status that brings with it a complicated mix of benefits and disadvantages. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and contribute to and benefit from federal programs. However, the island’s territorial status creates several challenges, especially in terms of economic and fiscal policy, a fact well illuminated by a financial analyst PR Australia. As to whether this status will change in the future, only time will tell.

October 4, 2023 · Public Relations · (No comments)

In today’s 24/7 world, social media enables organizations to communicate with millions of customers across the globe in real-time. For customers, this means they now have the power to either appreciate something or vent their issues in a very public space. What does this mean for marketers? With so much going on, a social media fiasco is sometimes unavoidable and unpredictable, signaling the need for a robust crisis management plan. Although most marketers have already incorporated social media into their marketing mix and are seeing great results, some of them have no strategic social media communications plan in place. According to the 2010 Digital Brand Expressions Social Media survey:

  • 52% companies do not have a social media crisis communications plan.
  • 41% said that they were insured against a possible social media crisis.
  • A whopping 88% felt that it was important to have a strategic social media communications plan in place.

While every company has its critics and unhappy customers, a smart marketer will always have a recovery plan to prevent a social media disaster from snowballing. As a marketer, you can never fully control what your customers say about your brand in the digital space; however, preparing yourself for a social media crisis will ensure you are not caught off guard. Here are some points to focus on while designing a crisis communications plan:

  • Identify the Crisis:

Before proceeding to the ‘what should I do’ stage, it is essential to a)fully understand the situation b) find out if the people who are talking about your brand are high influencers c) what is the medium being used and d) how is it affecting your company’s image. This can be best done by monitoring your brand on social media. By using social media monitoring tools such as brand monitor, you can also:

  • Listen to what your customers are saying.
  • Analyze the general sentiment pertaining to the issue (is it leaning towards negative or are people neutral in their opinion).
  • Chalk up the appropriate escalation plan.
  • Engage industry influencers to defend your brand if necessary: Online users tend to trust the influencers more than company officials. After tracking your influencers, the next step involves engaging with them to solve the problem.

The key purpose of crisis identification at an early stage via media monitoring is to be able to respond quickly. Keep in mind, in the digital space, your response time needs to be very quick. For instance, United Airlines’ delayed response to singer Dave Carroll’s YouTube complaint video reportedly cost the airline a 10% drop in its share price. Despite 50,000 views on YouTube, United responded by saying “We’re working to make what happened right.” According to industry experts, if a solid social media crisis management plan been in place, the airlines could have responded faster, saving the company from the loss and reputation damage.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFTHOkCj0-I[/youtube]
  • Be Transparent:

The simplest way to win back customers’ trust is by being straightforward and coming clean. While it is easy to get defensive or hide behind ‘no comment’, this will not prevent fans and followers from continuing to talk about your brand. We believe that the first step to fixing a social media crisis is to admit it; it gives a humane touch. As discussed earlier, using influencers to diffuse a situation is a good first step; however, by getting someone relevant and important such as company Presidents and CEOs to respond is a smart move. Although today’s CEOs are no longer social media shy, a recent survey by public relations agency Weber Shandwick shows that they have some catching up to do. According to the survey:

  • 64% of CEOs are not using social media; only 36% have a social media presence.
  • 93% of them continue to depend on traditional methods to communicate with external audiences.
  • Many CEOs are in the 40-60 demographic, making them less social media savvy.

Why We Recommend Company Heads Get Involved

Several case studies involving important company officials who have successfully fixed a social media PR disaster show that:

  • Company heads engaging with unhappy customers wield high influence in the social media space.
  • Two-way dialogues involving important company officials send out a strong message that ‘we understand and apologize’.
  • CEOs owning up to an oversight and promising to fix it shows that the company cares.
  • By rapidly responding to a crisis through blogs, videos or other social platforms, CEOs dispel the myth of being ‘corporate executives sitting behind desks’.
  • Customers want to hear from a person who is real and is being honest and forthright with them.

Dominos’ quick, direct and personal response to a social media crisis involving its employees is the perfect example of how a company should handle emergency situations in the digital space. When two of its former employees uploaded YouTube videos of themselves doing unseemly things to food, customers and fans of the pizza giant started to question the hygiene standards that were being followed. Besides registering millions of views on YouTube, the video showed up in five out of 12 Google searches for “Dominos”. The company wasted no time in posting its response. The crisis management team at Dominos decided to tackle the situation by uploading their own YouTube video that featured their President; a wise move, for a press release explaining the situation would have only escalated the situation further. Instead of insisting that the video had nothing to do with the company’s hygiene policy, the President, J. Patrick Doyle, said that he was as ‘sickened’ as the customers and promised to shut the store and clean it completely. What restored customers’ faith in Dominos was the President’s honesty and the fact that he thanked customers for “sticking with us”.

Your customers know that everyone makes mistakes once in a while; what’s more important to them is to know how you are going to fix it. The key to handling a situation effectively is to have open, consistent flow of information.

  • Restoring your Reputation:

Although prevention is the best solution to manage a crisis, it is very natural for occasional slip-ups to happen. Restoring your company’s image after a social media disaster is crucial for getting back in the business. While it is true that a slip-up can impact customers’ perception, here are some suggestions to help revive your brand’s image in the digital space:

  • Have Seasoned Social Media Experts Handle a Crisis: Having a junior intern handle your social media activities simply because ‘they get social media’ may not always be the best approach. A well assembled social media disaster management team, comprising of a community manager, a PR and a senior management representative, ensures that your company is always prepared to successfully handle an unforeseen situation. Besides managing large amount of content and conversations online, the disaster management team will know a) when to respond b) what to say c) how much to say and d) when to remain silent. Social media experts know how to handle crisis without breaking sweat; and this is vital for restoring your company’s image online.
  • Turn Crisis into Opportunity: Yes! A PR crisis can be converted into positive online buzz. The most apt example in this case involves fashion retailer Gap and how the company turned its logo debacle into a social media opportunity. Instead of playing the blame game after their own version was severely criticized across Facebook and Twitter, Gap smartly decided to offer its fans the chance to redesign its logo online. By doing this, the company a) acknowledged the problem b) made customers feel involved c) shifted the focus from the actual issue by converting it into an exciting social media campaign and d) managed to improve its reputation.
  • Talk about it: By apologizing on Facebook or tweeting that you’re sorry, you have managed to mollify disgruntled fans; what next? Believe it or not, your customers want to hear what happened. Discussing the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of the situation shows that the PR representatives and social media experts are doing more than just their job. Using a personal, human voice when communicating via social media channels re-establishes trust with customers, making them believe that your company has more than just an organizational presence. Talking about an issue not only promotes trust and commitment, but also leads to a favorable brand image.

Conclusion

We believe that social media is a great platform for connecting with prospects and customers on a personal level; the flip-side though, is that networking channels also attract their share of online protests, customer complaints and negative feedback. In such cases, the best line of defense for online marketers is to design a comprehensive social media policy and crisis management plan. This not only prepares your company for any outward incidents, but also helps effectively respond to potential flare-ups. However, this does not mean you should live your social efforts in fear. A crisis management plan is like a safety net; it ensures that your company is insured against a PR meltdown online.

In today’s customer-driven world, fans have demonstrated greater ownership over social media. Smart marketers who have understood this know that they have little control over how their brands are perceived or what is being discussed about them in the digital space. As the above studies indicate, although a greater percentage of marketers do not have a social media communications plan in place, a majority of them are willing to consider developing one in the future. As quoted by Jeremiah Owyang, crisis planning helps you ‘plan and practice for the worst, yet live for the best’.

Article Source: sooperarticles.com/internet-articles/social-networking-articles/how-manage-social-media-crisis-38-design-communications-plan-524294.html

About Author:

Brand Monitor, 366 Cambridge Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94306 Phone: 650-618-8900 Toll-free (US): 800-725-5507 brandmonitor.position2.com/ Author: Mary Ann Johnson

November 2, 2022 · Public Relations · (No comments)

byAlma Abell

The technology industry has evolved tremendously. Statistics follow the option idea that technology doubles every few years. At this rate, the economy may be upheld by flying cars and robots in no time. But this is an exaggeration, and there has been some general slow down in the way we approach new business concepts. Communication technology has seemed to hit the highest level of efficiency balanced with price. Communications Technology Associates Inc. is a specialty firm supplying communication devices that are affordable, intuitive, and effective in building a company and their respective brand. Computer Networking in Wichita, KS establishes a global scale to a local firm through instant communication.

Interestingly, technology works in a sort of reverse supply and demand. In the economy, in demand items see a price raise proportional to the demand. This is so in the business network field, until it no longer is. At one point, the wide embrace and use of the technology actually brings costs down substantially. This is because it is more cost effective for a provider to deliver a network that is widely embraced. New technological achievements also manage to bring that cost down to something that is very manageable. Communication technology began rising in costs as the demand increased. But a fever pitch point hit, and the main developments in the technology inevitable brought prices down substantially. Now, small businesses can opt for an advanced voice over network without destroying their budget. There is no time better than now to extend one’s business practices into VO communications.

Businesses succeed or fail based on how well they network and develop. A company may have exquisite, branding. They may even have a wonderful sales staff. But the buck stops with the higher executives. Their ability to converse, expand the brand into new regions, and establish collaborations is pivotal in furthering the breadth of the business. How is this accomplished?

The crux of this is accomplished through proper communication, and this is established by communication technology that seizes the opportunities in a sensible way. computer networking in Wichita KS is more than just a line up of computers. It is a full network that allows for external and inter-business communications.

Browse the website for more information.

October 10, 2021 · Public Relations · (No comments)

By Himfr Mary

Migrant workers WangFeng rising-sun masculine because cover combination of the spring “popular network, and as a rabbit in CCTV cctv1 stage of grassroots effort, shake the body becomes best-known grassroots singer. The agent of sun li dong accept masculine morning paper reporter to interview revealed yesterday afternoon he received the spring of the original WangFeng aspects telephone call, be informed explicitly rising-sun masculine future shall in any way singing “spring”. For such result, li dong said “respect their opinion,” but also hope events can somewhat turnaround. But WangFeng assistant small tao says about it are not respond. The original WangFeng requirements shall in any way singing “spring”.

ShangYan prices surged to 3 million to $50,000

Wang xuming and friend Mr Liu gang composed of sun masculine combination, with cover the spring “red through network. Last August, the two singing video be friend hair online, click over 10 million times, not only let the sun masculine become CCTV xingguangdadao “month champions, more let they boarded rabbit cctv1, and become the stage in the audience favorite grassroots singer.

After the sun cctv1, masculine fame soared, buttheir the most direct effect is worth ShangYan hikes. When asked whether sun masculine staged price to online rumours 30,000 to 5 million yuan, li dong’s no secret said “there is this price”.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LndRlolcnA[/youtube]

Cctv1 after becoming famous, sun masculine would leave their work into efforts to music? Li dong this gives the affirmative answer: “friend Mr Liu gang from the beginning it was completely doing music, even in the most difficult time of his life, as for music dream also insisted in pharmaceutical companies do warehouse of wang xuming, now also have such plan, his previous leadership to he is also support, told him if (in music) couldn’t walk, can again to return.”

In the spring of farewell to the original

Li dong said that at present have record company in rising-sun masculine contact, but with sun masculine haven’t signed a plan. Meanwhile, there are many musicians also volunteered to write songs for sun masculine, are more enthusiastic “steel Beng son” give them from their own creative songs. But underlying it is urgent rising-sun masculine need creating more original works: “aftertime isn’t very good cover WangFeng song, do original for artists also have benefits.”

Although li dong say very implicative, but he also revealed behind wde – 14 yesterday when about 30 points, li dong received a telephone call from a WangFeng aspects, “each other clearly, sun masculine future shall in any way singing” spring “, estimate WangFeng other songs are not singing.”

It is reported that Li dong revealed: “they will cover some can use songs, including singers sichuan son of a song, henceforth also can sing some songs.” Yesterday afternoon, the reporter also on the matter WangFeng assistant little contact with the tao tao says about the matter, small temporary not comment, as to whether future in the form of statement etc show, he says all depends on the specific circumstances and decide.

About the Author: I am Himfr Mary, and my work is to promote a free online trade platform. http://www.chinaqualitycrafts.com/ contain a great deal of information about diamond core bit,backdrops for photography,fellowes mouse pad, welcome to visit!

Source: isnare.com

Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=729774&ca=Business

September 25, 2021 · Public Relations · (No comments)

By Jerry Minchey

Many women restaurant owners and managers have learned how to drive a starving crowd to their restaurants on a shoe string budget.

On the other hand, many men restaurant owners and managers seem more likely to stick with the status quo and many keep using conventional marketing techniques even while they continue to lose money.

The problem with conventional restaurant marketing techniques is that they are getting more and more expensive while they are proving to be less and less effective.

Maybe a psychologists can explain why women are taking the lead of using unconventional restaurant techniques in the restaurant business. This seems odd because we know that men are usually more willing to take risks.

Never-the less, women seem to be the more aggressive gender when it comes to restaurant marketing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9zcs1dg8qo[/youtube]

Here are some of the many unconventional marketing techniques women are now using:

1. Women are using far less radio, TV and print advertising.

2. They are doing a much better job of capturing customer data such as names, addresses, birthdays, anniversaries and most important email addresses.

3. Women are doing a lot of direct mail promotions and they are doing even more email promotions to their customer data base.

4. They are taking advantage of the power of press releases. Maybe they are more successful in this area because a great press release must strike an emotional button in the reader and we all know that women excel when it comes to tuning into emotions.

5. Women know what their “Unique Selling Proposition” or “USP” is and they can clearly explain it in one to three sentences. They don’t try to be all things to all people when it comes to marketing their restaurant.

6. They know the demographic of their customers. They do a better job of learning what it is that their customers like and dislike.

7. Women do a much better job of negotiating and with these skills, they are able to buy advertising for 10% to 50% on the dollar. After all, every dollar saved on advertising and marketing (as long as the advertising brings in the same amount of business) goes straight to the bottom line as profit.

8. They seem to write headlines that bring in two to 10 times more business for the same ad. They probably do this because they are able to do a better job of putting powerful emotion into their headlines.

9. Women are using the power of the Internet to bring in customers and save up to 90% of the typical cost of bringing in a new or repeat customer.

10. Finally, women do a better job of tracking marketing campaigns than men do. This fact alone provides them with the proof they need to drop conventional marketing techniques that are not working and expand the use of unconventional restaurant techniques that are working.

About the Author: Jerry Minchey is an engineer, restaurant marketing consultant and editor of the subscription website

MarketingYourRestaurant.com

. He lives in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=47461&ca=Business+Management

August 2, 2018 · Public Relations · (No comments)

byAlma Abell

Effective Teeth Whitening in Middletown treatments afford you with your best smile possible. These treatments eliminate resistant stains produced through the consumption of stain producing foods and drinks. Red wine, fruit juices, and smoking tobacco products lead to the highest risk of stains that affect tooth enamel. These cosmetic procedures are known for the complete elimination of these hindrances after one dental visit.

Treatment Strategies for Stubborn Stains

The focus of whitening treatments is to enhance the appearance of the smile. For patients who smoke tobacco products, the dentist may determine that more frequent treatments are needed to maintain their maximum whitening potential. Routine cleanings eliminate tar and nicotine in most cases. However, significant discoloration from smoking requires extraordinary measures. This is why teeth whitening treatments are beneficial for smokers in producing a more healthy-looking smile.

The professional-grade products used in these whitening treatments are known for breaking down harmful debris and stains. With frequent treatments, the patient maintains stain-free, white teeth. This is beneficial to smokers especially as the potential for stain is an almost certainty.

Cosmetic and General Dentist

Hazlet Family Dental provides you with the full spectrum of dental services needed to keep your teeth and gums healthy. This includes semi-annual check-ups and cleanings that allow the dentist to monitor the health of your mouth. The dentist address conditions that arise due to injuries or accidents. They additionally review other developments such as cavities and gingivitis.

With these services, the dentists assist you in keeping your teeth looking their best. Among the most popular cosmetic treatments available through this practice are Teeth Whitening in Middletown. To discover more about these services and more visit Hazletfamilydental.com

To receive the full benefits of Teeth Whitening in Middletown treatments, you should visit your dentist regularly. He or she determines the frequency in which you receive these services based on the progression of stain development. If you are a smoke, for example, your dentist may recommend more frequent treatments for you to prevent new stains from forming. He or she performs a complete evaluation of your teeth after each treatment to monitor your progress.

July 18, 2018 · Public Relations · (No comments)

Want to Work In Communications? VMA Group Can Help You To Find Public Affair Jobs and HR Jobs

by

VMA GroupWith more and more businesses focusing on building a relationship with their customers it is easy to see why communications jobs are becoming more popular. Many people are turning to communications jobs as a career choice because they know that they will allow them to work with different people on a regular basis, and public affairs jobs and HR jobs are no exception to this. Both jobs offer you the chance to work with a variety of people on different levels and for different purposes. VMA Group is passionate about jobs in communications and want to provide employers with the best candidates for their role. They have teams of experts in public affairs jobs and hr jobs who have either worked in the field or have had a large amount of experience in sourcing for that sector. HR jobs allow you to work with employees from all areas of a company and to a number of ends. A human resource manager is vital to the success of a company, ensuring that existing employees are working in conditions that can allow them to work to the best of their ability and choosing new employees who can best fill a role. An HR job can give you the chance to boost people’s morale and help them achieve the qualifications and training they need in order to reach their potential within a company. You will be in charge of making sure that your company uses skilled employees to their maximum potential and ensuring that the company retains them and inspires company loyalty. Public affairs jobs are similar to HR jobs in that they focus on company relations. However, public affairs jobs focus on the relationship between a business and the public, as the title suggests. Public affairs practitioners handle a business’ public reputation from a political point of view. In some ways they are similar to a public relations officer but with a more specific focus on the political standpoint of their company. Public affairs jobs can involve anything from managing media contacts and events to lobbying and persuading stakeholders on what issues they need to get involved in. HR jobs and public affairs jobs rely on your ability to manage relationships and both can be very rewarding occupations. With the opportunity to work in-house, as part of a consultancy and with varied degrees of specifity, there is an HR job or public affairs job that is sure to suit you. VMA Group firmly believe this and strive to suit candidates to roles which they will get the most out of and will want to occupy for a long time in the future. With the help of VMA Group you can find a communications job to suit your skills and wants with the help of industry experts. For jobs in HR and public affairs or to find the right candidate for your company visit www.vmagroup.com or Tel: +44 (0)207 436 4243 now.

VMA Group

23 Bedford SquareLondonWC1B 3HH

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}

June 20, 2018 · Public Relations · (No comments)

Things You Need To Know Before Hiring an Escort

by

nehachopraAre you in the city of Mumbai for a professional or business visit? It is undoubtedly a true fact that in a big city like Mumbai you will feel lonely and dejected. In case you want to make your evening spicy and enjoyable, you need to find a female companion with whom you can spend your time and can explore your other side with her. But finding a female partner is not that easy in a big city. The only pathway remains is to contact a Mumbai escort service

. These agencies can send you the type of lady that you have always been dream to get kinky with. But it is crucial that you choose the prominent escort service that can furnish you with the finest girl in town and give you the best paid dating experience. Following are some tips that you need to follow while dealing with an escort agency.

Do a Detailed Research

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If-WrXZW1vE[/youtube]

It is important that you do a detailed investigation about the service before hiring escorts from it. Internet is the ocean of information and you can get to know everything about the agency from its official website. There are several forums are available online, where you will be able know about the pros/ cons of the service from the discussion and reviews of the customers.

Compare Price

People always believe that more money can buy more comfort, but it is not true every time and dating services take advantage of this belief. Smart people enjoy the service in effective price while rich fools spend double for the same service. So all you have to do is to surf for escort services in the internet and select one that suits your budget.

Know About the Escorts

Every escort agency now a day has their own official website and they post the picture of their girls on the website to let customers select the suitable one. You can get information about the escort that you are going to meet. If the agency has posted the pictures of anonymous models and is not able to share the pictures of its escorts, then you shouldn’t go for that service as there can be a trap. Though some services do not share the pictures to avoid privacy issues but they always share those pictures personally to you.

Look For the Discreet and Reliable Service

This is probably the most important thing that you need to take care of if you don’t want other people to know about your enjoyment. Some escort agencies are there that sells the personal information of their clients. But a reputable agency won’t do that and their escorts are trained to keep your identity as a secret.

Payment Method

Escort agencies these days facilitate varieties of payment option. But you need to be careful while paying your valuable money. Try to know that the agency you are dealing with is certified or not. If not you can pay money directly to the escort.

These are some tips that you need to follow while choosing an escort service. Try to stay away from fraudulent websites and stay awake while you are dealing with such services in Mumbai or in any other cities.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}

May 18, 2018 · Public Relations · (No comments)

By Jessie Mathisen

The most essential tool any student needs to study for the SHSAT is high quality practice tests. There are quite a few sample SHSATs available, but they were not all created equal. Some are easier than the actual exam and a few are riddled with errors. Others are very high quality. There are four brands of SHSAT practice book readily available in most large New York City bookstores and several brands of test available online. The gold standard for practice tests are the two tests that are written by New York City and given to every student who registers for the SHSAT. In this article, I will review each one of these resources.

Kaplan has an SHSAT book that is published under at least two separate names. One is Kaplan New York City Specialized High School Admissions Test and another is Kaplan SHSAT Advanced Prep. A spot check suggested that these two books are identical. The Kaplan book has two full length practice tests and is written at an appropriate level of difficulty. Unfortunately, it also has quite a few errors. In particular, many of the scrambled paragraphs are poorly constructed and don’t necessarily have a single correct answer. If you use this book, I would recommend skipping the scrambled paragraphs and only using it to study for the other portions of the test.

The Peterson’s/Arco book is also published under more than one cover. It is even more confusing than the Kaplan book because it sometimes seems to be published by Peterson’s and other times seems to be published by Arco. Although the covers are quite different, the interior of the books appears to be identical. The title is Master the New York City Specialized High School Admissions Test and it is a clean book, with few errors. Unfortunately, it is not as challenging as it should be. Also, it doesn’t have a single full-length test. It does have 10 half-length tests, which make good supplemental study materials, but I do not recommend using them as a primary study tool. (As an aside, the Peterson’s/Arco book also contains practice material for the Hunter College High School admissions test. These tests are of very low quality- they do not accurately reflect the content of the Hunter test.)

The Princeton Review book, called Cracking the New York City Specialized High School Admissions Test, has only one full length test. The test is fairly good, but a student who seriously wants to raise his or her score will certainly need more materials. A large portion of this book consists of test taking tips and techniques. While the techniques themselves are solid (and in line with the techniques suggested in other publications) I find the tone unnecessarily snarky.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7KUjZ0iyJ0[/youtube]

Of all the books available in bookstores, my favorite is the Barron’s, called Barron’s New York City SHSAT: Specialized High School Admissions Test. It has four mini-tests (half the length of the actual exam) and three full length tests. It is also the only book with a ninth grade mathematics supplement, which is a valuable tool for students seeking admission to the 10th grade. I like the Barron’s book because it is substantial, challenging, and contains few errors.

In addition to the tests available in bookstores, there are materials available online. Peterson’s has made three mini-tests available on line, but they are also included in the print book. Unless you can’t get to a bookstore and are in a big hurry, buying the physical book makes much more sense.

New York Academics, a tutoring agency which I own, has SHST tests available online. As of the fall of 2009, we are offering two full length, downloadable tests, with more planned for the future. These tests have been painstakingly written and edited to make sure that they accurately reflect the actual SHSAT in content and difficulty. I may be biased, but I don’t think any commercially available test surpasses the ones that New York Academics offers.

Another company that sells practice tests online is called PrepMate. They offer a package of 10 tests, which they deliver by mail. Since I am not familiar with this particular company, I was hesitant to give them my credit card information, so I sent them an email inquiring about the possibility of arranging a face-to-face purchase. Unfortunately, they did not respond. For this reason, I can not comment directly on the quality of their materials.

I hesitate to include the publication SHSAT Exam Secrets in this review, because it does not contain any practice tests. No full length tests, no half length tests, nothing! Please, don’t bother with this publication.

Of course, the gold standard for SHSAT practice tests is the tests that the New York City Department of Education gives to students who have registered for the exam. Since these tests are made by the people who make the real test, they are the most accurate representation of what the test is actually like. Better yet, they are free. (As far as I know, these are the only free tests available.) All students who plan to take the SHSAT should take these practice tests.

About the Author: At New York Academics, we carefully evaluate each student and tailor SHSAT Test Prep lessons to meet the specific needs of the individual. New York Academics also offer nyc math tutoring in your home, office, or in a public place.

Source: isnare.com

Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=442177&ca=Education