ACT/SAT Test Prep

Do you have to write the essay on the SAT or ACT?

Do you have to write the essay on the ACT or SAT? I’m usually here to tell you that skipping something you COULD use as an opportunity to shine is a mistake…but maybe not this time. Read on to find out if you’re one of the lucky ones who really CAN forget about writing the SAT Essay section or the ACT Writing component.

ACT Math Study Guide

What’s on the ACT Math section? The ACT website provides one answer to that question…but it’s a slightly confusing one. It isn’t always clear what content is covered under the broad terms they use, like “Algebra.” That’s why I’ve come up with my own system for categorizing every single math topic that the ACT can test you on. Whether you’re taking the 2024 version of the test or the new, revised 2025 version, this post will save you lots of time by helping you figure out exactly what to study and what to skip.

Save Time on the ACT Science Section with this Trick

If you want to answer all the questions in the ACT Science Section, you’ve got to move really fast: you’ve got about 52 seconds per question, to be exact. But fret not: this week I’m bringing you my special “Castle Method”—a strategy tailored to this particular section that will help you answer its questions quickly AND accurately.

Digital SAT and ACT: How Long Should You Study?

So…how long does it take to study for the DSAT or ACT? The answer to that question is anything but one-size-fits-all. So if you want to know how long it might take YOU to prep for the Digital SAT or ACT and nail your target score, consider these factors.

Do Elite Colleges Require a Perfect SAT/ACT Score?

If you want to get into an elite college, you need a perfect SAT or ACT score…..right? Actually, this week’s post explains why a perfect score is NOT always required for admission to Harvard, Stanford, or Yale….and how you should be using your college prep time instead of cramming for that 1600 or 36.

ACT Add/Delete a Sentence Questions

If the ACT is your test of choice, you’ll have to navigate quite a few questions about language, grammar, and writing. In this post, I spotlight one type of question that always appears on the test—the “add/delete a sentence” question—and spell out my failsafe tactic for figuring out the right answer. If you’re hunting for a quick and easy way to rack up points, read on!

What Math Is on the Digital SAT?

The math that the Digital SAT tests you on is NOT necessarily the math that you’ve learned most recently or prominently in high school. So, even students who have excelled in their sophomore and junior year math classes need to seriously strategize in order to snag that dream score. But never fear: in this post, I’ve broken down every math topic on the SAT….AND how many questions you’ll have on each topic.

How to Answer ACT Paired Passage Questions

“Paired passages” are a type of question in the ACT Reading section that asks you about two rather than just one passage. And paired passages can take up WAY more of your precious test-day time than they should!…Unless you go in with the right strategy, that is. Click through for a breakdown of the wrong AND the right way to approach this common question type.

National Merit Scholar Finalist? You Can Still Take Either the SAT or ACT.

If you’re a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program, you used to have the SAT forced on you. But these days, you can now validate your qualifying PSAT score with an ACT score! Let me explain how that impacts the testing decisions of high-achieving students.