My students who make the most astounding improvements on the SAT or ACT have one thing in common. It's a simple study technique I call the "things to remember list," and I can teach it to you, too.
How to answer Big-Picture Questions on the ACT Reading
Both the SAT and ACT ask “big picture” reading questions, so lots of tutors and test prep companies try to prepare you to answer them. In this post, I’m reviewing the strategies that you’ve probably heard before…and sharing the simple and effective one that works for my students, which I bet you haven’t!
Transition Words on the ACT and Digital SAT
Transition words account for a surprisingly high number of points on the SAT and ACT! But what are they and how do they work? Here’s the most complete guide to transition words you’ll find.
My Top Strategy for ACT English Add/Delete a Sentence Qs
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!
How to Cancel an ACT Score
SHOULD you cancel is one question (and I’ve written about it!), but once you’re sure you want to, there’s another question: HOW do you cancel your ACT score? This post walks you through it step by step.
The Best Way to Beat SAT and ACT Anxiety
If you’re stressed about studying for the SAT or ACT because you don’t even know where to begin, that’s understandable! And I’m here to help. In this post, I lay out a strategy that will help you find the motivation and calm you need to get started on your studying plan—no matter what kind of student you are.
The Best Digital SAT Sentence Completion Hack
One of the places on the SAT where a lot of students lose points (and/or time) is on "sentence completion" vocab questions. There's a very common mistake that most test-takers make on such problems. Today’s blog post teaches you how to avoid it…and the very effective strategy you should use instead!
The Best Strategy for Double Passages on the ACT
“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.
Sick or Out of it during the SAT or ACT?
No matter how much you've studied for the SAT or ACT, sometimes unlucky things happen when you sit down to take the test. Whether you wake up sick or distracted on test day, here's how you can best prepare yourself for the unexpected when it happens to you.
Test Anxiety: How to Beat it
What is test anxiety? How can it impact your SAT or ACT score? And most importantly…how do you get out from under its yoke and get the scores your hard work deserves? Not to worry: expert advice on how to conquer test anxiety is just a click away.
Superscoring on the Digital SAT and ACT
What’s a “Superscore”? If you’re applying to colleges—or if you’re a parent of someone who is—you need to know how this scoring system works and how it affects your college applications. I’m breaking down the details of super scoring on the Digital SAT and ACT in this week’s post!
What Is Score Choice?
Score Choice can be confusing…especially for parents who didn’t have it as part of their own college process! So what is Score Choice and how does it affect your decisions about your SAT and ACT scores and college applications? I’m laying out everything you need to know about Score Choice right here.
How to get extended time on the Digital SAT or ACT
Extended time can seem like something of a mystery…but having coached several students who REALLY needed it to successful accommodation of their needs by both testing bodies, I’m here to tell you that there are concrete ways to get what you need…if you REALLY need it. Just don’t wait ‘til junior year to get the process going.
Does "Test Optional" Mean You Can Skip the SAT or ACT?
Many colleges went “test-optional” during COVID. But the winds have shifted since then. Can you get away with skipping the SAT/ACT entirely…and still get into your colleges of choice? Let’s find out.
List of Math Topics 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 High Does My SAT/ACT Score Need to Be?
You should just be aiming to do as well as you possibly can on the ACT or SAT, right? WRONG. It’s a way better strategy to aim for a specific target score. Let me tell you why and how to find yours!
When to Cancel Your ACT or SAT Score
There are new and helpful options for how to cancel your SAT or ACT score. But don’t get carried away, because there’s a really important question you should ask yourself before you take advantage of them: SHOULD you cancel your score? Let me walk you through the decision the way I’ve helped my students tackle it.
The Best Guessing Strategy for the Digital SAT and ACT
If you’ve taken a few SAT or ACT practice tests (or even a round or two of the actual test), you may have found yourself running out of time on a section or two. What should you do when you don’t have time to actually think through those last few questions? Will it help or harm your score to guess—and if you should guess, what are the smartest strategies for doing so? This week’s post has got you covered.
The New ACT: Section-by-Section Updates
The first practice test for the new ACT just dropped. And it reveals a LOT of things we didn’t know about the new test. Read on for a section-by-section breakdown of what will be different come February/July.
Returning to Test Prep after a Break: 5-Step Plan
Whether it’s winter vacation or a family weekend away, everyone has to take breaks from test prep sometimes. But getting back to your desk after time away can feel like a real drag. Here’s how to regain the momentum you’ve lost.
