Time and again, I see very smart students make the same types of missteps on the SAT and ACT Math. That’s because the test-makers ARE sometimes trying to trip you up. This post reveals the five most common, trickiest stumbling blocks that the ACT or SAT Math section might throw your way…as well as the strategies you’ll use to clear those obstacles from your path so you can reach that stellar score.
When You Wake Up Sick or Distracted on Test Day
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.
Answering SAT Evidence Questions
Evidence Questions can account for up to a THIRD of the questions on the SAT reading section. That’s a lot of points in the balance—not to mention that this question type can be quite tricky and time-consuming to answer if you don’t have a strategy. Fortunately, once you read this blog post, you will have one!
What to Know about the New, Digital SAT
BIG changes are underfoot for the SAT: the College Board just announced that the test will have gone completely digital by 2024. But what exactly does this mean for the composition of the test, its difficulty, and for YOU as a future SAT taker? This post explains it all in simple English.
When Should I Schedule My First ACT? 2022 Edition
Timing is KEY when it comes to the ACT: take it too soon and you might not have completed all the high school coursework you need for the test—but take it too late and you might be risking a low score with no chance to re-take it. Plus, the way the ACT is administered has changed recently, so the scheduling calculus is different in 2022 from previous years. Don’t worry, though: I’ve got your back with this step-by-step guide to figuring out what test dates are right for YOU.
When to Take Your First SAT in 2022
Figuring out when exactly you need to take your first SAT (and the second, and….) can be a real headache. The timing question is made even thornier by the fact that the SAT has changed quite a bit over the past few years—and many of those changes impact testing timelines. This post gets you up to date on all of those factors that impact SAT scheduling, and then helps you figure out what that means for YOUR SAT schedule in 2022.
Should I Take the ACT or the SAT in 2022?
When it comes to choosing between taking the SAT and the ACT, you obviously want to pick the one that’s going to help you shine the most on your college applications. But how do you figure THAT out?! This post clarifies the ways that this question has changed in recent years, AND the three key steps you should take to decide which test is right for you.
How to Cram for the ACT
If you’re sweating bullets before your rapidly-approaching ACT, never fear! This last-minute study plan is here to save you time, sanity, and points by telling you EXACTLY what to study. The five question types I’ve highlighted here get you a lot of bang for your studying buck on the ACT…and so are exactly what you should focus on in the week or so left before your exam, whether you’ve already been studying hard or hardly studying.
Your Last-Minute SAT Study Plan
Let's say you've only got a week or two to go before your SAT. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do in the next few days to raise your score—in fact, you can still boost your score by as much as 300 points. How? By studying the five high-point-yield topics I’ve listed out in this blog post.
What Grammar Do You Need to Know for the SAT?
For a high score on the SAT Writing and Language test, you’ll need to learn more about grammar and rhetoric than what you’re being taught in your high school classroom. This week’s post brings you the 19 key elements of the English language that the SAT Writing and Language section will test you on.
ACT English Grammar Guide
Which grammar rules, exactly, do you need to master in order to grab that perfect score on the ACT English section? This week’s post brings you just the wheat and none of the chaff: the 19 essential parts of grammar that the ACT English will test you on.
Your Step-by-Step Common App Guide, 2021-2022
The Common App is a crucial but complex part of the college application process for many students. Luckily for you, I’ve written a LOT of articles breaking down each and every element of the Common App, from how to find a killer essay topic to how to ace the Activities List! This meta-post collects all of my relevant Common App articles so that you can have them in one place as you begin your application for the 2021-22 application season.
How to Improve Your College Application by Showing "Demonstrated Interest"
If a low-effort task might just push your college application over the edge from “rejected” to “admitted,” you want to be on it YESTERDAY, right? Well, “Demonstrated Interest” is exactly that task! This post gives you the scoop on what Demonstrated Interest is in college admissions—AND lists out the nine ways (big and small) that you can go about showing that interest to the schools on your list.
Should You Guess on the SAT and ACT? (And If So, How?)
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.
New Changes to the Common App for 2021-2022!
The Common App is changing in some important ways for the 2021-2022 college application season. In this post, I break down every one of those changes for you. If you're a class of '22 high schooler (or beyond), this is your one-stop guide to the coming year's Common App.
Does the Class of 2023 Need to Take the SAT or ACT?
Lots of things looked different for the 2020-21 college application cycle—including the fact that many more colleges than usual went Test Blind (didn't accept SAT/ACT scores) or Test Optional (allowed applicants to opt out of submitting scores). But will these COVID-specific policies still be in effect next year? If you’re in the class of 2023, read on for answers to this question, and my specific advice to rising Juniors on this front.
2021-2022 SAT and ACT Test Dates
Summer’s (almost/already) here! If you’re a high school junior or senior, you’re probably thinking ahead (or actively prepping for) your ACT and/or SAT. But when should you actually TAKE the thing? In this post, I’ve collected the 2021-22 test dates for you all in one convenient place: ACT, SAT, international, and U.S.-based.
How Does the New ACT Superscore Report Affect You?
In April, the ACT introduced a new report that students can use to send their ACT Superscores to colleges. What is Superscoring, anyways—and what does the new reporting method mean for YOUR college application?
How to Choose Which College to Attend After You're Accepted
College Decision Day is just around the corner. If you’re a high school senior who got into more than one of your dream schools, committing to just one of them in early May might be a stressful prospect! But I’m here to take the pressure off. In this post, I spell out exactly what your next steps are for making this crucial choice.
Class of 2022: How Do the Cancelled SAT II Subject Tests Affect You?
If you’re in the class of 2022 or after, you’re probably wondering how the College Board’s decision to discontinue the SAT II Subject Tests affects your test prep. I’m breaking it down for you with expert analysis of several different situations you might find yourself in.
