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!
College in Scotland & Ireland: What SAT/ACT Scores Do You Need?
If you’re an American who can see yourself attending in college in Ireland or Scotland…this post is for you. It explains the testing requirements for U.S. high schoolers who might want to apply to seven of those countries’ top universities, from Trinity to University of Edinburgh.
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.
How to Use Digital SAT Practice Tests
Real SAT practice tests are a finite resource. Let me explain why that matters…and how to make the most of the valuable practice tests you have!
Americans Applying to English Colleges: Standardized Testing Guide
Are you a U.S. student thinking about going to college across the pond? I’ve got you covered, mate. This post summarizes the test scores American students need in order to get into six top U.K. universities.
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.
Where Should Queer and Trans Students Go to College?
With big political changes afoot at the national and state levels, what can LGBTQ high schoolers do to secure a safer future for themselves? College offers some options there. This post breaks down how to use university to place yourself in a more queer- and trans-friendly environment.
SAT and ACT Requirements for U.S. Students Applying to Canadian Universities
Are you a U.S. student curious about applying to schools like the University of Toronto, McGill, or UBC? Test prep expert Kristina Semos breaks down the latest standardized testing requirements for eight top Canadian universities, including whether submitting your SAT or ACT scores is necessary or optional if you're an American applicant.
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.
Why Junior Spring Matters to College Admissions
Junior spring is hectic, I know! You might be tempted to let your academics slide as you focus on test prep...but wait! Let me explain why you need to keep your eye on your school books, not just your prep books.
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.
A New Year's Ritual to Get Accepted to College
A new year is a chance to pause, take stock, and course correct as you proceed joyfully towards your goals. This little New Year’s ritual offers you questions to ask yourself and words to take to heart—all designed to help you realize your college process goals, no matter where you are in that process right now.
How to Double-Check Your Common App
There’s more to calling your Common Application complete than dotting every I, crossing every T, and catching every typo. My six-step checklist will have you hitting submit with confidence!
The Best Common App Resources
Those deadlines are looming and your stress level is rising. Don’t panic! This Common App resources roundup has got links that will help you answer any question, and overcome any hurdle, standing in the way of clicking “submit.”
