Transition words are a big deal 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.
4 Schedules for Taking the Digital SAT or ACT: 2024-25 Edition
Okay, so you know you need a Testing Timeline—but where do you start? I’ve got you covered. One of these four basic Testing Timelines should get (almost) every high school Junior on the path to SAT or ACT success!
(How) Should You Study for the SAT/ACT in 9th and 10th Grade?
Most freshmen and sophomores do NOT need to study for the ACT and SAT! But if you're the kind of student who likes to get going ASAP, here's what you can do right now.
How to Use Diagnostic Testing for the Digital SAT and ACT
You might already know that you need to take a diagnostic test in order to set up a successful test-prep process. But did you know that HOW you take it really matters? I’m explaining what to do and what NOT to do in order to get the best results from your diagnostic SAT or ACT test.
5 Quick Brain Tricks to Improve Your SAT or ACT Score
Not sure how to prepare mentally before your next exam? Check out these 5 strategies that will boost your brainpower.
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.
Answering the ACT "Fork" Question
The "fork question" is my term for a particular question form on the ACT that can waste your time and induce unnecessary errors...unless you see it coming. Read on for the lowdown on how to conquer this tricky question type.
Best SAT and ACT Study Strategy: "Things to Remember" List
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.
Top Grammar Terms to Know for the Digital SAT
There’s the English we speak when we’re hanging out with our friends….and then there’s the English that we learn in high school grammar courses….and THEN there’s the English that’s tested on the SAT. There are some important differences between the three! That’s why this week’s post rounds up over a dozen of the words that trip up SAT studiers the most, from deceptively familiar parts of speech to oddball words we almost never use aloud.
Overwhelmed by Junior Year? Here's What to Do.
Don't throw in the towel! Instead, muster your grit and learn to make time for schoolwork AND test prep.
Too Busy to Study for the ACT and SAT?
Even the most gung-ho high schoolers can struggle to find time for SAT and ACT study. This post explains the technique I use to find time in my clients’’ busy schedules to make sure they get the scores they want. The truth is, you DO have the power to make choices about how to spend your time!
Got a Low Score on a Practice SAT or ACT?
So you’re chugging towards your target score on the SAT or ACT…when suddenly, you bomb a practice test. What should you do? It’s more about what you SHOULDN’T do, and I’m laying it out for you in this post!
Get into Your #1 School with these Four New Year's Resolutions
Happy (almost) 2024! As we all look towards a bright new year, here are some resolutions that will move you towards a major goal: getting into your dream college.
Why "Study More" Isn't a Good SAT/ACT Study Strategy
"Study more!" is almost a reflex in parents during the college process. But standardized tests don't work that way.
Didn't Do Well on the SAT or ACT?
Did you just get back a not-so-hot test score on your ACT or SAT? Never fear. Kristina Semos is here…with a guide on how to recover and do better on your next one.
Master List: Defeating SAT and ACT Stress
Yes, we’re approaching the toughest stretch of test prep and college applications. No, that doesn't mean you should panic. Beat stress with these quick hits.
Beat Test Day Cold Feet
Your first Digital SAT, SAT, or ACT sitting is coming and you're starting to freak out. I promise you: I've seen it before. Let me talk you through your test day cold feet.
What matters most on a college application...if you're going test-optional?
So, you’re thinking about skipping the ACT or SAT because some (or even all!) of the schools on your list went test-optional during Covid-19. Before you actually commit to skipping, let’s take a look at how it affects the way the rest of your application is evaluated.
The Digital PSAT/NMSQT: Everything You Need to Know
The PSAT is now completely digital, in order to better reflect the new, Digital SAT. But the format isn’t the only thing that’s different for this new version of the test. Read on to learn how the timing of the test has changed, as well as what’s being tested.
What Should You Bring to the Digital SAT, SAT, or ACT?
You’ve studied for months, and now the big day is finally here: you’re about to take the Digital SAT, SAT or the ACT. But all of that hard prep work will be wasted effort if you show up to the testing room without the supplies you need to rock the test! Never fear: I’ve made you a checklist of the 7-9 essential items you should bring with you when you take the ACT or SAT, now with updated info on what you should bring to the Digital SAT, too.
