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.
Early decision: advice if you didn't get accepted (and if you did!)
Early Decisions are about to come out. No matter what happens, you've got next steps. Let me tell you what they are.
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.
How to find the right standardized testing tutor for you
How can you tell whether your ACT or Digital SAT tutor is the right one for you? This article breaks down the two main types of tutor, and the ten qualities your tutor should have (no matter which “type” you pick).
The Easiest Digital SAT Tricks
Short on study time…but hoping for a point boost on the Digital SAT? Here are my top 12 recs for low-effort, high-reward hacks on this particular test.
Best ACT Strategies: 2024-2025
Sometimes you just don’t have time to learn content. For those of you looking for quick ways to gain points on the ACT, here are my top twelve strategy tips.
Anxious about Your Teen's College Process?
Parents, this one's for you! Don't drown in all the insanity that comes with the college process—be a rock of sanity instead. Here's how.
Why the Class of 2026 Needs to Start Their Test Prep NOW
The Class of 2026 is in a unique position when it comes to the ACT. In fact, current juniors need to start their test prep journey NOW, in fall of 2024. Read on to learn why.
ACT Changes: What Do They Mean for YOU? (Pt 3)
The ACT is changing in 2025-26. What should current Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen do about that? The final installment of our three-part series on the coming ACT overhaul gives you specific instructions according to your class year.
What's Staying the Same on the New ACT? (Pt 2)
The ACT is changing in big ways come 2025-26. But some things are staying the same. This post breaks down the 5 ways the ACT won't be changing. Part 2 of a 3-part series!
New ACT: The 8 Things that Will Change in 2025-26 (Pt 1)
Did you know that the ACT is about to undergo a massive transformation? To be specific, eight elements of this major standardized test will change in 2025-26. What’s going to be different? Read on to find out.
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.
Checklist: What to Bring to the Digital SAT
What helpful items should you bring with you to the DSAT to ensure you get the score you’ve worked so hard for? I’ve listed out the 9 must-brings, as well as 2 bonus items to consider too.
Prep plan for the Digital SAT Math
With the recent change from a paper-based to a now fully digital SAT, many of my private tutoring clients have been wondering whether prep strategies have changed, too. That’s why today I’m dedicating a whole post to what you should do if you want a high score on the Math section of the Digital SAT.
The Digital SAT: Pros and Cons
The computer-based version of the SAT is now the ONLY version of the SAT that students can take. It’s not just a simple switch in format—a lot of substantial aspects of the test have changed, too, from how long it takes to how hard the questions are. Arm yourself by learning about the 5 main pros and cons of the new iteration of the test.
SAT and ACT Schedule, 2024-2025
The 2024-25 testing dates for the SAT and ACT have been released, and you’d better believe test prep guru Kristina Semos is bringing them to you all in one convenient place!
(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.
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.
