Mastering reading comprehension is a fundamental skill that holds immense importance for students. As educators, teaching reading comprehension to our students is not only essential for ACT® and SAT® test prep but also carries far-reaching implications for their academic achievements overall as well as their future prospects. The Significance of Strong Reading Comprehension Skills Proficient reading comprehension positively impacts performance across subjects, equipping students with lifelong skills critical for higher education and professional endeavors.  Evidence from the National As ..read more

It’s been over a month since the very first digital SAT® was launched on March 9th nationwide.  As real score reports come in from actual test-takers, students and educators are all getting a better idea of what this new digital testing experience is really like. Additionally, we’re getting our first opportunity to compare old vs. new SAT® formats and practice vs. actual test scores, giving us a clearer picture of what strategies worked well for students and which ones need more fine-tuning. States are also doing comparisons of their own. School districts are taking a look at how their s ..read more

The month of April is an important one for our college-bound high school Seniors. With National College Decision Day (May 1st) quickly approaching, it’s time for them to decide which school they plan to attend in the Fall and formally accept that school’s offer of admittance.  For many students, this is a really difficult decision. Whether it be they were denied acceptance to their dream school, waitlisted and don’t want to put their dreams on hold, or just haven’t taken the time to narrow down their list—this is the time to focus on the path they want to take next year.  So, what a ..read more

As we approach Spring Break, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and engage in some much-needed test-prep Spring cleaning.  This past year has witnessed significant changes in the standardized testing landscape. Most notably, the transition from the traditional paper-based SAT® to the new digital format. This major shift has not only altered how our students take the SAT® suite of assessments but also impacted the materials and resources they need to prepare effectively for the digital version. Let’s underscore this point: embracing the digital shift is crucial for your test-prep business a ..read more

Women’s History Month holds immense significance as it provides an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the remarkable contributions of women throughout history. Since 1995, every U.S. president has issued annual proclamations designating the month of March as Women’s History Month. This annual recognition celebrates the immense impact of women in American and global history. It emphasizes their accomplishments, strengths, and influences on society as we know it today. As tutors and test-prep professionals, we can include those monumental achievements of women in history—beyond just the mon ..read more

While August officially marks National Wellness Month, schools often celebrate wellness practices in various ways and at different times throughout the school year. In my kids’ school district, this week is School Wellness Week. Talking to them at home about self-care and wellness got me thinking about how tutors and educators can include wellness practices in test prep and study sessions with our clients during this critical academic period in their high school careers.  Understanding the Connection Between Wellness and Academic Performance Many studies and research findings explain how ..read more

Last week, we reported Yale’s policy update from test-optional to test-flexible, a mandate that requires prospective students to submit their test scores from either the ACT®, SAT®, AP, or IB exams. As you well know, this is just the latest school to make the post-pandemic switch back to testing requirements for college admission. And also highlights the main point of standardized testing: test scores are the most reliable predictor of a student’s college readiness and future academic success. In conjunction with these school policy changes, we’ve also seen the massive shift from paper-and-pe ..read more

In early February, we shared Dartmouth College’s major announcement to reinstate its standardized testing requirements. In that post, we asked the big question: Will other schools follow suit? And we said: Quite possible, yes. We feel very strongly that many of the colleges and universities that switched their testing policies to accommodate applicants during the global pandemic did so as a temporary solution. This is why it’s really not all too surprising that, four years later, those schools are reevaluating those testing policies.  Yale Changes from Test-Optional to Test-Flexible On t ..read more

In certain U.S. states, high school students are mandated to take standardized tests such as the ACT® or SAT® to fulfill graduation requirements.  For example, the following states require high school students to take the ACT® to graduate: Alabama Hawaii Kentucky Montana Nebraska Nevada North Carolina Wisconsin Wyoming These states use the SAT® as a high school graduation requirement: Connecticut Delaware Illinois New Hampshire In other states, school districts and/or high school students can choose either the ACT® or SAT® as a graduation requirement: Colo ..read more

Breaking News On February 5th, Dartmouth’s new president, Sian Leah Beilock, announced Dartmouth’s reinstatement of standardized testing requirements for admissions beginning with the high school graduating class of 2025. Why did Ivy League Dartmouth, one of the world’s most prestigious colleges, reinstate its ACT®/SAT® score requirement? Last summer, Dartmouth welcomed Sian Leah Beilock as its new president. Beilock, formerly president of Barnard College and a cognitive science professor, initiated social science-backed research to explore the importance of standardized tests in identifying p ..read more