2020 has been a rough year for many, and if you are a high school junior, you have yet another challenge to face: deciding whether to take the SAT or ACT when so many colleges have adopted a test-optional admissions policy. So what’s the difference between test-optional and test-blind? And what does it mean for you? In a nutshell, test-blind means a school won’t accept standardized test scores. At all. If you send them, they won’t look at them. Test-optional means that standardized test scores are not required for an application, but they are welcomed and valued in the competitive proce ..read more

I have been asked by so many parents what their teen can do NOW to utilize some of their extra time. All students can review content areas that are tested on every SAT and ACT.  Below are some ideas they can get started on right away. Be aware that if you are ordering texts online, some companies are experiencing longer than usual delivery times. Grammar I would love to suggest an excellent workbook that can be purchased on Amazon (or any online store with better pricing or faster shipping options): The Complete Guide to ACT English or The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar, both written by E ..read more

Are you the parent of a high school sophomore or junior? Are you starting to think about college? One important component for most schools is the SAT and ACT score, and you aren’t alone if you have questions. I receive constant calls from parents asking: Which is better, the SAT or the ACT? Since 2008, all U.S. colleges accept both tests! As a parent who survived getting three kids into college, my goal is to minimize the amount of time spent prepping. I always suggest students try both practice tests, and see which test is a better fit. Test Preps offers courses for both the SAT and the ACT ..read more

“I’m a top athlete… I don’t need to be concerned about my ACT/SAT score, right?” While being a competitive athlete in a DI or DII collegiate sport can help you with college admissions, that doesn’t mean you can ignore the SAT or ACT. The NCAA (which governs college sports) has academic Eligibility Standards and dictates what SAT or ACT score you will need (based on your GPA) in order to play for a college. The lower your high school GPA, the higher your test scores need to be. For example, if you are looking to play at the DI level but you are a middle “C” student with a GPA of 2.50, you would ..read more

Is your teen currently preparing for the SAT or ACT and wondering how all their scores will be looked at by colleges? They are not alone! One question we are often asked by both parents and students is about superscoring. Superscoring is the process in which colleges will only consider a student’s highest section scores from each SAT or ACT test they’ve taken. Let’s illustrate superscoring with this example: On Jennifer’s first SAT, she scores 650 on the critical reading section and 550 on the math section. On her second SAT, she scores 610 on reading and 590 on math. A college that supe ..read more

Summer reading – just these 2 words alone can cause feelings of enormous dread for many students! Though you may shudder at the thought of reading during your time off, it may surprise you to learn that summer reading can have many benefits for improving your SAT and/or ACT score. If you’ve been preparing at all for the SAT or ACT, you know firsthand that both tests place an emphasis on evidence-based reading comprehension. Active reading – the type of reading required to read a book – requires you to interpret a great depth of information in order to understand the story. Making a habit of re ..read more

With so much emphasis on the multiple-choice portion of the ACT, many students are quick to dismiss the test’s essay requirement and think they can simply wing it. However, the ACT essay is unlike most of the essays you’ll write in your English class. With only 40 minutes on the clock, you’ll need to have a strategy in mind for writing a clear and comprehensive essay that addresses all elements of the prompt. Here’s a breakdown for how to effectively navigate the ACT essay: Make your case. The ACT essay prompt requires that you take a stance regarding three perspectives outlined in front of y ..read more

While preparing to take the SAT or ACT is undoubtedly a lot of work, sometimes the registration process itself can be stressful. Your ability to plan ahead and closely follow instructions is critical for ensuring that you register for your test correctly and efficiently. Once you begin preparation, it’s time to register for the test. Here are three helpful test registration tips: Register early and be aware of registration deadlines. It’s important that you educate yourself about upcoming test dates as soon as possible. Once you create an online account at collegeboard.org (SAT) or actstudent ..read more

With so much information out there about the SAT and ACT, it can be difficult to know which test to take. Both tests have evolved over the last few years, leaving parents and students with many questions. The reality is that there is no “better” test. When it comes to college testing, students should identify the best test option for his or her individual abilities. Here are a few factors to keep in mind: Time constraints vary on the SAT and ACT. Of course both tests are timed, but the SAT allows for more time per question on all sections of the exam. Although this doesn’t make the SAT any ea ..read more

With the holiday break being a time for fun and festivities, test preparation is often the last thing on students’ minds. However, using some of this valuable time off to take practice tests and plan ahead can be instrumental in helping juniors achieve successful SAT and ACT outcomes in the spring. If you’re a high school student, here are two good reasons why you should start the test preparation process during holiday break: No school conflicts – The burden of test preparation when you have homework, AP exams, mid-terms, sport/musical practices and class projects can be overwhelming. Yo ..read more