The main purpose of the SAT is to provide a fair, “standardized” means of evaluating students, offsetting any inherent variations among various high school class difficulty levels and teacher grading styles…
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In regard to level of difficulty, the tests are nearly identical, with one caveat: the SAT is longer and forces students to move a bit more quickly in the math sections. However, there are some key differences between the PSAT and SAT that all high school students should be aware of.
Read MoreIf you are a student or the parent of a student who took the SAT on August 25, 2018, you have probably heard about the concerns regarding security breaches and the questionable integrity of this particular administration of the test.
Read MoreSometimes being a student can feel a little more like being an audience member in a show you’d probably rather get a refund for, except that you can’t because you’re mandated by law (and probably your parents) to be in class five days a week where you are expected to pay attention, complete assignments, and pass tests. It sure can feel like you don’t have a lot of freedom. But actually, you do.
Read MoreThe first passage on both the ACT and the SAT Reading tests is the fiction/literature passage. For some students, the fiction passage is the most interesting one on the test because it offers a change of pace from the others, which tend to be fact-based and straightforward. However, when teaching these passages, I often hear collective groans from my students because many of them fail to grasp what actually happens within these stories. To reduce confusion, here are some suggestions on how to approach fiction and literature passages on the ACT and SAT:
Read MoreAlthough you have considerable freedom regarding when to take the SAT, being strategic could help you achieve your best score, not to mention save you some money. The decision of “when” depends mostly on two things: your academic situation and your preparedness. Here are some considerations to help you optimize fitting the SAT into your high school timeline.
Read MoreReading comprehension is a complex process that involves understanding both the explicit and implicit, or unstated, meanings of a text. Practicing your reading comprehension skills can go a long way toward improving your test performance as well as your long-term reading progress. Here's how to start...
Read MoreThe SAT is known for testing difficult vocabulary, or so-called “SAT words,” so studying for the SAT tends to evoke images of long lists of definitions and teetering stacks of flashcards. However, the latest version of the SAT (updated in 2016) no longer tests high-level words in isolated vocabulary questions (i.e., sentence completions or analogies). So the logical question is, how important is vocabulary on the SAT? Are lists of vocabulary words outdated?
Read More“How can I improve my speed on the SAT/ACT?” is one of the most frequently asked questions I hear from students. It’s a tricky question to answer without knowing specifically how a student approaches test-taking because we all read and calculate at different rates. However, there are general strategies anyone can use to improve performance speed on test day.
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Didn't get a chance to read every post we published in 2017? No problem! If you only have time to read a few articles this year, here are our top 10 blog posts to make 2018 your best year yet.
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