The Standardized Testing Holding Pattern
Ongoing Uncertainty with Standardized Testing The calendar page has turned on a new year bringing new hope and new resolve, but also an acknowledgment that we are still dealing with problems both introduced and exposed in the last calendar year. COVID-19 is still raging across the United States and a combination of colder weather, quarantine […]
Why You Should Still Take the SAT & ACT Essay
The Washington Post recently published an article which reported that many states which provide funding for free in-school test prep programs at public high schools have begun to cut instruction on the SAT and ACT Essay from their courses. Additionally, a percentage of these states also subsidize the fees […]
Now is the Time for SAT Subject Test Preparation
Now is the Time for SAT Subject Test Preparation Now that April is here and the fourth quarter of the school year has begun, many students are turning the corner on preparing for the end of the school year. For students of all ages this includes studying for end of year tests, like finals […]
The SAT Subject Test Plan
In 2017, the College Board adjusted its calendar of SAT test dates, eliminating the January date and replacing it with an August date. August 24, 2019, will be the third August SAT test date. And it is becoming one of the most popular test dates for students to take their SAT Subject Tests. […]
The Power of Public Speaking
Over the past few decades educators, politicians, and the titans of business in the United States have put an ever increasing focus on the STEM skills: science, technology, engineering, and math. These skills are incredibly important in a world in which technology plays a larger and larger role in […]
What are SAT/ACT Accommodations and Why You Won’t Qualify For Them
With the school year in full swing, and both the final big SAT and ACT testings approaching in December and the major spring testings looming on the horizon, the stress levels of high school students and their parents are once again on the rise. Not only are the SAT and the ACT stressful experiences […]
SAT Controversies
In the last several months, the SAT was rocked by two separate controversies that have students, parents, college counselors, and teachers all doubting the value and fairness of the SAT. Shortly after the administration of the August 25th, 2018, test date, rumors began circulating that some of the questions that appeared on the test had previously […]
Should I Take the SAT or ACT?
Considering that most colleges and universities in the United States currently accept either the SAT or the ACT as part of the application process, a common question parents and students will ask their college counselors, teachers, and test prep tutors is which one should I take? SAT or ACT? This question used to be purely […]
Questions and Answers about the Value of Advanced Placement
With all of the changes to standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT coupled with the introduction of and backlash against Common Core curriculum over the last few years, many parents and students have questions about the Advanced Placement (AP) classes and exams. Some wonder if the exams and classes still hold any […]
Junior Year Stress
It’s long been accepted conventional wisdom that students’ junior year of high school is the most stressful. Many adults can recount their own tales of junior year stress: maintaining their grade point average, preparing for college-entrance exams and thinking about college, perhaps participating in a sport or working a part-time job. And while high school […]
How to Navigate the May SAT Date
While the March SAT date is the most popular among students, with some reports claiming that as much as fifty percent of all high school juniors who take the SAT do so in March each year, another popular test date is the May SAT date. Many students take the SAT for the first time in […]
Guessing Strategies for the SAT & ACT
With so many changes in the standardized test landscape over the last three years, many students, parents, and educators are confused about many of the topics and concepts surrounding the college admissions tests: SAT and ACT. One area of confusion relates to scoring and guessing. Students, parents, and even educators are not sure if it […]