Whether you’re just starting your ACT prep or you’re months in, beating your head against the wall, let’s talk about the best way to start approaching your ACT prep. While you might be studying a little bit of each section every day, or studying sections in chunks, you probably already know that it’s a good…
Top 5 ACT Tips (And Free ACT Resources!)
There’s a big sea of ACT test prep out there. When you decide to start studying for the exam, it can be tricky to know where to start. But ACT prep doesn’t have to be overwhelming! With these five ACT tips and the best free ACT resources, you’ll be well on your way to making…
The 3 Most Common ACT Blunders
I have some surprising news: the most common ACT mistakes do not involve getting wrong answers on the test. In fact, the major ACT blunders happen before you get anywhere near the test center. Fortunately, the three big ACT mistakes are easy to avoid… once you know what they are. Big Mistake # 1: Setting…
Affordable Online Test Prep [Episode 198]
We are now getting calls from applicants who plan to plan to apply in the summer, fall, and winter to matriculate in 2018. A few have all their ducks lined up – test score in place, school visits planned, a GPA they’re proud of, and maybe they’re just rounding out their profile to put icing…
Time Management Tips to Make the Most of Your Test Prep
Time is precious on a standardized test. On test day, efficient time use can be the difference between a top score and a failing one. And in test prep, as on the test itself, time is of the essence. Here are some time management tips to help you make the most of your test prep….
9 Easy Ways to Improve Your ACT Score
The most important lesson you can learn as you study for the ACT is this: you can always improve your ACT score. You don’t need to be genius to raise your score, nor do you need infinite amounts of study time. Today, we’ll look at 9 easy ways to improve your ACT score. 1. Prioritize the Most…
Should You Take the ACT Before Spring of Junior Year?
You generally need to take your ACT by the fall of your senior year at the latest. Most universities want to see your scores almost a year before you’d actually begin your fall university studies. So students should choose their ACT test dates with this in mind. However, for most students, it’s not a good…
4 Things You May Not Know About the ACT
1. The essay has changed Many students recall the ACT essay as a cakewalk, with prompts debating the merits of school uniforms being about as intellectual rigors as you’d get. Well, those days are now over and the essay is much more difficult and nuanced than that. As an educator I’d argue it is definitely…
Taking the ACT in 2016? Here’s What’s New
There are two pieces of big news for the ACT this year. One was expected, the other was, uh, a little more embarrassing. First off, the long awaited Official Guide is here, containing tests written by the ACT itself. This is a big deal because the ACT has been getting more difficult over the past…
5 Ways to Increase Your Admission Test Score
Everyone knows that studying is necessary for a good test score. But there are plenty of other tips and tricks to boost your score into the next range. Make yourself more competitive at your dream school by following some of our favorite test prep strategies in this post! 1. Pick the test that plays to…
Banish Outdated ACT Prep Resources
Imagine a class where the teacher gives you a stack of notes. He or she tells you that to do well on the test all you need to do is to study the notes. Wanting to do your best, you do just that, carefully memorizing each point. When you sit down to take the test,…
The ACT Essay: A Breakdown
The Prompt The new ACT essay prompts that premiered last fall have been giving even top-scoring students a run for their money. The reason is because the ACT is now asking students to do a lot more in their essay responses. So let’s break it down. The ACT essay prompt consists of three main parts:…
ACT vs SAT: Pros And Cons
Which test should you take? The SAT or the ACT? An already tough question even without the added wrench of the brand new SAT (premiering in March 2016) thrown into the equation. So if you are planning on taking standardized tests in the spring of next year or later, make sure you read on to…
I Stink At SAT Math: What Next?
It’s pretty much inevitable that at some point during your SAT, you’re going to look at a problem and think, “Nope. Not happening.” Or maybe it will be a few moments after, which can be even more frustrating—you work through what seems like the best way to attack a problem, but then after a good…
ACT, SAT, PSAT…What’s the Difference?
When we compare standardized tests to each other, there are usually two points of view that people take: either they’re all the same, or you have to prepare for each one separately. The truth—surprise, surprise—is actually somewhere between those two ideas. But that’s boring to write about (who actually likes compromising, anyway?), so I’m not…
Review of BenchPrep’s Online Test Prep Site
I just logged into the BenchPrep test prep website and am welcomed with their greeting of “Gain an unfair advantage on test day”; I like this – a test prep site with an edge! Let’s continue exploring… After you sign in and choose your test (see list below), you’ll then choose your target test date….
Summer Bonus Tip: Getting a Jumpstart on Standardized Testing
This is the final post in a series of monthly blog posts designed for members of the high school class of 2014, and excerpted from Preparing for College in High School: A To-Do List for Eleventh Graders. It highlights planning steps that you can take now to make your college application process easier and more…
Want a 30+ on the ACT? Here’s What to Know
If you or your child is about to start preparing for the ACT, you might be wondering what exactly will show up on the test? What does one need to know to do well on the ACT? Here’s a brief overview of what’s covered in each section. ACT English The ACT English section measures standard…
Preparing for College: January
This is the first in a series of monthly blog posts designed for members of the high school class of 2012. It highlights planning steps that you can take now to make your college application process easier. Take a look at the calendar. In one year, your college applications will be submitted and you’ll be…
