If the ACT is your test of choice, you’ll have to navigate quite a few questions about language, grammar, and writing. In this post, I spotlight one type of question that always appears on the test—the “add/delete a sentence” question—and spell out my failsafe tactic for figuring out the right answer. If you’re hunting for a quick and easy way to rack up points, read on!
Americans Applying to Australian/New Zealander Colleges: Test Score Requirements
U.S. high schoolers considering studying outside of America for college…can find the application process confusing. This week, I’m demystifying Australian and New Zealander university admissions so you understand which tests you need to take AND which scores you need to get.
How to Cancel an ACT Score
SHOULD you cancel is one question (and I’ve written about it!), but once you’re sure you want to, there’s another question: HOW do you cancel your ACT score? This post walks you through it step by step.
Canceling Your SAT Score: Instructions and Advice
IF canceling your scores is really necessary, it can save your application! But how do you cancel your Digital SAT scores? Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough, for use in emergencies only!
The Best Way to Beat SAT and ACT Anxiety
If you’re stressed about studying for the SAT or ACT because you don’t even know where to begin, that’s understandable! And I’m here to help. In this post, I lay out a strategy that will help you find the motivation and calm you need to get started on your studying plan—no matter what kind of student you are.
The Best Digital SAT Sentence Completion Hack
One of the places on the SAT where a lot of students lose points (and/or time) is on "sentence completion" vocab questions. There's a very common mistake that most test-takers make on such problems. Today’s blog post teaches you how to avoid it…and the very effective strategy you should use instead!
The Best Strategy for Double Passages on the ACT
“Paired passages” are a type of question in the ACT Reading section that asks you about two rather than just one passage. And paired passages can take up WAY more of your precious test-day time than they should!…Unless you go in with the right strategy, that is. Click through for a breakdown of the wrong AND the right way to approach this common question type.
SAT and ACT Test Dates, 2025-26
When can you take the SAT and ACT during the school year that spans fall 2025 through spring 2026? I’ve collected all of those dates for you right here, as well as info on how to register and when scores will be released.
Sick or Out of it during the SAT or ACT?
No matter how much you've studied for the SAT or ACT, sometimes unlucky things happen when you sit down to take the test. Whether you wake up sick or distracted on test day, here's how you can best prepare yourself for the unexpected when it happens to you.
Test Anxiety: How to Beat it
What is test anxiety? How can it impact your SAT or ACT score? And most importantly…how do you get out from under its yoke and get the scores your hard work deserves? Not to worry: expert advice on how to conquer test anxiety is just a click away.
Superscoring on the Digital SAT and ACT
What’s a “Superscore”? If you’re applying to colleges—or if you’re a parent of someone who is—you need to know how this scoring system works and how it affects your college applications. I’m breaking down the details of super scoring on the Digital SAT and ACT in this week’s post!
College in Scotland & Ireland: What SAT/ACT Scores Do You Need?
If you’re an American who can see yourself attending in college in Ireland or Scotland…this post is for you. It explains the testing requirements for U.S. high schoolers who might want to apply to seven of those countries’ top universities, from Trinity to University of Edinburgh.
What Is Score Choice?
Score Choice can be confusing…especially for parents who didn’t have it as part of their own college process! So what is Score Choice and how does it affect your decisions about your SAT and ACT scores and college applications? I’m laying out everything you need to know about Score Choice right here.
How to get extended time on the Digital SAT or ACT
Extended time can seem like something of a mystery…but having coached several students who REALLY needed it to successful accommodation of their needs by both testing bodies, I’m here to tell you that there are concrete ways to get what you need…if you REALLY need it. Just don’t wait ‘til junior year to get the process going.
How to Use Digital SAT Practice Tests
Real SAT practice tests are a finite resource. Let me explain why that matters…and how to make the most of the valuable practice tests you have!
Americans Applying to English Colleges: Standardized Testing Guide
Are you a U.S. student thinking about going to college across the pond? I’ve got you covered, mate. This post summarizes the test scores American students need in order to get into six top U.K. universities.
Does "Test Optional" Mean You Can Skip the SAT or ACT?
Many colleges went “test-optional” during COVID. But the winds have shifted since then. Can you get away with skipping the SAT/ACT entirely…and still get into your colleges of choice? Let’s find out.
List of Math Topics on the Digital SAT
The math that the Digital SAT tests you on is NOT necessarily the math that you’ve learned most recently or prominently in high school. So, even students who have excelled in their sophomore and junior year math classes need to seriously strategize in order to snag that dream score. But never fear: in this post, I’ve broken down every math topic on the SAT….AND how many questions you’ll have on each topic.
Where Should Queer and Trans Students Go to College?
With big political changes afoot at the national and state levels, what can LGBTQ high schoolers do to secure a safer future for themselves? College offers some options there. This post breaks down how to use university to place yourself in a more queer- and trans-friendly environment.
SAT and ACT Requirements for U.S. Students Applying to Canadian Universities
Are you a U.S. student curious about applying to schools like the University of Toronto, McGill, or UBC? Test prep expert Kristina Semos breaks down the latest standardized testing requirements for eight top Canadian universities, including whether submitting your SAT or ACT scores is necessary or optional if you're an American applicant.
