How can you tell whether your ACT or Digital SAT tutor is the right one for you? This article breaks down the two main types of tutor, and the ten qualities your tutor should have (no matter which “type” you pick).
Make Getting into College Less Stressful
Fights, confusion, stress—that's just what junior year is like, right? Nope! There's a better way. I promise. Let me show you what it can be like.
Anxious about Your Teen's College Process?
Parents, this one's for you! Don't drown in all the insanity that comes with the college process—be a rock of sanity instead. Here's how.
Digital SAT and ACT: How Long Should You Study?
So…how long does it take to study for the DSAT or ACT? The answer to that question is anything but one-size-fits-all. So if you want to know how long it might take YOU to prep for the Digital SAT or ACT and nail your target score, consider these factors.
National Merit Scholar Finalist? You Can Still Take Either the SAT or ACT.
If you’re a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program, you used to have the SAT forced on you. But these days, you can now validate your qualifying PSAT score with an ACT score! Let me explain how that impacts the testing decisions of high-achieving students.
How to Cancel Your 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.
Score Choice on the SAT and ACT: What Is It?
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.
Why "Study More" Isn't a Good SAT/ACT Study Strategy
"Study more!" is almost a reflex in parents during the college process. But standardized tests don't work that way.
How to Know if You Should Cancel Your SAT or ACT Score
There are new and helpful options for how to cancel your SAT or ACT score. But don’t get carried away, because there’s a really important question you should ask yourself before you take advantage of them: SHOULD you cancel your score? Let me walk you through the decision the way I’ve helped my students tackle it.
How to Break Down Every SAT and ACT Section
Struggling to stay calm as you prep for the SAT or ACT? Test prep expert Kristina Semos shows you how to make a big-picture study plan for a given exam section—and walks you through two detailed examples, study plans for the ACT Science and SAT No-Calculator Math Sections.
How to get extended time on the SAT or ACT (if you really need it!)
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.
My Top Strategy for Overcoming SAT and ACT Test 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.
How to Overcome Test Anxiety on the SAT or ACT
What is test anxiety? How can it impact your SAT or ACT score? And most importantly…HOW DO YOU SLAY IT and get the scores your preparation deserves? Not to worry: expert advice on how to conquer test anxiety is just a click away.
10 Mistakes to Avoid in Marketing Yourself to Colleges
Some of these ideas are crazy...but they're all real! Here's what NOT to do when you're trying to impress colleges.
How to Improve Your College Application by Showing "Demonstrated Interest"
If a low-effort task might just push your college application over the edge from “rejected” to “admitted,” you want to be on it YESTERDAY, right? Well, “Demonstrated Interest” is exactly that task! This post gives you the scoop on what Demonstrated Interest is in college admissions—AND lists out the nine ways (big and small) that you can go about showing that interest to the schools on your list.
"Test-optional" applications: can YOU skip the SAT or ACT entirely?
So…we’ve taken a look at what “test optional” REALLY means, and how it affects the way your application is evaluated. Now that you have a little more information about what makes this decision complicated, let’s cut to the chase: how do you decide if YOU can skip the SAT or ACT? I’ll walk you through it.
How To Make Online Test Prep Work For You
Online education, distance learning, remote instruction—whatever you call it, it’s our new normal for right now. How will you make the switch without letting it derail your prep for ACTs, SATs, and even just your classes? For the last decade, I’ve been helping students in nine time zones across six continents get the scores they need to get into their dream schools—so let me explain.
ACT vs SAT I vs SAT II: What's the Difference?
We may be test ninjas here at Ivy Lounge, but everyone has to start with the basics! This post will get you up to speed on the crucial foundational knowledge about the ACT, SAT I, and SAT II—so you can get on your way to an overall testing strategy!
What's the SAT Adversity Score?
If you follow testing and college-process news, you may have heard of the SAT’s new “Adversity Score.” But what is it, really? And how will it affect YOUR testing strategy? I’m breaking it down for you.
Is the College Board Going Down?
The College Board has had some high-profile problems in the last couple of years. So is this it for the SAT (and the SAT IIs…and AP exams…)? In my expert opinion, not even close—here’s why.
