It’s totally normal to feel nervous on the day that you wake up to finally take the SAT or ACT. But it’s also totally possible to then calm yourself down so you can actually attain the score you’ve been studying so hard for. Here are my ten expert pointers for a Test Day morning that sets you up for success.
SAT and ACT Schedule, 2024-2025
The 2024-25 testing dates for the SAT and ACT have been released, and you’d better believe test prep guru Kristina Semos is bringing them to you all in one convenient place!
Transition Words on the ACT and Digital SAT
Transition words are a big deal on the SAT and ACT! But what are they and how do they work? Here’s the most complete guide to transition words you’ll find.
4 Schedules for Taking the Digital SAT or ACT: 2024-25 Edition
Okay, so you know you need a Testing Timeline—but where do you start? I’ve got you covered. One of these four basic Testing Timelines should get (almost) every high school Junior on the path to SAT or ACT success!
ACT Add/Delete a Sentence Questions
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!
(How) Should You Study for the SAT/ACT in 9th and 10th Grade?
Most freshmen and sophomores do NOT need to study for the ACT and SAT! But if you're the kind of student who likes to get going ASAP, here's what you can do right now.
How to Answer ACT Paired Passage Questions
“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.
How to Use Diagnostic Testing for the Digital SAT and ACT
You might already know that you need to take a diagnostic test in order to set up a successful test-prep process. But did you know that HOW you take it really matters? I’m explaining what to do and what NOT to do in order to get the best results from your diagnostic SAT or ACT test.
5 Quick Brain Tricks to Improve Your SAT or ACT Score
Not sure how to prepare mentally before your next exam? Check out these 5 strategies that will boost your brainpower.
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.
Answering the ACT "Fork" Question
The "fork question" is my term for a particular question form on the ACT that can waste your time and induce unnecessary errors...unless you see it coming. Read on for the lowdown on how to conquer this tricky question type.
Best SAT and ACT Study Strategy: "Things to Remember" List
My students who make the most astounding improvements on the SAT or ACT have one thing in common. It's a simple study technique I call the "things to remember list," and I can teach it to you, too.
Top Grammar Terms to Know for the Digital SAT
There’s the English we speak when we’re hanging out with our friends….and then there’s the English that we learn in high school grammar courses….and THEN there’s the English that’s tested on the SAT. There are some important differences between the three! That’s why this week’s post rounds up over a dozen of the words that trip up SAT studiers the most, from deceptively familiar parts of speech to oddball words we almost never use aloud.
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.
Overwhelmed by Junior Year? Here's What to Do.
Don't throw in the towel! Instead, muster your grit and learn to make time for schoolwork AND test prep.
Too Busy to Study for the ACT and SAT?
Even the most gung-ho high schoolers can struggle to find time for SAT and ACT study. This post explains the technique I use to find time in my clients’’ busy schedules to make sure they get the scores they want. The truth is, you DO have the power to make choices about how to spend your time!
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.
Got a Low Score on a Practice SAT or ACT?
So you’re chugging towards your target score on the SAT or ACT…when suddenly, you bomb a practice test. What should you do? It’s more about what you SHOULDN’T do, and I’m laying it out for you in this post!
Get into Your #1 School with these Four New Year's Resolutions
Happy (almost) 2024! As we all look towards a bright new year, here are some resolutions that will move you towards a major goal: getting into your dream college.
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.
