SAT Vocab Tips: Breaking Words Down
As we cover in our Conquer SAT Vocabulary video course, when you come across a vocab word you don't know on the SAT, there are a few ways to deal with it. The first involves checking for context clues, and the second involves taking the word apart, so to speak, to...
SAT Grammar: Transition Words on the SAT Reading & Writing
In their own SAT and ACT essay-writing, many students struggle making fluid and appropriate transitions from one sentence or paragraph to another. Likewise, students struggle with selecting the appropriate transition word on the SAT Writing section. They...
ACT Reading: How to Finish On-Time
Running Out of Time on the ACT Reading Test? Sometimes students find themselves running out of time on the ACT Reading test even though they've practiced skimming efficiently. If you're one of those students who runs out of time no matter what you do, it's important...
Grammar Rules: Colons and Dashes on the SAT and ACT
The colon: how to use it? And the dash--do you know what it does? These two punctuation marks are the source of much confusion for many students. But they need not be! Here, I'll explain when and how to use them, and how they're tested on the...
How to Succeed on SAT II Subject Tests
An increasing number of colleges are requesting that students take one or more SAT II Subject Tests. Which tests are offered, and which ones should you take? How should you prepare for them? Take SAT Subject Tests to Showcase Your Strengths Because the SAT II Subject...
Does the College You Attend Really Matter?
Overachievers, fret not. And underachievers: don't worry, there's still hope. Okay, so maybe you didn't gain admission to Harvard--but luckily, that doesn't matter as much as you might think. Whether your ambition is to become CEO of a top company, an engineer, an...
How to Beat the ACT Essay
Earlier this week, I wrote about the changes to the ACT Writing test. This week, I’ll advise you how best to prepare for—and excel on—the ACT Writing test. Many of the same things are important: a clear argument, a logical structure,...
SAT Essay: 4 Secrets to Better Writing
Note: This article is focused on the *old* SAT Essay format. Click here for our current complete strategy guide to the SAT Essay! Dos and Don'ts to Turn Your SAT Essay from Boring to Brilliant! Is anything more stressful than a timed SAT essay?...
Recent Changes to the ACT Writing Test
Changes to the ACT Writing Test Beginning in September 2015, a number of “enhancements” made to the optional ACT Writing test will roll out. This article will cover what’s changed and what hasn’t, as well as how I feel about those changes. (And if you want...
When Should You Apply to College?
Applying to college is easier said than done, and doing so involves a significant choice as to whether to apply regular admission, early action, early decision, or rolling admission. Here, I'll cover what these terms mean and offer advice on which plan to apply under....
13 More Books for Boys (SAT and ACT Reading Lists)
It is my sincere belief that reading is for everyone. While it's true that some people read faster or slower than others and tastes vary wildly, everyone can learn to love books the way we love movies or music or anything else! Many students, more commonly boys,...
College Applications: Higher Grades, or Harder Courses?
Whether they hope to go to a prestigious private college or a highly selective public university, students are often GPA-obsessed. Many realize, of course, that grades and test scores only account for a part of what admissions committees consider, but that doesn't...
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