SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

Allen Cheng

As co-founder and head of product design at PrepScholar, Allen has guided thousands of students to success in SAT/ACT prep and college admissions. He's committed to providing the highest quality resources to help you succeed. Allen graduated from Harvard University summa cum laude and earned two perfect scores on the SAT (1600 in 2004, and 2400 in 2014) and a perfect score on the ACT. You can also find Allen on his personal website, Shortform, or the Shortform blog.

Recent Posts

When Is the Next ACT Test Date?

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Dec 19, 2022 3:00:00 PM

ACT Logistics

Here's the most updated info on when the next ACT test is happening and when you have to register.

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When Is the Next SAT Test Date?

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Dec 4, 2022 12:00:00 PM

SAT Logistics

Here's a guide on when the next SAT test is happening and deadlines for signing up.

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Best ACT Prep Books 2022

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Nov 12, 2022 12:00:00 PM

ACT General Info, ACT Strategies

There are numerous "Best ACT Books" lists out there. But we think most of them aren't very good or thorough, so I've tried to write a much better guide here.

In this article, you'll learn which books are absolutely critical for your ACT prep, which focus on improving individual sections, and which you'll need if you're aiming for a top score. Most importantly, you'll learn how to use these top-notch ACT prep books for effective studying.

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Average SAT Scores by State (Most Recent)

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Oct 16, 2022 12:00:00 PM

SAT General Info

More than a million students across the country take the SAT each year. So what do SAT scores by state look like? How do you stack up against other test takers in your state? Finally, what are some interesting state facts—for example, which state has the highest SAT score? The lowest SAT score? The highest rate of participation?

It's the battle of the states, SAT edition. Find out your state's average SAT scores and other fun facts in this article!

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What Is the Average SAT Score?

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Oct 15, 2022 11:00:00 AM

SAT General Info

If you've taken the SAT, you're probably curious about how your score stacks up against the average SAT scores. There are lots of different ways to look at averages on the SAT. What is the average SAT score overall? How many types of average SAT scores are there? And which SAT score averages are important for you?

We'll answer all of these questions and more to tell you which SAT average scores actually matter for your future. We'll review the most recent data available, from 2022.

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Printable SAT Practice Tests PDFs: 18 FREE Official Tests

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Sep 25, 2022 2:00:00 PM

SAT General Info

In this article, I'll tell you where to find all official, printable SAT practice tests and answer keys. This comprehensive guide gives you access to more SAT practice tests than any other online guide. In addition, you'll learn key strategies that'll help you make big improvements on SAT practice tests you can print out.

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Best SAT Prep Books 2022

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Sep 19, 2022 12:00:00 PM

SAT Strategies, SAT General Info

There are a lot of "Best SAT Books" lists out there, but we think that most of them aren't very good or thorough. As a result, I've tried to write a much better guide here.

In this article, you'll learn which books are absolutely critical for your SAT prep, which books you can use to improve your individual section scores, and which books you'll need if you're aiming for a top score. More importantly, you'll learn how to use these SAT prep books for effective studying.

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What Are the Easiest Colleges to Get Into? List of 100+ Schools

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Aug 19, 2022 4:23:00 PM

College Admissions

Applying to colleges is stressful. You often don't know whether you've gotten accepted until well after you've submitted your application; therefore, it's useful to have safety schools as a backup. These are colleges you're almost certain that you'd get into if you were to apply.

We've compiled a thorough guide of the easiest colleges to get into in the United States. Find out which schools have the highest admission rates, which ones guarantee admission if you meet certain requirements, and which ones have the lowest average SAT/ACT scores.

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Printable ACT Practice Tests PDFs: FREE and Official

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Jul 26, 2022 2:00:00 PM

ACT General Info

No matter how you prep for the ACT—whether you have a tutor, take a class, or study by yourself—you must get access to official, printable ACT tests. The test below was released by ACT, Inc., and is the exact format you'll see on test day.

In this post, I'll tell you where you can find official, printable ACT practice tests with answer keys. I'll also give you key strategies to help you make big improvements on each practice test.

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Complete Official ACT Practice Tests, Free Links

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Jul 26, 2022 12:00:00 PM

ACT General Info

No matter how you prep for the ACT—whether you have a tutor, take a class, or study by yourself—you must get access to official ACT tests. These tests are released by ACT, Inc. and contain real questions given to actual students on previous test dates. These questions have been removed from circulation (so you won't ever see them on a real test), but their quality is second to none when it comes to ACT realism.

In this post, I'll tell you how to find all currently available official ACT practice tests. We'll also discuss how to use these tests to improve your ACT score.

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Step-by-Step Guide With Pictures: SAT Registration

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Jun 25, 2022 4:00:00 PM

SAT Logistics

Registering for the SAT sounds like the easiest part of the process. But signing up is actually much more convoluted than you might think—and some things matter a lot more than others do. Most of all, you want to avoid classic registration mistakes that can cost you dearly.

In this article, we’ll discuss step by step how to sign up for the SAT. We’ll also cover what parts of the 30-minute process really matter and what parts don’t. Finally, we’ll give you some key tips on how to choose the best location and how to save money.

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SAT Cost, ACT Cost, and How to Save Money

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Jun 25, 2022 12:00:00 AM

SAT versus ACT, SAT Logistics, ACT Logistics

If you're deciding between taking the SAT and the ACT and you have a tight budget, this guide will help. We'll cover the registration costs, reporting costs, and how you can save money no matter what test you choose.

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Complete Official SAT Practice Tests, Free Links

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Mar 1, 2022 10:00:00 PM

SAT General Info

Official SAT tests released by the College Board are the absolute gold standard for SAT practice questions. Each official practice test contains real questions given to actual students at previous administrations of the SAT.

In this article, I'll show you where to find all official SAT practice tests online. This comprehensive guide gives you access to more practice tests than any other guide out there. Most of these tests are free and are great practice to get started with your SAT prep. We'll also discuss how to use these practice tests to help you get the most improvement possible out of them.

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When Do ACT Scores Come Out? ACT Score Release Schedule

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Jan 11, 2022 6:00:00 PM

ACT Logistics

You've taken the ACT and are now waiting for your scores. This can be a tense time, but knowing when exactly to expect your ACT results can help you plan ahead.

When do ACT scores come out exactly? In this article, find out when your test scores will become available, how to get your ACT results as fast as possible, and what to do once you have them.

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When Do SAT Scores Come Out? SAT Score Release Schedule

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Posted by Allen Cheng | Jan 11, 2022 1:00:00 PM

SAT Logistics

The SAT score release dates are always tense for students. Did you get the score you were aiming for? Do you have to take the SAT again? Checking scores immediately when they come out gives you the most time to plan ahead.

In this article, find out when you'll receive your SAT score report depending on your test date, and learn the fastest way to check your SAT score. We've also included 2023 SAT score release dates and 2024 SAT score release dates so you can plan ahead!

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