Christine Sarikas

Christine scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She graduated summa cum laude from Michigan State University's Honors College with degrees in Plant Biology and Geography and received her Master's in Public Policy from Duke University. Christine has over ten years of experience in education and teaching.
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Recent Posts

Historical ACT Percentiles From 2021 to 2024

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | February 11, 2025

SAT/ACT Score Target, ACT

Whether you're currently studying to take the ACT or took it in 2021-2024, you might be curious about how your ACT percentile compares to students who took the ACT in past years.

In this article, we'll go over what percentiles are, how percentiles work on the ACT, and why ACT percentiles matter. We also lay out ACT percentile charts for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 so you can see how your score compares to historical ACT scores.

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What's a Good ACT Score for 2025?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | January 7, 2025

SAT/ACT Score Target, ACT

Have you taken the ACT recently or are registered to take it soon? If so, you probably want to know what a good ACT score for 2025 is. What ACT score should you aim for, and how can you know if it'll be enough to get you into your dream college?

In this guide, we'll explain three ways you can define good ACT scores for 2025. We'll also take a look at how the definition of a good ACT score has changed in recent years.

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What's a Good SAT Score for 2025?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | January 2, 2025

SAT/ACT Score Target

Planning to take the SAT soon? Then you're probably wondering, "What's a good SAT score for 2025?" In this in-depth guide, we break down three different ways you can define good SAT scores for 2025. Then we’ll show you how to figure out the SAT score you need to meet your goals.

Let's get started!

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The Ultimate Guide to SAT Reading and Writing

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | December 23, 2024

SAT Reading

Ready to ace the SAT's Reading and Writing section? You're in luck! We've created the best guide to the SAT Reading and Writing section out there.

We've spent dozens of hours reading SAT prep books as well as studying the College Board’s own resources to take the most valuable parts and combine them into one magnificent Frankenstein’s monster of a guide. This guide contains every single thing you need to know to ace the SAT Reading and Writing section. 

If you're looking for a complete guide to SAT Reading and Writing and how to improve your SAT Reading and Writing score, the information provided here is invaluable. You'll get the best SAT Reading and Writing tips and strategies available, as well as information about how to get the most out of your prep and increase your SAT Reading and Writing score dramatically.

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Should You Take AP Stats or AP Pre-Calc?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | December 13, 2024

Advanced Placement (AP)

Are you wondering, "Should I take AP Stats or AP Pre-calc?" Choosing between AP Statistics and AP Pre-Calculus can be difficult for high school students trying to decide on an AP math course. The decision you make could impact your college applications, college courses, and even your career path. So how can you make the best decision for you? You'll need to understand what each course covers and the factors to consider when choosing a class. Keep reading for all the information you need to make the best choice!

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Should You Take the Digital or Paper ACT?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | December 3, 2024

ACT

For decades, students who wanted to take the ACT had to sharpen their #2 pencils, open up a paper test, and bubble in their responses. However, that's started to change!

In December 2023, the ACT launched a pilot test of a new digital ACT. Then, in early 2024, access to the digital ACT expanded so that more students in the US can choose between the online and paper versions of the ACT. (Note: all students abroad must take the online version of the ACT.) Currently, all students in the US have the option to take the online ACT or the paper ACT.

How do the paper and digital ACT differ? Which version of the ACT should you take? What are the pros and cons of each version of the test? We answer all these questions in this expert guide!

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How to Read SAT Passages: 4 Easy Steps

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | August 27, 2024

SAT Writing, SAT Reading

The SAT Reading and Writing section presents you with a challenge. Now that the digital SAT has been rolled out, this section contains over 50 passages you'll need to read and answer questions on! The passages will come from a wide variety of sources and test you on everything from critical reading to grammar.

How can you attack these passages to get a high SAT Reading and Writing score? This guide will discuss the best strategies for reading the SAT passages for each question type you'll see.

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The List of Every College That Has Closed Since 2015

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | August 21, 2024

College Info

You may have seen a lot of news in the past few years about closed colleges. It's true; many colleges have shut down in the past decade, and some sources estimate that roughly one college closes down each week. Which colleges have closed, and why? And should you be concerned about the school you're interested in or attending closing?

Read this guide to learn which colleges have closed down since 2015, what happens when a college closes, and why there have been more closed colleges in recent years.

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How Many Passages Are in SAT Reading and Writing?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | August 7, 2024

SAT Writing, SAT Reading

You've likely heard that the SAT is digital now. This has created a lot of changes: students will take the exam on the computer, the digital SAT is shorter, and scores are returned much faster. There are also big changes to the SAT Reading and Writing section, and one of the biggest is how many passages in SAT Reading and Writing there now are.

You may have heard there are now a lot more passages to read, but the good news is that most students will find them much more manageable! Read this guide to learn how many passages are in the SAT Reading and Writing section, how they're different from those in the old SAT, what they look like, and the best way to tackle them on the exam.

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37 TOEFL Idioms You Must Know

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | June 14, 2024

TOEFL

Does thinking about TOEFL idioms make your blood run cold, or do you think they’re a piece of cake? If this sentence has you scratching your head, we’re here to help!

This guide will explain idioms, which are phrases that mean something different than what you might think at first. We’ll go over how idioms are tested on each section of the TOEFL, give you a list of the 37 idioms you should know for the exam, and end with the best methods for studying idioms. Let’s get this show on the road and start learning about idioms for TOEFL!

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8 Top TOEFL Reading Practice Resources to Help You Study

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | March 4, 2024

TOEFL

In order to understand the passages you'll see in the TOEFL Reading section and accurately answer questions about them, you’ll likely need to do some studying before test day. If you’re not sure how to study for TOEFL Reading, we’re here to help!

In this guide, we explain the format and types of questions you’ll see on TOEFL Reading then explain the materials you need to do well on this section. We then go over all the best TOEFL Reading practice materials available, including free and official resources. We end with final tips to keep in mind during your studying in order to feel prepared and confident on test day.

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The Best TOEFL Writing Practice: 300+ Topics to Study With

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | March 4, 2024

TOEFL

Writing is the last section you’ll complete on the TOEFL. You’re so close to finishing, yet you still have two essays to write before you can celebrate completing the exam. In order to finish the test on a high note, you’ll need to be prepared for this section.

In this guide, we explain the ins and outs of the Writing section and the materials you need to do well. We then go over all the best TOEFL Writing practice resources available, including free and official practice Writing topics. We'll end with final tips to keep in mind in order to ace the TOEFL Writing section.

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The 8 Best TOEFL Speaking Practice Tests

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | March 4, 2024

TOEFL

The Speaking section of the TOEFL is often seen as one of the most challenging parts of the exam. You can’t just circle an answer and hope for the best, and any mistakes you make can’t be crossed out — they’ll all be part of your recorded response.

This means that good practice is key to doing well on this section. In this guide, I’ll explain what preparation you need in order to do well on this tricky section, go over the best TOEFL Speaking practice materials out there, and give you tips on how to get the most out of your studying.

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How to Ace the TOEFL Writing Section: 7 Expert Tips

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | March 4, 2024

TOEFL

Want to know all the information you need to write two great essays and ace the TOEFL Writing section?

This guide has all the tips you need to do well on TOEFL Writing. We’ll explain exactly what you can expect to see in this section, then give TOEFL Writing tips tips on how to answer both essay types, how you should study, and what you should do on test day to make sure you ace this section.

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How to Ace TOEFL Reading: Tips, Strategies, and Practice

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | March 4, 2024

TOEFL

Nowhere else on the TOEFL will you be expected to read so much English and know such a wide variety of vocab words as on the TOEFL Reading section. And on top of that, you’ll have to answer dozens of questions on what you’ve read. No wonder many TOEFL students feel intimidated by the Reading module.

However, TOEFL Reading is actually one of the more straightforward sections of the exam, and knowing what to expect will make it a lot easier to ace this section on test day. Read this guide to learn exactly what types of questions you’ll see on this section and how to answer them. We also outline the best TOEFL Reading strategies to supercharge your prep and the TOEFL Reading tips that can help you get a top score on test day.

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