Christine Sarikas

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Recent Posts

Having a Job in High School Has More Benefits Than Just a Paycheck

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Feb 22, 2018 12:00:00 PM

Other High School, Extracurriculars

Having a job used to be a rite of passage for high school students. They'd put in some hours during the school year and over the summer and often be able to pay for most of their college expenses with the money they earned. However, as today's current high schoolers are facing piles of homework, pressure to excel on sports teams and clubs, and tuition costs that no entry-level job could ever cover, many people are rethinking the concept of high schoolers working.

Are there still benefits to having a job in high school? Yes. There are many reasons for a high school student today to have a job, and those benefits extend far beyond just a paycheck.

Having a job in high school can not only be a great experience in and of itself, it can also set you up to get even better jobs in college and beyond. In this article, I use my experience of working as a teenager to go over the key benefits of having a high school job. I also end by giving tips on the best jobs for high school students.

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Should I Take a Gap Year? 6 Reasons the Answer Is Yes

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Feb 8, 2018 12:00:00 PM

Extracurriculars

Not excited about the idea of starting another year of school in the fall? What if you could instead take a break from school and spend a year backpacking around Europe, volunteering for a cause you care about, or getting paid to work on a cruise ship? With a gap year all those things possible!

Have you heard of gap years but aren't sure what they are? Do you know other people taking gap years but aren't sure if they're a good idea for you? What are the benefits of taking a gap year anyway? In this guide, I use my own gap year experience to explain the major benefits of gap year programs and why they're such a great choice for many students. I end with some tips to ensure you get the most out of your own gap year.

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How to Use Khan Academy for ACT Prep: Complete Guide

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Feb 1, 2018 8:00:00 AM

ACT

Khan Academy has recently partnered with the College Board, the makers of the SAT, to produce free and official SAT prep materials. Unfortunately, there's currently no official Khan Academy ACT prep; however, students can still use Khan Academy’s resources to help them prepare for the ACT.

This guide will go over what materials Khan Academy offers, why you should consider using them, and exactly which resources will be most helpful and which topics you will need to use additional review materials for so that you can be as well-prepared for the ACT as possible.

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What Is Pre-AP? How Are Pre-AP Classes Different?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Dec 25, 2017 12:00:00 PM

Advanced Placement (AP), Other High School

What is a pre-AP class? Has your school started to offer pre-AP classes or are you wondering if they should? Have you heard about the College Board's new official pre-AP classes and aren't sure what they are?

This guide is here to answer all your pre-AP questions. We'll explain what pre-AP is, how official pre-AP classes differ from unofficial pre-AP classes, important changes coming to pre-AP, and what subjects the official pre-AP classes will cover.

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The Best Way to Study SSAT Vocabulary

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Dec 11, 2017 12:00:00 PM

Other High School

If you’re taking the SSAT, you’ll need to have a good vocabulary in order to do well on the test. It can be difficult to find good SSAT vocab resources, but we’re here to help! In this guide, we explain the three main ways vocab is tested on the SSAT (with sample questions), go over the top resources to help you find SSAT vocab words, and give you advice on the best way to study those vocab words.

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How to Register for the SSAT: 5 Simple Steps

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Dec 11, 2017 11:00:00 AM

Other High School

The SSAT can be an important test for students hoping to attend a private school, but how do you register for it? In this guide, we walk you step-by-step through the SSAT registration process and include screenshots from the SSAT website to makes things as simple as possible.

At the end of the guide, we also include a chart with upcoming SSAT registration dates so you know exactly when you need to register for each exam date to avoid late fees.

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ACT Scoring Error: Did You Get Someone Else's Scores by Mistake?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Oct 2, 2017 11:00:00 AM

ACT

Did you take the ACT and get a lower score than you expected? Do you think there may have been a scoring error? Maybe you filled in a section incorrectly or your exam wasn’t graded properly? Scoring errors on the ACT are rare, but they are possible, and there are ways to identify and correct these errors.

This guide will go over the steps you need to take in order to verify your scores, as well as what you should do to improve your score on future ACTs if there was no grading error.

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PSAT Test Dates 2018

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Sep 23, 2017 4:00:00 PM

PSAT Info and Strategies

Will you or your child be taking the PSAT in 2018? Are you wondering what day the exam will be held? The PSAT is different from other standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, because you cannot choose which day you’d like to take the exam.

When will this test date be? What if you can’t make it? This guide will answer both those questions, as well as explain the importance of PSAT scores, when you can expect to receive your scores, and how you can prepare for the exam.

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How to Learn English: 9 Steps to Fluency

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Sep 10, 2017 12:53:00 PM

TOEFL

Looking to improve your language skills but not sure how to learn English? Learning a foreign language is a long process, and along the way you'll need to make a lot of decisions. How often should you study? Should you get a tutor or study on your own? How can you make sure you practice English every day? What should you do if you find yourself getting bored?

In this guide, we'll walk you through each step you need to follow for how to learn English. We'll explain how to set up a study schedule, which tools you should use, how you can keep yourself motivated, and more. By the end of this guide, you'll have all the information you need to know for the best way to learn English.

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327 Essential TOEFL Vocabulary Flashcards

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Sep 3, 2017 3:34:00 PM

TOEFL

If you want to excel on the TOEFL, one of the skills you need is a strong vocabulary. Many TOEFL questions either ask you the definition of a word outright or require you to have knowledge of certain words in order to answer a question correctly.

The best way to learn new vocab is to use flashcards, which is why we've created printable flashcards of the 327 TOEFL vocab words you must know for the test. We'll also discuss the best method for studying your TOEFL vocabulary flashcards and give reviews of some of the other TOEFL flashcard sets that are available.

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Can You Reschedule Your SAT Date? Should You?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | May 29, 2017 12:00:00 PM

SAT

What should you do when you’ve already registered for an SAT test date, but you have a schedule conflict or just aren’t ready to take the SAT yet? Never fear! SAT rescheduling is an option!

If you’re wondering how you can reschedule your SAT, this guide has all the answers you need about SAT change date procedures. We’ll explain what it means to reschedule SAT test dates, how late you can reschedule, how much it will cost, and we’ll walk you through each step of how to change SAT test dates.

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The Best SAT Online Practice Tests and Questions

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Apr 13, 2017 12:00:00 PM

SAT

Good preparation is key to feeling confident and scoring well on the SAT, and the good news is that you have access to tons of SAT study resources right on your laptop or smartphone! There are lots of online SAT practice tests and quizzes available, but it can be tough figuring out which are the best to use.

Because of that, we’ve created a guide that compiles all the best online SAT practice materials, from official practice tests to targeted quizzes and websites designed to help you understand tricky concepts the SAT tests. And, best of all, all of these resources are free! After reading this guide, you’ll know which online SAT practice materials to use and the best way to use them to get a top score, so let’s get started!

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Should You Take TOEFL or IELTS? 4 Factors to Consider

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Jan 10, 2017 5:39:00 PM

TOEFL

If you need to take an exam to prove your English language skills, the TOEFL and IELTS are two of the most popular options out there. But should you take TOEFL or IELTS? What is each test like? Do schools prefer one exam over the other? Which one will you get a higher score on?

Read this guide for a full breakdown of TOEFL vs. IELTS and answers to all these questions!

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ACT Syllabus: What's on the Exam and How to Prep

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Dec 17, 2016 8:00:00 AM

ACT

Are you preparing for the ACT but aren't sure which topics the exam covers? We're here to help! This guide will give you an in-depth look at the ACT syllabus and explain exactly what you can expect to see on the test.

For each of the five ACT sections, I'll explain the format of the section, the types of questions you'll see, and the skills that section tests. Afterward, I'll also go over the top three tips you need to know when studying for the ACT to help you achieve your highest score.

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SAT Syllabus: What's on the Exam and How to Prep

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | Dec 3, 2016 8:00:00 AM

SAT

Are you taking the SAT soon but aren't sure what to expect? Not to worry! This guide will give you an in-depth look at the SAT syllabus and what to expect on the exam.

For each section of the SAT, I'll explain the format of the section, the types of questions you'll see, and the skills it tests. At the end of this guide, I'll also go over the top tips you need to know when preparing for the SAT to help you achieve your highest score.

This guide is fully updated for the digital SAT!

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