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

How to Use Khan Academy for ACT Prep: Complete Guide

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | February 1, 2018

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?

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 | December 11, 2017

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 | December 11, 2017

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 | October 2, 2017

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 | September 23, 2017

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 | September 10, 2017

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 | September 3, 2017

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

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 | April 13, 2017

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 | January 10, 2017

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 | December 17, 2016

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 | December 3, 2016

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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Everything You Need to Know to Visit the Temples of Bagan

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | August 17, 2016

Travel

For grandeur, size, and the feeling that you’re Indiana Jones, it’s hard to compete with the temples of Bagan in central Myanmar. This massive expanse of thousands of temples (estimates range from 2,000 to over 4,000) dot the landscape in various stages of dilapidation and restoration.

UPDATE: Myanmar is currently under a Level 4 Travel Advisory from the US Department of State. Traveling there is not recommended due to civil unrest, armed conflict, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

Built by a series of kings between 1057 and 1287, Bagan is one of an increasingly rare breed: a world-class attraction that hasn’t yet been discovered by the masses. Bagan’s popularity is increasing, but much of the information about it has not kept pace, and that can make it difficult for travelers trying to plan a trip to this site.

Bagan offers a range of unique experiences. While here you can:

  • Watch the sunrise from the top of Shwesandaw Pagoda
  • Cool off with a glass of fresh tamarind juice in a cafe overlooking the Irrawaddy River
  • Discover gold-plated Buddha statues hidden in temple niches
  • Survey the ruins of past kingdoms during a hot air balloon ride over the plains
  • Follow winding dirt roads around bushes and through groves of palm trees to discover tiny temples that only get a few visitors a year

This guide will walk you through each step you need to take to plan and carry out a trip to Bagan, from when to visit and how to get there to which temples to visit and what form of transportation to use.

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What to Do in Budapest: 11 Top Attractions

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | August 8, 2016

Travel

One of the rising stars in European tourism, Budapest’s charms and sights are gaining popularity worldwide. Gone are the days when the Hungarian capital was widely thought of as a drab administrative city, filled only with aging Communist-era buildings. These days, Budapest tourism is rapidly growing and savvy visitors know that it's one of Europe’s great cities with diverse architecture, unique cultural experiences, and some of the most inventive nightlife on the continent.

Are you wondering what to do in Budapest? Follow this guide to immerse yourself in Budapest’s history, traditions, and culture. By visiting the Budapest attractions listed below, you’ll find yourself relaxing in opulent thermal baths, paying your respects at moving WWII memorials, admiring the largest Parliament in Europe, and drinking a new cocktail in the gardens of a formerly abandoned warehouse.

This list of 11 things to do in Budapest is organized into four groups, based on the location of the sites: Castle Hill, City Park, Parliament and Around, and Central Pest. This organization lets you visit sites near each other, instead of spending your trip running from one end of town to the other. Many people choose to stay in downtown Pest because it has the most accommodation options, but Budapest has a great subway system to help you get from one area to another. You can buy individual subway tickets, day passes, or multi-day passes. I'd recommend that you spend at least a half-day to a full day in each area, and, if you choose to stay longer, you’ll find Budapest has enough activities to fill any itinerary.

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