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

What Is (and Isn't) on the AP Statistics Formula Sheet?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | February 1, 2022

Advanced Placement (AP)

If you're going to be taking the AP Statistics exam, you're in luck! During the test, you'll have access to a formula sheet that has many useful equations. However, you need to know exactly what's on the AP Statistics formula sheet and how to use it before test day in order for it to be helpful.

In this guide, we go over everything you need to know about the newly-updated AP Stats formula sheet. We'll explain the exact equations that it includes, show you what the formula sheet looks like, go over a few important equations it doesn't contain, and give you tips on how to get the most out of it.

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What You Need to Know About the New Digital SAT

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | January 27, 2022

SAT

On January 25, 2022, the College Board announced that the SAT would undergo significant changes, including becoming a computer-based test instead of one you take with pencil and paper. What other changes did the SAT make, why did they make these changes, and when did these changes go into effect? This guide answers all those questions and more. 

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What Does Test Optional Really Mean?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | January 27, 2022

College Admissions, College Info

Are one or more of the colleges you're interested in calling themselves test optional? What does test optional mean, and what does it mean for you? Read this guide to learn everything you need to know about test optional schools. We'll cover: the test optional college meaning and how it compares to other test policies, why more schools are becoming test optional, if test optional schools can really be fair when reviewing applications, and how to decide if you should submit your SAT or ACT scores to test optional colleges.

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Should You Drop A Class? Does It Look Bad? Why?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | January 17, 2022

Coursework/GPA

Are you struggling in a class or simply not enjoying it and wondering if you should drop it? Are you worried about how this might look to colleges and future employers? Should you drop a class?

Read this guide to learn about the benefits and drawbacks to dropping and how to decide whether or not you should drop a class.

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What's a Good ACT Score for 2022?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | November 4, 2021

SAT/ACT Score Target

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 2022 is. What ACT score should you be aiming for, and how can you know if it'll be enough to get you into your dream college?

In this guide, we go over three different ways you can define good ACT scores for 2022. We also take a look at how the definition of good ACT scores has changed in recent years.

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What's a Good SAT Score for 2022?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | November 3, 2021

SAT/ACT Score Target

Have you recently taken the SAT or are planning to take it soon? If so, you're probably wondering, "What's a good SAT score for 2022?" This guide breaks down three different ways you can define good SAT scores for 2022 and explains why it's so important for you to set a goal score. We also go over SAT averages and percentiles and explain how you can use that data to define what a good SAT score is. 

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What's a Good PSAT Score for 2021?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | October 22, 2021

PSAT Info and Strategies

Did you take the 2021 PSAT and are now awaiting your scores? The PSAT score report contains a lot of information! It can be confusing to look over the first time, especially if you're trying to figure out if you got a "good" PSAT score.

In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know about PSAT scores, including what score you should be aiming for, what score you'll need to meet National Merit cutoffs, and what PSAT score you'll need to impress colleges.

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The Best AP European History Study Guide

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | August 27, 2021

Advanced Placement (AP)

Are you taking AP European History? If so, you know the big AP test occurs in May. Doing well on this exam is a great boost to your college applications, and it can even earn you college credit. So how can you ensure you get the score you want? That's where we come in! This AP European History study guide covers everything you need for your AP Euro review. Read on to learn what the AP Euro exam will be like (including looking at sample questions), what topics the exam will cover, how to create a personalized study plan, and the tips to follow to help you get your best score.

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Every AP European History Practice Test Available: Free and Official

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | August 27, 2021

Advanced Placement (AP)

Are you taking the AP European History exam and want to make sure you're prepared? One of the best ways to measure your progress and learn which areas you need to focus on is to take practice exams. There are a lot of AP Euro History practice tests available; however, some are higher-quality than others. Taking a poorly written practice exam can cause you to study the wrong things and give you an inaccurate picture of what the real AP exam will be like.

In this guide, I'll go over every AP Euro practice test available, explain if and how you should use each one, and end with a schedule you can follow to help you incorporate practice tests into your study plans.

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Is AP European History Hard? Expert Discussion

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | August 26, 2021

Advanced Placement (AP)

Before you sign up for any AP class, it's helpful to get an idea of whether you'll be able to handle the workload (and the exam!). AP European History is offered at many schools, so you might have the chance to take it at some point in your high school career.

But is AP European History hard? What if you're naturally good at remembering historical facts or have a lot of experience with AP classes? In this guide, we'll go over the five factors to consider when judging the difficulty of an AP class and explain how you can use this information to predict how hard AP Euro will be for you.  

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Do Colleges Average Your SAT Scores?

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | July 29, 2021

SAT

Have you taken the SAT more than once? Are you wondering how colleges will look at multiple test scores? Will they review all your scores? Only your highest score? Will they average your scores and use that number? Standardized test scores are an important part of applying to college, but it’s not always clear how schools will review your SAT scores if you send them more than one set of scores.

Will colleges average your SAT scores if you take the test multiple times? In short, no. Colleges don’t take the average of your scores. Instead, they will look at your “best” score, however; there are multiple ways a school can calculate that. In this article, I’ll go over the various methods schools use to look at multiple SAT scores, if they require you to send all your SAT scores, and how you can use this information to your advantage and help strengthen your college applications.

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ACT Test Dates 2021-2022

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | July 16, 2021

ACT

Here at PrepScholar, we understand how important it is to pick the right ACT test date. Choose a date that's too early and you won't have enough time to study. However, choose a date that's too late and you may not be able to retake the exam, if needed, or get your scores to colleges by their deadlines. 

To help make choosing the best ACT test date easier, we constantly review data to keep you up-to-date on new ACT testing dates. When you know future ACT registration and exam dates, you can stay organized so you can focus on studying for the test with less stress.

In this article, we go over the confirmed ACT test dates for 2021-2022 and explain the steps to take to pick the best ACT test date for you.

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Upcoming ACT Test Dates 2022-2023

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | July 8, 2021

ACT

Future ACT dates are only officially confirmed about a year or year and a half in advance. However, here at PrepScholar we've researched patterns from previous testing years to predict future ACT test dates and help you plan your exam schedule. Having an idea of when future ACT test dates will be can help you organize your schedule and know when to register and begin studying for the test.

In this article, we discuss the anticipated ACT test dates for 2022-2023 and explain how you can use them to be well-prepared for the date you decide is best for you.

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How to Set Up Solitaire With Cards: 5 Variations

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | June 16, 2021

General Education

Solitaire is a favorite game for anyone with access to a computer or a phone and a few minutes to spare. It's one of the most popular one person card games around! But long before electronic versions were invented, solitaire was played with cards, and it's still possible to play the game in the original old school way. But what if you're not sure how to set up solitaire with cards? We're here to help!

Read this guide to learn:

  • How to set up solitaire with cards
  • How do you play solitaire
  • How many rows in solitaire you need to set up the game
  • How to set up other popular versions of solitaire
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Should I Take the SAT Essay? How to Decide

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Posted by Christine Sarikas | June 15, 2021

New SAT, SAT Essay

The SAT underwent some major revisions in 2016, and one of the biggest changes is that its previously required essay is now optional. This can be confusing for some students and parents. Should you take the essay? Will colleges require the essay or not? Will taking the essay make your application stronger?

Read on for answers to all these questions. This guide will explain what the SAT essay is, what the pros and cons of taking it are, and how you can make the best choice for you.

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