SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

Justin Berkman

Justin has extensive experience teaching SAT prep and guiding high school students through the college admissions and selection process. He is firmly committed to improving equity in education and helping students to reach their educational goals. Justin received an athletic scholarship for gymnastics at Stanford University and graduated with a BA in American Studies.

Recent Posts

Old SAT Scores: How to Get and Use Them

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Feb 7, 2022 6:00:00 PM

SAT Logistics

Did you graduate from college a while ago and now a prospective employer wants to see your SAT scores? Did you take time off after high school and now have to send your SAT scores to colleges? No matter the case, you'll need to know how to access your old SAT scores.

In this article, I'll explain how to get and use old SAT scores. I'll teach you how to retrieve old scores and discuss how to present them to prospective employers.

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The 5 Best SAT Apps & How to Use Them Effectively

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Jan 9, 2022 9:00:00 AM

SAT Strategies

You might use apps to take photos of your food and put dog filters on your face, but did you know you can also use apps to prepare for the SAT? It's true! There are a number of apps designed to increase your familiarity with the SAT and get you closer to reaching your goal score.

In this article, I'll let you know how you can use apps in your SAT preparation, and I'll name five of the best free SAT prep apps currently available.

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You Can Get Into These Highest Acceptance Rate Colleges

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Oct 29, 2021 8:30:00 AM

College Info

Colleges with high acceptance rates can be good options for you when you're selecting schools you want to apply to or attend. If you have low grades or poor standardized test scores, or need to add safety schools to your list of colleges, these schools can give you more confidence that you'll be able to gain admission to a four-year college.

In this article, I'll give you a list of colleges with the highest acceptance rates, explain why they have such high acceptance rates, and introduce the pros and cons of attending these schools.

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What Are NCAA Divisions? Division 1 vs 2 vs 3

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Oct 23, 2021 11:27:00 AM

College Admissions

You've likely heard of the different divisions for college sports, but how are they organized, and why is there more than one division? And if you want to be a student athlete, which division is best for you?

In this article, I'll break down the differences between NCAA divisions to give you a better idea of what separates Division I, II, and III schools. For those of you who wish to participate in intercollegiate athletics, you can get an idea of which division would best suit your interests and abilities. For those of you who don't want to compete but care about sports, you can use this guide to determine if the division of a college's sports teams will be a determining factor for you when selecting a college.

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The 7 Steps of the College Application Process

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Sep 26, 2021 8:30:00 AM

College Admissions

If you want to successfully complete the college application process and make yourself as competitive for college admission as possible, you’ll be directly or indirectly working on your college applications well before the deadlines approach. In fact, if you have any intention of applying to selective colleges, this process can really begin as early as your freshman year.

Getting ready to apply to college can feel intimidating, but if you follow some tried-and-true advice, you’ll be ready to knock your college applications out of the park! In this article, we’ll describe all of the tasks you should complete to maximize your chances of getting into the best possible college, including how to do the following: 

  • Choose the best classes to take during high school
  • Prioritize getting good grades
  • Excelling in extracurriculars
  • Acing standardized tests
  • Getting superb recommendations  

We’ll also explain when you should start researching colleges and complete these tasks so that you’re able to stay on top of the application process.

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

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What Is EOP? Your Guide to Educational Opportunity Programs

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Jul 2, 2021 12:00:00 PM

College Info

Traditionally, low-income students have been excluded from higher education, or they have faced obstacles that make graduating from college extremely difficult. Programs like the Educational Opportunity Program are designed to provide the necessary support to disadvantaged students to enable their success in college and beyond.

In this article, I'll describe EOP, detail the advantages of participating in an Educational Opportunity Program, and let you know how to enroll.

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SAT Subject Test Dates 2018-2019

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Jun 7, 2021 6:00:00 PM

SAT Subject Tests

At PrepScholar, we pride ourselves on using the best data to keep you posted about upcoming test schedules and registration deadlines. It's essential to plan ahead and choose wisely when selecting Subject Tests and test dates.

You can see the SAT test dates for previous years. Refer to this information to get a general idea of when College Board has its test dates for the SAT and how long after the test you can view your scores. In this article, I’ll give you the SAT Subject Test dates for 2018-2019 and explain what you should consider when choosing your test date and Subject Tests.

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The Most LGBTQ+ Friendly Colleges in The Country

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Jun 1, 2021 3:00:00 PM

College Info

 

 

In general, colleges are consistently becoming more LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning) friendly. Young people are more accepting of different sexual orientations and gender identities, and those attitudes are reflected at a growing number of U.S. colleges.

However, there are still many college campuses that have reputations for not being inclusive or safe for members of the LGBTQ+ community. If it's important to you to be at a school with a vibrant LGBTQ+ community, you should consider looking at specifically LGBTQ-friendly schools.

In this article, we'll do the following:

  • Define an LGBTQ-friendly (or LGBTQ-accepting) school
  • Explain why you should consider an LGBTQ-friendly college
  • Provide lists of LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities
  • Give advice for how to use those lists and do effective research to determine if a school is LGBTQ-friendly
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College Application Deadlines: Your Complete Application Timeline

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Mar 19, 2021 9:00:00 AM

College Admissions

 

For many students and their parents, the college application process is a source of tremendous anxiety. Fear not. If you familiarize yourself with this process and devote enough time to it, I’m confident that you’ll be able to make it through unscathed and end up at a quality college.

In this article, we'll go over the college application deadlines you need to know. More importantly, we'll give you a complete college application timeline, detailing what you should be doing at each point in your high school career to ensure that you can submit exceptional college applications.

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What Is the Average SAT Score for Colleges?

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Nov 12, 2020 3:00:00 PM

SAT/ACT Score Target

If you're preparing for the SAT or have received your SAT scores, you may be wondering what score you need to get into college. What's an average SAT score for colleges?

In this article, I'll explain average SAT scores and what they mean for you. Find out how to calculate the score you need to help reach your college goals.

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What Exactly Is a Target School? How to Find Yours

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Nov 1, 2020 12:00:00 AM

College Admissions

If you have researched the college application process, you may have heard about the concept of a "target school." What is a target school or college? Simply put, it's a college that you are likely—but not guaranteed—to be admitted to based on your qualifications.

In this article, I'll define and explain the concept of a target school. Furthermore, I'll discuss how to identify your target colleges and determine how many of these schools you should apply to.

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What Is a Safety School? How Should You Choose Yours?

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Oct 29, 2020 3:30:00 PM

College Admissions, College Info

For those of you who have started researching college admissions, you may have heard of the concept of a "safety school." What is a safety school? Simply, a safety school is one in which your odds of getting in are extremely high. Everyone who applies to college should apply to safety schools. Why? You don't want to risk getting rejected from all the schools you apply to.

In this article, I'll define and explain the concept of a safety school. Furthermore, I'll discuss how to identify your safety schools and determine the number of safety schools you should apply to.

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What Are Good Questions to Ask in a College Interview?

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Jan 30, 2020 8:00:00 PM

College Admissions

College interviews are becoming increasingly common, especially among selective colleges. Many students go to interviews ready to answer questions but forget that it's important to ask interesting questions as well.

In this article, I'll establish the basics of how to prepare for college interviews and explain what questions you should and shouldn't ask during an interview, so you feel totally ready on the day of.

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The 14 College Interview Questions You Must Prepare For

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Posted by Justin Berkman | Jan 27, 2020 8:00:00 PM

College Admissions

The college interview process can be nerve-racking. This interview gives the college you're applying to another opportunity to evaluate you and help determine whether or not to offer you admission. However, your college interviews won't be nearly as scary if you know what to expect.

In this article, I give you the 14 college interview questions you absolutely must prepare for. I explain why you're being asked these questions and how to provide great answers. Furthermore, I offer advice on how to prepare for your interviews so that when the time comes, you'll be ready to ace them.

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SAT Historical Percentiles for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011

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Posted by Justin Berkman | May 19, 2019 11:00:00 AM

SAT General Info

If you took the SAT from 2011-2015, you may be wondering what your percentile score is on the SAT. Is a 1500 on the SAT in 2011 the same percentile score as a 1500 in 2015? Do percentile scores change over time?

In this article, I will explain SAT percentile scores, how they change, and I'll provide the percentile scores for SAT combined scores and section scores for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011.

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