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

These Are the Most Diverse Colleges in America

 

Going to a diverse college offers many advantages. At diverse colleges, you’ll be exposed to a wide variety of people and be given an opportunity to learn from people who are different from you. If you know you want to go to a diverse college, how do you find diverse colleges? Which are the most diverse colleges in the United States?

In this article, I will provide you with a list of the most diverse colleges. Furthermore, I'll explain what makes a college diverse, the benefits of going to a diverse college, and how to determine if a specific college is diverse.

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SAT Historical Percentiles for 2006 and 2007

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Posted by Justin Berkman

SAT

If you took the SAT in 2006 or 2007, you may be wondering what your percentile score is on the SAT. Is a 1700 on the SAT in 2006 the same percentile score as a 1700 in 2007? Do percentile scores change over time? 2006 was a big year in SAT history; it was the first full year of the Writing section and the maximum score changed from a 1600 to a 2400. Next year, the SAT will be going back to the 1600 maximum score.

In this article, I will explain SAT percentile scores, how they change, and I'll provide the percentile scores for SAT composite scores from 2006 and 2007.

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SAT Historical Percentiles for 2005, 2004, 2003

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Posted by Justin Berkman

SAT

If you took the SAT in 2003, 2004, or 2005, you may be wondering what your percentile score is on the SAT. Is a 1400 on the SAT in 2005 the same percentile score as a 1400 in 2003? Do percentile scores change over time? 2005 was a big year in SAT history; the maximum score for the SAT changed from a 1600 to a 2400 in March of 2005. In March of 2016, the SAT will be going back to the 1600 maximum score. For this post, I will be focusing on percentile scores from before the SAT changed its format in 2005.

In this article, I will explain SAT percentile scores, how they change, and I'll provide the percentile scores for SAT composite and section scores for 2005 and 2004.

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SAT Historical Percentiles for 2010, 2009, 2008

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Posted by Justin Berkman

SAT

If you took the SAT from 2008-2010, you may be wondering what your percentile score is on the SAT. Is a 2000 on the SAT in 2010 the same percentile score as a 2000 in 2008? 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 2010, 2009, and 2008.

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You Need to Check Out These 20 Top Christian Colleges

If you’re a religious Christian, you may want to consider attending a Christian college. Your quality of life could be better at a school where a majority of the students and faculty members share your values and beliefs. Additionally, Christian colleges often incorporate their Christianity into their missions and curricula.

In this article, I’ll provide you with a ranking list of the 20 best Christian colleges in the United States. Furthermore, I’ll offer you possible benefits and disadvantages of attending a top Christian college and explain how to research and find Christian colleges that could be a good fit for you.

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The 3 Best College Finders and Search Tools

College finders can be a useful tool in your college search. College finders allow you to search for colleges based on specific criteria like size, selectivity, and cost. You select what you’re looking for in a college and then the college finder will spit out its results.

In this article, I will explain what makes a college finder good and detail the pros and cons of some of the better college finders on the internet.
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Simple Explanation: What Is FAFSA?

Have you heard your high school counselor or other students reference the FAFSA, and you didn't know what they were talking about? What is FAFSA, and what do you have to know about it? Well, if you're hoping to get financial aid for college, then it's critical that you know about the FAFSA.

In this article, I will explain what the FAFSA is, why it's important, and the information you need to fill it out.

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ACT High School Codes and Test Center Codes

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Posted by Justin Berkman

ACT

When you register for your ACT, you have to submit codes for your high school and test center, the location where you're going to take your ACT. The codes make it easier for ACT to keep track of the high school and test center of everyone who takes the exam. If you enter the wrong high school code, your school may not get your score report. If you select the wrong test center, you may not be able to take the ACT at your preferred test center location.

In this article, I'll let you know how to look up ACT high school and test center codes and advise you how to use them properly.

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SAT High School Codes and Test Center Codes

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Posted by Justin Berkman

SAT

When you register for your SAT, you have to submit codes for your high school and test center, the location where you are going to take your SAT. The codes make it easier for the College Board to keep track of the high school and test center of everyone who takes the SAT.

You want to make sure you submit the right codes, since making a mistake can result in your having to take the SAT at a random high school that's far away from where you live or sending your scores to the wrong college.

In this article, I tell you how to look up SAT high school and test center codes and advise you how to use them properly.

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What Is NCAA Division 2?

The NCAA, the major governing body for intercollegiate sports, separates its member institutions by divisions. Division 2 colleges are generally smaller and have fewer athletic department resources than Division 1 schools, but Division 2 colleges are larger and more well-funded than Division 3 institutions. While Division 2 schools may not have the money or get the publicity of Division 1 institutions, many Division 2 colleges have passionate fan bases that show enthusiastic support for their sports teams.

In this article, I’ll thoroughly explain what makes NCAA Division 2 unique and provide facts about NCAA Division 2 and its member schools.

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What Is NCAA Division 1?

The NCAA, the major governing body for intercollegiate sports, divides its member institutions by divisions. Division I colleges tend to be the largest, have the biggest athletic department budgets, and have the highest level of athletic talent. Most of the prestigious college sporting events you see on television, from bowl games to March Madness, are competitions between Division I schools.

In this article, I will thoroughly explain what makes NCAA Division 1 unique and provide you with facts about Division I colleges.

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Should You Really Trust College Ranking Lists?

Since the U.S. News & World Report college rankings list debuted in 1983, college-bound students and their parents have become quite enamored with college ranking lists. While the U.S. News list may be the most well-known, there are a plethora of college ranking lists out there. All use slightly different criteria to rank colleges and all claim to be the best and most reliable. However, should you trust any of these lists? Should you use them when deciding which college to attend? Do they provide any valuable information?

In this article, I'll answer those questions. I'll let you know how much you can trust college ranking lists. Furthermore, I'll explain the pros and cons of these lists and how to use them to your benefit.

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College ACT Requirements: What ACT Score Do You Need?

Colleges generally say that they don’t have strict ACT score requirements. However, if you get a low ACT score, your chances of gaining admission to a selective college could be slim to none. There is no specific ACT score requirement to be admitted to the school of your dreams, but your ACT score will increase or decrease your likelihood of getting in.

In this article, I will discuss ACT requirements for college and how to determine your target ACT score to help you reach your college goals.

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What Is a Reach School? Which Reach Schools Should I Choose?

For those of you who have started researching college admissions, you may have heard the term “reach school.” What is a reach school? Simply, a reach school is one that you shouldn't expect to be admitted to. It would be a reach to get in.

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

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How Does College Athletic Recruiting Work? The Complete Process

If you are a high school athlete who aspires to compete in college sports, you should know about the college athletic recruiting process. Even if you don’t end up getting a scholarship, many intercollegiate athletes who don’t receive aid are still recruited to participate in sports at the collegiate level. The college recruiting process can be confusing. There are tons of recruiting rules that vary by division and the process for each prospective student-athlete can be extremely different.

In this article, I’ll explain the various steps of the college recruiting process. I’ll provide important advice for prospective student-athletes so that you’re able to reach your collegiate and athletic goals.

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