SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

Samantha Lindsay

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

Recent Posts

What Is a GPA Scale? The 4.0 Scale

GPA is a measurement of your academic success in high school that colleges will consider very strongly in the admissions process. But what is a GPA scale?

Different high schools may use different GPA scales, and it's important to know how these scales work so that you get a better idea of where you stand. In this article, I'll tell you what a GPA scale is and the types of scales you might see used at your high school.

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The Best ACT Reading Practice Tests and Questions

Doing well on the ACT Reading section requires a fair amount of practice, especially if you're not used to the format and timing of the test. In order to get the most out of your study time, you need to be using the highest quality practice materials available to you.

In this article, I'll go through some of the best resources for ACT Reading practice tests and tell you why you should use them!

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Best Crucible Act 4 Summary

Act 4 gives us the exciting conclusion to this saga of madness. How are the citizens of Salem and their governing officials dealing with the fallout from the trials? Will the "witches" falsely confess to avoid execution? Does John Proctor still, like, totally hate himself? Read on to find out all this and more, including key quotes and a thematic analysis for the final act of The Crucible.

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What's a Weighted GPA? How to Calculate It

Your weighted GPA in high school tells colleges a lot about your ability to take on academic challenges. In this article, I'll go through a basic description of what a weighted GPA is, why it matters for you, and how you can calculate your own weighted GPA if your school uses this type of scale.

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What's the Average High School GPA?

Nearly all high school students have, at some point, wondered whether their GPAs are good or not. One way of knowing is to look at the national averages. What is the average high school GPA? Is your GPA above average? How do you compare with all the other high school students in the country?

In this article, I'll give you an overview of the national averages for high school GPA so that you can see where you stand. I'll also tell you what these averages mean for you and how to understand them better in the context of the college application process.

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What Is a Good GPA? What's a Bad GPA for College?

If you're starting to think about your plans for college, you might be wondering what is considered a good high school GPA or a bad high school GPA in the eyes of admissions officers. This is a complicated question, and it depends on several factors that colleges will take into consideration.

In this article, I'll give you some perspective on what a good GPA and a bad GPA are based on national statistics and your individual circumstances. I'll also provide advice on the best ways to improve your GPA.

Your coursework and GPA are one of the most important pieces to your college application—some colleges consider it your MOST important factor—so make sure you do your research and know where you fit in.

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4 Strategies to Raise Your GPA in High School Fast

It can be difficult to improve your GPA quickly, especially if you're in the latter half of high school already. With your previous grades working against you, you'll have to put in even more effort to overcome lower averages.

However, there are some measures you can take to have a better chance of raising your GPA quickly and effectively. In this article, I'll give you different strategies that may help you raise your GPA even if you don't have much time left in high school.

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Do Colleges Use Weighted or Unweighted GPA?

High schools may record students' GPAs as weighted or unweighted. But which type of GPA is taken more seriously in the college admissions process?

In this article, I'll provide an overview of the differences between weighted and unweighted GPAs and tell you which type is more important.

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Best Crucible Plot Summary

If you need to refresh your memory on the plot of The Crucible or just want some clarification on exactly what's happening in each act of the play as you read, you've come to the right place. I've written a full plot summary, divided by act, so you can better understand and recall the events of the play. As a bonus, this article also includes short descriptions of the main characters and a list of major themes that crop up throughout the narrative.  

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The 8 Big Differences Between Colleges and Universities

Some schools are labeled as colleges, and some are labeled as universities. What's the difference between college and university? Should you consider going to one over the other? In this article, I'll tell you what it means for a school to be a college or a university and whether you might fit in better at one of the two types of schools.

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What Do SAT Scores Measure? IQ? Income?

Everyone knows that scores on the SAT can make or break your college admissions chances, but can they measure your innate cognitive abilities? What do they really say about your potential?

In this article, I'll tell you what SAT scores can and can't measure and provide advice about when you might use them to estimate your own capabilities.

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SAT Analogies and Comparisons: Why Were They Removed, and What Replaced Them?

In 2005, major changes made to the question types in the reading and math sections of the SAT. Two types of comparison questions - quantitative comparison questions from math, and analogies from reading - were booted from the SAT.

In this article I’ll give you the rundown on what these questions were like, how the SAT replaced them, and how questions have evolved even further on the 2016 version of the test.

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SAT Score Range: The Complete Story

What is the range for SAT scores? How do your scores stack up? In this article, I’ll give you a basic rundown of the range of scores you can expect on the SAT and help you put your scores in perspective if you’ve already taken the test.

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Should You Guess on the SAT? 6 Guessing Strategies

It can be hard to know when to guess on the SAT, especially since the recent overhaul has changed for the test is scored. But the truth is more straightforward than you might expect! Read on to find out whether you should guess on the SAT and what you can do to maximize the number of correct answers you end up with from guessing.

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What Should You Do If You Have a B Average GPA?

It's important to be aware of the constraints your grades in high school might place on you in the college application process. If you have a B average, you're doing fairly well, but you might consider making some changes to your academic strategies to have a better shot at reaching your goals.

In this article, I'll go over what a B average is and what you should do if you have one depending on where you are in your high school career.

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