SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

High school academics can be very competitive for driven students who hope to earn the coveted title of valedictorian. But how exactly do high schools choose valedictorians? Does the title mean anything for college applications? In this article, I’ll give you the details on what it means to be a valedictorian, how valedictorians are chosen, and whether this is a critical factor in the college admissions process.  

A lot of readers of The Crucible have the same question: why has Reverend Hale returned to Salem in Act 4? This is a short article detailing the reasons behind Hale's decision to return. If you're confused about what his motivations are and what he hopes to accomplish, read on for a complete explanation.  

Many readers have the same question about  Act 2 of The Crucible: why does Elizabeth want John to go to Salem? This article provides both short and long answers to this question. It should help you to understand the reasoning behind her request, why it changes slightly over the course of the act, and how it connects to the lingering tension in their marriage.   

The Crucible remains a staple of high school English because it is rich in themes that are consistently relevant to human beings regardless of time period. But these themes aren't always easy to explain or dissect in the context of the play, and they can be even harder to develop into essays. Read on for an overview of what a theme is, a list of important themes in The Crucible with specific act-by-act details, and a summary of how to use this information in your essays and other assignments.  

The first act of The Crucible sets the stage (literally, heh) for the disturbing sequence of events that will unfold in Acts 2, 3, and 4. Most of the major characters are introduced, and there are critical insights into various political and personal conflicts that threaten to disrupt the social order in the town of Salem. We also learn how the witchcraft craze got started and why it spiraled out of control. This article will go over the very important sequence of events and their thematic relevance so you can answer all the questions your English teacher throws at you.    

Paying students for good grades is a controversial practice, and many would argue that it cheapens the learning experience (pun intended). However, it appears that sometimes monetary incentives can be a positive motivation for struggling students if they are applied wisely. I'll go through some scientific findings on the success of incentive programs in schools and then give you ideas for how you can responsibly implement a reward policy for your student.  

Many states use high school exit exams as a means of maintaining graduation standards across public high schools. In these states, exit exams are required for all public school students, and you must pass them to earn your high school diploma. It may sound scary, but they're really not all that bad. In this article, I'll go into detail on what exit exams are, what they're like, and how to make sure you pass!  

High school grades are very important in the college application process, but they may not always be the most accurate reflection of a student’s abilities. Grade inflation is a problem in many high schools, and it can result in issues down the line in terms of college performance and admissions chances.

In this article, I’ll go through what grade inflation is and how it affects you as a high school student.

If your grades have been on the lower side in high school, you might be wondering what steps you can take to improve your situation before you appy to college. With a C average, you may run into some trouble in the application process, so you should start taking measures to mitigate these problems now.

In this article, I'll go over what a C average means for you and how you can make smart changes to your academic strategies to end up with better prospects for college.

Act 2 of The Crucible takes us to the Proctor household, where we learn just how crazy things have gotten in Salem after the initial flood of accusations. We'll also find out the extent to which John Proctor's relationship with Elizabeth has suffered after his affair. By the end of Act 2, characters who were thought to be beyond reproach will find themselves in mortal peril as a result of unchecked hysteria.

The road to a good GPA can be paved with setbacks, but if you figure out where your problems lie and put in the effort to get yourself back on track, you can overcome these obstacles. In this article, I’ve compiled a list of dos and don’ts that will be helpful to you in combating academic pitfalls (and learning to avoid them in the first place!).

Read on to figure out how you can improve your GPA by paying attention to your areas of weakness, taking responsibility, and cultivating better study habits.

Many high schools record your academic performance using unweighted GPA. But what does your unweighted GPA mean in the eyes of colleges? And how can you calculate it yourself? In this article, I’ll tell you what an unweighted GPA is, how to interpret it, and how to calculate it based on your letter grades.

ACT scores are in, and now it’s time to move onto the next step - college applications! You may be wondering how to send your scores and whether you’re making the right choices about which ones you'll allow colleges to see. In this article, I’ll go through how to decide which scores to send and the way the process works overall.

If you dropped out of high school or are considering dropping out, there are other ways to earn credentials that are considered equal to a high school diploma. A High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) is one option that you might consider as an alternative to a GED or traditional high school diploma.

I'll give you the details on what a High School Equivalency Diploma is, how you can get one, and how to decide if it's the right choice for your situation.

Need to take the ACT on the next test date but missed the late registration deadline? Luckily, even if it's already past the late registration deadline for an ACT test date, you might still be able to take the test by signing up for standby testing. But what exactly is standby testing? How do you sign up for it? Read on to learn how to request standby testing for the ACT and why you might do it.