How Many People Get a 34, 35, 36 on the ACT? Score Breakdown

author image
Posted by Halle Edwards | Aug 29, 2023 11:00:00 PM

ACT

We know that 36 is the best possible score on the ACT and that any score in the 30s is considered very good. But how good is a top score of 34, 35, or 36? And how many students earn these scores every year?

In this post, we break down just how rare those top scores are and how many students get them each year. Learn how you can stand out in the application process with a top score—and how to raise your ACT score to get there.

Read More

 

The 28 Critical SAT Math Formulas You MUST Know

author image
Posted by Courtney Montgomery | Aug 29, 2023 12:00:00 PM

SAT Math

The SAT math test is unlike any math test you've taken before. It's designed to take concepts you're used to and make you apply them in new (and often strange) ways. It's tricky, but with attention to detail and knowledge of the basic formulas and concepts covered by the test, you can improve your score.

So what formulas do you need to have memorized for the SAT math section before the day of the test? In this complete guide, I'll cover every critical formula you MUST know before you sit down for the test. I'll also explain them in case you need to jog your memory about how a formula works. If you understand every formula in this list, you'll save yourself valuable time on the test and probably get a few extra questions correct.

Read More

 

Best SAT Math Prep Books (2025): Expert Reviews

author image
Posted by Rebecca Safier | Aug 29, 2023 12:00:00 PM

SAT

While there are many different SAT prep books, they all have one thing in common: they all claim to be the best. How can you figure out which one will actually help you succeed on the digital SAT?

This guide will give you my recommendations for the best prep books for the Math section of the digital SAT. Some of these books are best for strategies and thinking through the problems, while others are best for practice problems. A few are geared toward top scorers, while some will help you improve a low score fast.

Before delving into the list, I have to make one disclaimer:

Read More

 

A Massive Collection of Free SAT Practice Tests

author image
Posted by Alex Heimbach | Aug 29, 2023 8:30:00 AM

SAT, New SAT

Whether you're building your own SAT prep program or just supplementing a class, finding SAT practice tests and questions can pose a serious challenge. This article will go through every type of practice SAT test, including those for the new digital SAT, how to best use them, and, most importantly, where to find them.

Read More

 

Ivy League Rankings 2025: What Do They Really Mean?

author image
Posted by Justin Berkman | Aug 28, 2023 8:00:00 PM

College Info

Ivy League colleges are often viewed as the gold standard of colleges in the US and worldwide. While most people know that all Ivy League schools are good, which are the best Ivy League schools? Now you can find out with PrepScholar's exclusive 2025 Ivy League rankings. Get excited!

The Ivy League schools are ranked in this article. Furthermore, the answers to what makes the Ivy League unique, how to find the Ivy League school that’s right for you, and how to decide whether you should pursue an Ivy League education are all broken down.

Read More

 

Colleges Requiring All SAT Scores Sent: Complete List

author image
Posted by Halle Edwards | Aug 28, 2023 8:00:00 PM

SAT

Are you putting together your college application list? One factor you might not have considered is which schools require you to send your entire SAT testing record. Unfortunately, you can't always hide your rotten SAT scores! So if you have some less-than-stellar scores, you might avoid (or at least think carefully) before applying to those schools.

We have a complete list of which schools require your complete SAT testing record. Read on for this list as well as exclusive advice for applying to these schools.

Read More

 

Average ACT Scores by State (Most Recent)

author image
Posted by Halle Edwards | Aug 28, 2023 11:30:00 AM

ACT

Did you recently get your ACT scores back and are now wondering how your score compares with those of other test takers in your state? Or perhaps you're curious as to how your state's average ACT score stacks up against other state averages.

For this article, we compiled the average ACT scores by state, as well as the average in each subject area, using the latest data from ACT, Inc. Read on to learn how your state's SAT data—and your ACT score—compare with the averages in the rest of the country.

Read More

 

AICE Diploma: What Is It? Should You Get One?

author image
Posted by Vero Lecocq | Aug 27, 2023 10:00:00 AM

Coursework/GPA

There are several options for students who wish to accelerate to college-level learning during their high school years. Besides AP classes and the IB program, there's the AICE Diploma.

If you're not very familiar with the AICE program, never fear—this article will bring you up to speed. Here, we'll cover what the diploma is and how you can get it as well as the benefits of pursuing this program (including scholarships and college credit).

Read More

 

What Is a Good SAT Score? A Bad SAT Score? An Excellent SAT Score?

author image
Posted by Dr. Fred Zhang | Aug 22, 2023 11:00:00 AM

SAT/ACT Score Target

What is a good SAT score? You took the SAT, got your scores back, and now want to know how you did. Or maybe you want to know what score to aim for next time.

In this guide, we discuss how to figure out how your SAT scores stack up against those of all the other test takers. We'll then help you determine what a good SAT score for you is based on the colleges you are interested in. Finally, we provide the SAT score ranges of more than 50 popular schools and discuss what to do if your score turns out to be lower than you expected.

Read More

 

Complete Guide: Which Schools Use the Common Application?

author image
Posted by Halle Edwards | Aug 21, 2023 10:30:00 PM

College Admissions

Are you applying to college soon? If so, you've probably heard of the Common Application—an online application you can use for more than 900 colleges. Since you only have to fill out one application, it saves you time when applying to college.

But which colleges use the Common Application? And which Common Application schools are in your state? We have a complete list here, broken down by state and updated for the 2023-24 academic year.

Read More

 

How to Get a College Application Fee Waiver: 3 Approaches

author image
Posted by Rebecca Safier | Aug 21, 2023 6:00:00 PM

College Admissions

Most college application fees fall in the $40 to $50 range, with some costing as much as $90 (ahem, Stanford). For many students and their families, these fees present a serious obstacle along the already pricey path to college. If application fees are burdensome to you, you might qualify for college application fee waivers.

Just like SAT and ACT fee waivers, these college fee waivers allow you to send off your applications for free. This guide will go over how you can qualify for and use college application fee waivers; it'll also review how much college apps usually cost and how much you can save with fee waivers.

Read More

 

The Best UC Schools, Ranked By Experts

author image
Posted by Ashley Robinson | Aug 21, 2023 12:15:00 PM

College Admissions

Choosing a college in California can be tough, especially since there are so many great options available. One of the best school systems to choose from is the University of California.

In this article, we’ll provide a complete, ranked list of the best UC schools, give you information about each. We’ll list the campuses, give you important stats like how much each costs…and so much more!

That way, you can pick the UC school that’s best for you. Let’s get started!

Read More

 

Complete Official SAT Practice Tests, Free Links

author image
Posted by Allen Cheng | Aug 15, 2023 10:00:00 PM

SAT

Official SAT tests released by the College Board are the absolute gold standard for SAT practice questions. Each official practice test contains real questions given to actual students at previous administrations of the SAT.

In this article, I'll show you where to find all official SAT practice tests online. This comprehensive guide gives you access to more practice tests than any other guide out there. Most of these tests are free and are great practice to get started with your SAT prep. We'll also discuss how to use these practice tests to help you get the most improvement possible out of them.

Read More

 

Average ACT Score for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and Earlier Years

author image
Posted by Anna Aldric | Aug 15, 2023 5:11:00 PM

ACT

In recent years, more and more students have been taking the ACT than ever before. But what does this change in participation rate mean for the average ACT score?

As you'll learn in this article, while ACT scores have been fairly stable in the last few years, there have been some dips and peaks in scores in the last 30 years. Let's take a look at what's happening.

Read More

 

Digital SAT Tools: What You'll Have and What You'll Need

author image
Posted by Rebecca Deurlein | Aug 14, 2023 9:00:00 AM

SAT

The new digital SAT debuts in spring of 2024 with a set of useful tools for students. Some help you prepare for the test and practice in the new format ahead of time. Some tools help you with the required pre-registration for the exam. And some will be available on test day to help you work through the exam. These built-in, online tools have been added for this new digital format.

You can learn about all of these tools for the new digital SAT by reading through this article. These tools will help quell your anxiety, ensure you are prepared, and help you feel confident walking into the test.

Read More

 

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!