The 31 Critical ACT Math Formulas You MUST Know

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Posted by Courtney Montgomery | Dec 10, 2018 2:26:00 PM

ACT Math

The two biggest challenges of ACT Math are the time crunch—the math test has 60 questions in 60 minutes!—and the fact that the test doesn’t provide you with any formulas. All the formulas and math knowledge for the ACT comes from what you’ve learned and memorized.

In this complete list of critical formulas you'll need on the ACT, I'll lay out every formula you must have memorized before test day, as well as explanations for how to use them and what they mean. I'll also show you which formulas you should prioritize memorizing (the ones that are needed for multiple questions) and which ones you should memorize only when you've got everything else nailed down tight.

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What's a Good 7th Grade ACT / SAT Score?

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Posted by Dr. Fred Zhang | Dec 9, 2018 5:48:00 PM

SAT/ACT Score Target

The SAT / ACT is incredibly important for many students.  It's used to determine admissions into talent programs like Duke's TIP or Johns Hopkins CTY.  It's also a good predictor of future college potential.  

But how do you know what a good SAT / ACT score is for someone in middle school?  Here, Dr. Fred Zhang does a novel analysis on two data sets to find what is considered a good score for middle school students.

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Should You Guess on the SAT? 6 Guessing Strategies

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Posted by Samantha Lindsay | Dec 9, 2018 5:07:00 PM

SAT

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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The Complete Guide to Digital SAT Grammar Rules

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Posted by Laura Registrato | Dec 9, 2018 4:38:00 PM

SAT, SAT Writing

Even though the English language is complex, the digital SAT tests a specific set of grammar rules. Furthermore, it tests these rules the same way, over and over again.

In this complete guide, we've compiled a comprehensive list of SAT grammar rules you need to know to ace the digital SAT Reading and Writing section.

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Everything You Need to Know About Commas for the ACT

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Posted by Alex Heimbach | Dec 9, 2018 4:10:00 PM

ACT English

Nobody likes commas: they're weird and confusing and possibly pointless. My brother decided to boycott them entirely in his senior year of high school, leaving his lists running together and his appositives undefined. Even veteran copy editors sometimes struggle with where exactly to place these reviled punctuation marks. 

Even so, if you want to succeed on the ACT English, you'll have to learn how to expertly employ commas. The good news is that there is a fairly limited set of comma rules you'll need to know for the ACT.

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College Interview Attire: What to Wear to Your Interview

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Posted by Melissa Brinks | Dec 8, 2018 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

As if college applications aren't stressful enough, an interview with the admissions department can ramp anxiety up to eleven. Though an interview is a great way to make a lasting impression, it also introduces some new things to worry about in addition to your application, such as what you're supposed to wear.

Like all parts of the college application process, you want to make a good impression, but also be yourself. Not everyone is a fashion maven, and there are additional barriers for students experiencing academic hardship.

If you have questions about what to wear to a college interview, you're in luck—we've got answers. From how to style yourself to how to afford business casual on a budget, this guide will help you look sharp and feel confident during your college interview.

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What Is Federal Work Study? How Does It Work?

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Posted by Hayley Milliman | Nov 28, 2018 12:00:00 PM

College Info

You’ve been accepted into your dream college! Congratulations! Now comes an entirely new challenge: figuring out how to pay for your education.

College is expensive and becoming more so every year. If you don’t have a small fortune to fall back on (and most students don’t), you’ll need to put together a financial aid package that covers your tuition, room & board, and other expenses.

One common financial aid program is work study. In this article, we’ll answer the question “What is work study?” and discuss who qualifies for it, how much money you can earn, and whether or not you should take a work study job.

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How to Be Successful in High School: Complete Guide

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Posted by Melissa Brinks | Nov 24, 2018 12:00:00 PM

Other High School

There's a lot of pressure in high school to prepare for the future, but between classes, extracurriculars, and trying to have a social life, thinking about what comes after high school can feel like being told to climb a mountain with no help.

Instead of fixating on the future, success in high school means thinking about what you can do now. Being on top of things in high school is a great foundation for success in the future.

But what does being successful mean? How can you get started today? What should you worry about, and what should you let slide?

This guide will help you learn how to be successful in high school no matter where you are in your education. With tips and goals to strive for, you'll be prepared for the future at any point in high school—it's never too late to start getting a plan together.

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Here's Exactly What to Wear on Your College Visit or Tour

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Posted by Melissa Brinks | Nov 21, 2018 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

A college tour is one of the best opportunities you have to learn about what a campus is really like. Reading promotional material, or even student blogs, isn't the same as seeing and experiencing it for yourself, but, like any other aspect of applying to college, you need to make sure you're prepared for a college visit—and that means wearing the right outfit!

Most of the time, dressing for a college tour is a casual affair. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the best way to go about it—comfort and classiness are key.

This guide will walk you through the best way to dress for many different college visit scenarios. A bit of planning will help you have the best possible experience, as well as prepare you for interviews, auditions, and just exploring your dream campus. Read on to find out how!

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4 Reasons to Major in a Foreign Language (and 3 Not To)

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Posted by Hannah Muniz | Nov 13, 2018 12:00:00 PM

College Info

Gaikokugo ga suki desu ka? That’s Japanese for “Do you like foreign languages?” If your answer is a resounding yes, then a foreign language major might be for you.

In 2013, I graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in Japanese. Though I sometimes doubted whether I should major in Japanese, I ultimately knew it was the right choice because being able to understand and use Japanese was a skill I wanted to have for the rest of my life. Moreover, I didn't just enjoy learning Japanese but also loved getting to know Japanese culture. 

These are the reasons I chose to major in Japanese. That said, a language major isn’t for everyone. So should you major in a foreign language? What are the reasons you should? And what are the reasons you shouldn't?

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

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Posted by Samantha Lindsay | Nov 4, 2018 11:13:00 AM

Coursework/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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What Is the SSAT? Expert Guide to the 3 Levels

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Posted by Rebecca Safier | Nov 4, 2018 11:12:00 AM

Other High School

Are you interested in going to private school? If so, you might need to take the SSAT to get in. But what is the SSAT? It's an admissions test that independent schools throughout the U.S. and the world use to assess their prospective students.

The test is available in three levels, so students in elementary, middle, and high school can take it. This comprehensive guide will go over each level of the SSAT so you can learn all about its purpose, structure, and questions. You'll also find six useful tips for test prep. To start, let's go over the purpose of the test.

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What Is the Common Core? A Straightforward Guide

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Posted by Halle Edwards | Nov 4, 2018 11:11:00 AM

Other High School, Coursework/GPA

Have you heard about the Common Core? Are you asking, "what is the Common Core, exactly?" Don't worry. This post will explain what the Common Core is, why it was adopted, and how it could affect you as a student.

Why should you care? The Common Core has driven some pretty major changes to big-name standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, as well as curriculum changes within schools. So read on to discover what you’re being tested on and why! 

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What Is a Valedictorian? Defining High School's Top Honor

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Posted by Samantha Lindsay | Nov 4, 2018 11:10:00 AM

Coursework/GPA

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.  

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What is a DBQ? The Document-Based Question Explained

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Posted by Ellen McCammon | Nov 4, 2018 11:09:00 AM

Advanced Placement (AP)

The dreaded DBQ, or "document-based question," is an essay question type on the AP History exams (AP US History, AP European History, and AP World History). For the DBQ essay, you will be asked to analyze some historical issue or trend with the aid of the provided sources, or "documents," as evidence.

The DBQ is an unfamiliar type of in-class essay for many students, but it does not need to be a source of dread or panic. In this guide I'll go over the DBQ's purpose and format, what the documents are and how to use them, how this type of essay is scored, and how to prepare. I'll tell you everything you need torock this unique type of essay!

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