SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

When Is the PreACT? 2018 PreACT Test Dates

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Posted by Hannah Muniz

ACT

If you’re planning to take the ACT, it’s a good idea to take the PreACT, too. This test is essentially a practice ACT for high school sophomores. But exactly when is the PreACT? Are there multiple PreACT test dates you can choose from? We answer these questions and more in this guide. In addition, we give you a few key tips on how to prep for the PreACT.

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The Best SAT Diagnostic Test

If you’re preparing for the SAT, you may know how important it is to take a diagnostic test early on in your studying. An SAT diagnostic test will give you a baseline score you can use to develop an individualized study plan that’ll target your weaknesses and help you reach your target SAT score.

In this guide, we’ll explain what an SAT diagnostic test is, where you can find the best free SAT diagnostic tests, and exactly how you can use every piece of information you get from the diagnostic test to create the best SAT study plan for you.

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How Long Is the ACT With Writing?

The ACT is a standardized test that requires endurance. You're asked to answer 215 multiple-choice questions subject area by subject area—a style of testing that causes fatigue for many students. The normal four-section (English, Math, Reading, Science) ACT is already lengthy, but how much longer does it get when you add on the Writing test?

In this article, you'll find out just how long the ACT with Writing is, along with some actions you can take to deal with its monstrous length.

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The 8 ACT English Tips You Must Use in Your Prep

The ACT English section can feel a bit overwhelming. You have to answer 75 questions in 45 minutes. You have to know and understand grammar rules. You have to analyze phrases, sentences, paragraphs, and whole passages. It can be scary stuff.

If you can focus on a few basic tips, you can simplify the ACT English section and feel more confident when attempting to slay the ACT English beast. Whether you spend ample time diligently studying for the ACT or start your ACT preparation the night before the test, remembering these tips for the ACT English section will be beneficial on test day.

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ACT Reading vs SAT Reading: Which Is Easier?

Which is the harder section, ACT Reading or SAT Reading? We will break down the differences between SAT and ACT Reading to help you decide which section is harder for you. You might be surprised which one is easier!

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13 Last Minute SAT Tips You Should Remember

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SAT

You only have a couple days before the SAT (or maybe less than a day!), and you’re determined to ace this test! Whether you're looking for last-minute study tips, advice on how to prepare the day of the test, or test-taking strategies to maximize your scores, we've got you covered.

Here are a bunch of handy last minute SAT tips that will help you stay focused and raise your scores.

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Most Common Answer on the ACT: Guess C?

Everyone knows that, when guessing on a multiple-choice test, the best answer to choose is C...right? A friend of a friend swears by it, it’s served you well in the past (maybe?), and it’s become such a commonly known “fact,” such an undisputed strategy, that you may feel as if you were born knowing it—”when in doubt, pick C and move on.”

But does this time-honored tradition of picking C when in doubt actually work on the ACT? And if not, what can you do to improve your odds when guessing? Let’s look at the facts.

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Words in Context: Key SAT Reading and Writing Strategies

There are no more sentence completion questions on the SAT, so your vocabulary knowledge will be tested with questions that fall under the umbrella of the Words in Context subscore. In this article, I'll give you the inside scoop on what these questions are, what forms they might take in both the Reading and Writing sections, and which strategies work best for solving them accurately.

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How to Cheat on the ACT

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Posted by Rebecca Safier

ACT

Disclaimer: we are not going to tell you how to cheat on the ACT. What we will tell you about are things you can get in trouble for, along with high-profile cheating scandals that have happened recently and in past years. We do not advocate cheating by any means!

Let's take a look at some of these scandals, as well as make sure you're aware of all the rules and regulations of test day so you don't inadvertently jeopardize your scores or chance of college admissions.

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The 14 ACT Grammar Rules You Must Know

The ACT English section consists of questions that test your knowledge of grammar and writing style. By learning and understanding the grammar rules tested on the ACT, you'll be well on your way to getting an excellent ACT English score. In this article, I'll explain the most important ACT English grammar rules and provide sample questions from real ACTs.

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How to Win a Student Election, by a Former Class President

Hoping to be your class president? Winning the position takes a lot of work, but you can absolutely make it happen. Why should you trust me? I was my Junior Class President and Student Government President my senior year, so I know what it takes to get there. In this article, I've outlined every step you need to take to become class president: starting with just getting on student council freshman year, all the way through running in a big election as a senior. 

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Taking Community College Classes in High School: A Guide

Are you a high school student who is interested in taking classes at a community college? Community college classes can be a great way for high school students to take more challenging courses and prepare for college.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about community college classes for high school students: the benefits of taking community college classes in high school, when to take them, and how you can start getting enrolled.

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The 5 Best SAT Prep Games

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Posted by Ellen McCammon

SAT

You may have heard of a new trend in test prep: games. That’s right—studying for your SAT by playing computer (and even phone) games!

If this sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. Most of the SAT prep games out there are pretty bad. However, there are a few games that may genuinely help you with some aspects of your test prep experience—although they won’t do much other than supplement your more typical studying activities like taking practice tests and doing practice problems.

In this article I’ll break down the SAT prep game trend, explain why most prep games won’t help you, describe what makes a good prep game, offer some recommendations for games that will help you, and offer some advice on how to use them.

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How to Do College Research Right: Step-by-Step Guide

College research can be an overwhelming task, and it's not easy to know where to begin. In this article, I'll help you sort through your options and find your dream college.

If you work through the following four steps, you'll be well on your way to compiling a list of schools that fulfill all your most important criteria:

  • Identify your priorities
  • Search with an online college finder
  • Consider your chances of admission
  • Finalize your list

In the next few sections, we'll cover how to research colleges in a straightforward and effective way.

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14 Last Minute ACT Tips You Should Use

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ACT

Wondering what you can do to boost your performance on the ACT with only a couple days to prepare?

Here are some last minute ACT tips that will help raise your scores and keep you at your best during the test.

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