SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

The ACT is rising rapidly in popularity, but students and parents have a good question -- do colleges accept ACT tests as much as they accept SAT tests?  Do colleges mark you down for taking the ACT?

The SAT is changing in March of 2016, so the class of 2017 is in a tough spot: how do you deal with the change?  One strategy is to just skip the SAT and instead do the ACT.  Is this strategy brilliant or brilliantly boneheaded?  Here we find out.

Did you know that the ACT Writing Test changed dramatically in Fall 2015? You might not, because people haven't talked about it much, but it changed the ACT and possibly standardized testing in general. It's scored based on all of the old ACT's criteria, but also on a number of new concepts.

We've written the most comprehensive guide available on the new ACT Writing section. Keep reading to find out how you can prepare for and ace this new test.

You can slow down the clock with SAT accommodations.

If you have a documented disability, or are just curious about what it takes to get SAT extra time, you may be wondering about the process of getting SAT accommodations. We’ll take you through the process step-by-step, and show you how to maximize your odds of getting accommodations.

If you’re taking the SAT and have a disability or other condition, you will want to read this guide!

Are you studying for the ACT? One great way to add some extra prep to your day is with ACT Questions of the Day. They are a fast and easy way to get in some additional prep and figure out where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Read on to find out where you can get the best ACT Questions of the Day, and how to use them most effectively to maximize your ACT score.

You just got your PSAT score—what's next? You just got your score, but don't know what it exactly means or what you should do next. There are three strong implications of your PSAT score, and those students that understand them do a lot better in college admissions that those who don't. Read on to find out what those implications are.

Did you just get your PSAT score? (If not, check out the PSAT release schedule here). If so, you may be wondering how to interpret the score. The PSAT serves a number of purposes. It prepares you for the SAT test next year, which is one of the most important pieces in college admissions. It determines a number (but not all) of scholarships. And perhaps most importantly, it's the starting line when students with foresight begin planning for college.

I recently received a question from one of my students that I believe highlights a very common mistake:  "I find that on some sections I finish early and close the section ahead of time—does this mean I'm doing well on those sections?"  Here, I'll break down why this sometimes happens, and what it means for you.

The ACT doesn't penalize guessing, so you should never leave any answer blank even if you have to take a completely blind guess.  Even with this information, students still make one huge mistake.  Here we expose the biggest ACT guessing strategy mistake students make, and suggest a much better approach.  We've seen students improve 1-2 points immediately after applying this 5-minute strategy.

One great way to insert some extra SAT prep into your daily routine is to do a free SAT Question of the Day. College Board and other websites offer a daily question online and on mobile devices to keep you practicing whenever and wherever you want.

In this article we’ll point you towards the best SAT Questions of the Day, both how to find them and how to use them effectively as you prep for the SAT.

We all want to max out brainpower on the day of the ACT. But what can help, besides studying? One factor worth considering is where you take the test. You want a place that allows you to focus completely on the test without other anxieties, concerns or discomfort.

And guess where a lot of test-day anxieties, concerns and discomfort can come from? That's right, they can be direct results of choosing a distracting or inconvenient testing center. In this article, we give you all the information you need to make the right decision about which of all ACT test centers to choose

Kaplan is a giant in SAT prep, but that doesn't mean its prep materials are good. In fact, they tend to be far from excellent. In this review, we'll examine Kaplan's SAT 2015 book for its strengths and weaknesses.

Erica Meltzer's books have come onto the scene in the past few years with great reviews. Her books are fantastic for the subjects they cover—Reading and Writing. She's published two books for the SAT—The Complete Guide to SAT Critical Reading, and The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar.

While these are high quality books, they're not perfect, for reasons we'll explain in this article. Keep reading to figure out whether these books are appropriate for you, and whether you should integrate these as part of your personal prep program.

The Official SAT Study Guide is the most important book to have in your prep program. Nearly every student who's serious about SAT prep has this in his or her library.

Even despite its obvious strengths, the book has its major drawbacks, and it will not be enough for most students. Read this detailed review to find out what the cons of this book are, and how you should integrate it as part of your prep.

You're probably curious about how you stack up against average ACT scores. But how many types of averages are there, and which averages are important for you? How about the national average ACT score? Or ACT score averages by gender and by ethnicity?

We'll discuss official results for all these questions and tell you which ACT average actually matters for your future.

Pennsylvania State University (also commonly know as Penn State) is one of the largest public universities in the country, with an annual enrollment of over 45,000. What SAT scores does it take to become one of these students?

Get an accurate, helpful look into your chances of getting into PSU here.